"Results are sobering" - Munich municipal utilities see no benefit from intelligent electricity meters
Created: 2023-01-08 16:46
By: Tanja Kipke
The Munich municipal utility sees no benefit in intelligent electricity meters.
The SWM boss announced efforts to expand renewable energies.
Munich – The energy crisis is causing electricity prices to shoot up.
In Munich, citizens have to deal with an increase of 120 percent.
Many try to save electricity and gas, sometimes with creative solutions.
So-called intelligent electricity meters, which digitally measure electricity consumption, could also become a savings method.
However, the boss of the Munich public utility company (SWM) does not believe in it.
According to him, intelligent electricity meters do not help to save energy.
“These systems are usually unsuccessful in pilot tests.
Because they use a lot of electricity themselves, which is stupid,” said SWM boss Florian Bieberbach of the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
(Saturday edition).
"In addition, many people react rather reluctantly when they are told to adjust their electricity consumption to market prices."
SWM boss skeptical about electricity regulation
In Munich, years ago, attempts were made to control people's electricity consumption.
“The results were sobering.
Most people want to wash when their laundry is dirty and then cook when they are hungry.” However, controlled consumption makes sense for heat pumps and electric cars, added Bieberbach.
Digital electricity meters transmit their data to the provider every 15 minutes.
Consumers can see their electricity consumption via an app.
(Iconic image) © Patrick Pleul/dpa
The SWM boss announced further efforts to expand renewable energy: "From 2025, the municipal utilities want to produce as much green electricity in their own plants as the whole of Munich consumes." It will take longer for the heating market to be independent of fossil sources.
"The last gas heating may not be switched off until 2045."
(tkip / dpa)
Our Munich newsletter informs you regularly about all the important stories from the Isar metropolis.
Sign up here.