“Transparency allows us to make maximum use of the 5th fuel”, Landis+Gyr Tells European Parliament

Smart metering infrastructure that includes direct consumer feedback is the only way to create true energy efficiency and a smart grid environment to benefit all

ZUG, Switzerland – February 25, 2010 – (BUSINESS WIRE) – The concept of energy efficiency, often referred to as the fifth fuel and smart metering are currently the subject of discussion among the European institutions. Landis+Gyr explained how the fifth fuel can be maximised at a debate organised by the European Energy Forum at the European Parliament in Brussels.

“Smart metering is not only the essential first step toward the smart grid, but it is what connects the smart grid to the end consumer, the smart home and de-centralized and micro-generation,” said Cameron O’Reilly, CEO Landis+Gyr, who addressed an audience from the European institutions including Members of the European Parliament, “No attempt at increased energy efficiency will be successful without the involvement of a well-informed end consumer, and for that to be a achieved, direct feedback via an In-Home Display is indispensible.”

Mr. O’Reilly was speaking as the subject of energy efficiency is due to increase in importance: It is the only one of the EU’s 20-20-20 goals still not anchored in legislation.

In its latest report, Creating Energy Efficiency through Informing End Users, Landis+Gyr demonstrates that smart metering, combined with direct consumer feedback on energy usage and costs will bring important energy efficiency gains. Landis+Gyr has made this possible by developing an In-Home Display, the ecoMeter.

“In the end, transparency is what allows us to make maximum use of the fifth fuel,” concluded Mr. O’Reilly.

The European Energy Forum met while the European Commission is currently holding a two-day conference on ICT for Energy Efficiency, where smart metering is being discussed in case studies, in reference to smart cities, and in a general policy debate on how to expedite smart metering deployment across the EU.

Recognising the importance of the issue, Landis+Gyr has been active in engaging in the debate, providing stakeholders with reliable information on smart meters, and the energy demand reductions they can deliver.

Separately, the Energy Committee of the European Parliament yesterday debated a report on mobilising ICT for the transition to an energy efficient, low-carbon economy. The report by MEP Patrizia Toia from Italy says that “no time should be lost in the promotion of smart metering”, and calls on the Commission to issue an official communication which identifies the obstacles to the widespread use of smart metering, and lays down a roadmap for the rollout of smart metering across the European Union.

The deployment of smart metering and the consequent empowerment of consumers to actively participate in the energy market is the first step towards the creation of a ‘Smart Grid’, an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to it – generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies.

Movements towards the development of the smart grid are becoming stronger: the EU recently announced the 3rd Energy Package including a Directive requiring at least 80 percent of homes to have a smart meter by 2020 and 100 percent by 2022.