Intelligent measurement system
The rollout of smart meters is to be significantly accelerated in Germany in the coming years. The rules for the so-called intelligent metering systems (iMSys) are not simple. That's why we answer the most important questions here.
The most important facts in brief
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Germany accelerates the rollout of smart meters
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Recipients: Start 2025; affects users with over 6,000 kWh/year, certain installations. Target: 25% connected by 2025 and 95% by 2031
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Installation: By local metering point operators, but customers have a choice.
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Costs: From €20/year, higher depending on equipment.
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Advantages: Dynamic electricity tariffs and direct marketing possible for PV system owners.
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Set-up: Combination of digital meters and smart meter gateway; optional control box.
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Energy management: no additional benefits through connection to iMSys.
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Our App works with and without iMSys, no disadvantages compared to a locally installed energy management system
Who gets an iMSys?
The mandatory rollout is scheduled to start in 2025. However, it can also be installed before then. Mandatory installation will take place for users with
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more than 6,000 kWh consumption per year
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a controllable consumption system, in particular a wallbox or heat pump (Section 14a EnWG)
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own generation system (e.g. PV system) with more than 7 kWp installed capacity
By the end of 2025, 25% of these mandatory rollout customers should already be connected. Then 95% by 2031.
Who installs the iMSys?
Responsible for the rollout are the so-called basically responsible metering point operators (MSB). In most cases, this is a sister company of the local distribution network operator. If the MSB does not fulfill its rollout obligation, another metering point operator can also be entrusted with this task after some time.
However, every customer also has the right to commission a so-called competitive metering point operator with the installation.
What does an iMSys cost?
The costs for an iMSys for end customers start at 20 euros per year. For customers with controllable consumer devices, the basic price is already 50 euros per year. There may be additional costs, for example if the customer's systems need to be connected for control by the grid operator or for a conversion of the meter cabinet.
More information on the costs can be found at
Website of the Federal Network Agency
What advantages does the iMSys offer me?
The additional costs are also offset by a few advantages:
Dynamic tariffs
More and more suppliers are offering a dynamic tariff. With this, the electricity price varies throughout the day, usually depending on the electricity exchange price. For customers with controllable appliances, this offers the opportunity to shift their electricity consumption to more cost-effective times. This also helps to protect the climate, as a high proportion of electricity is usually generated from renewable energy sources at favorable times.
We support optimization for dynamic tariffs.
Direct marketing
Owners of a PV system can also register it for direct marketing with a smart metering system. However, whether this is worthwhile and whether the revenue from direct marketing is higher than the costs incurred by suppliers and justifies the expense depends very much on the electricity exchange prices.
Current values for the market value of solar installations can be found at netztransparenz.de
What does the iMSys include and can it control my devices?
The smart metering system essentially consists of two components:
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a modern metering system: one or more digital meters that measure withdrawal and feed-in
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Smart Meter Gateway: a local hub that stores, validates and aggregates the meter data and transmits it to the backend of the metering point operator
In addition, a so-called control box can also be connected to the smart meter gateway. The metering point operator is also responsible for installing the control box and legally defined price caps also apply to it.
This FNN control box enables devices to be controlled by the network operator in particular. For this purpose, controllable consumer devices such as wallboxes and heat pumps as well as the PV inverter are connected to the control box. The distribution grid operator may control all of these devices in an extreme emergency (this is regulated in §13a EnWG and §14a EnWG).
The FNN control box currently has two interfaces: Relay switching and EEBus. The devices can therefore be coupled in both ways.
Do I need an energy management system (HEMS) that can be connected to the smart meter gateway?
Clearly: No.
There are no regulatory or legal requirements! The manual or automated control of appliances in the household, e.g. for the use of excess PV or when electricity prices are low, can take place directly between the end device and the backend. Data transmission via the smart meter gateway is not necessary.
For this purpose, the Metering Point Operation Act (Section 19 (2) MsbG) clearly defines that market-based control actions can take place outside of the smart meter gateway infrastructure. The use of the control box infrastructure is only mandatory for grid operators for the standard services defined in Section 34 MsbG, such as control within the scope of Section 14a EnWG.
In concrete terms, this means that the use of our app is still possible for customers with a smart metering system and an installed control box.
In addition, there is also no added value for the customer by connecting their energy management to the iMSys and the control box.
Information on the current feed-in or withdrawal from the electricity grid can be taken from the modern measuring device via a readout head.
The grid operator controls the devices for each individual device in accordance with §14a EnWG. An energy management system would therefore only have to forward these control commands.