Smart meter deployment in the EU: balancing technological innovation and data protection through policy frameworks

Abstract

The European Union’s dedication to a sustainable energy future, legally es-
tablished through Article 194(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the Eu-
ropean Union (TFEU), prioritises energy efficiency and competitive markets.
Within this established legal framework, the implementation of smart metering
systems is regarded as pivotal for achieving the EU’s energy transition goals,
as emphasised by initiatives such as the Clean Energy for All Europeans Pack-
age and Directive 2019/944/EU as amended by Directive 2024/1711/EU. To
further realise these objectives, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU)
2023/1162 was adopted, setting out the technical standards for data access, set-
tlement, and switching for electricity smart metering, thus strengthening the
technical basis for their deployment. These metering systems, legally defined in
Article 2(23) of Directive 2019/944/EU, possess three key features: (i) the capac-
ity to measure both electricity consumption and grid feed-in; (ii) superior infor-
mation compared to traditional meters; and (iii) electronic communication for
data transmission, monitoring, and control. This definition, initially outlined in
Commission Recommendation 2012/148/EU, and now reinforced by Commis-
sion Implementing Regulation 2023/11628 with its detailed technical specifica-
tions, firmly positions smart meters at the heart of EU energy policy.