All electricity meters in Switzerland have to be replaced by smart meters by 2027. In accordance with this mandate, SME will start to implement this project in the next few months. SmartMeters are digital meters that record and transmit electricity consumption in real time. The contract for the implementation of this important project was awarded to Quickline Energy AG as part of a public tendering process. The company prevailed over the other providers thanks to its sustainable offer and ability to fulfil the required mandate. An important element in the rollout is the fibre-optic network (FTTH) currently under construction in the two municipalities of St. Moritz and Celerina. 

Rollout on schedule

The project is scheduled to start this year. However, the blanket meter replacement for all households and businesses will not begin until summer 2024 at the earliest. This will entail the replacement of around 10,000 meters. All customers will be notified of the installation date in good time. 

Customer benefits and increased efficiency

The new meters will offer several benefits to SME customers. In future, customers will be able to track their electricity consumption online much more accurately via the customer portal, enabling them to easily identify potential energy savings and act accordingly. In the customer portal, electricity consumption data will soon be available on a quarter-hourly basis. In addition, the meter reading no longer needs to be taken on-site. This will simplify moving house, among other things, as electricity consumption can be recorded at the exact time in future. Furthermore, SME’s customer service is available to answer questions about energy consumption or electricity bills accurately and effectively using the current usage data.

In addition to the meter replacement, the outdated ripple control system will also be replaced. The new intelligent control system will work on the basis of SmartMeter data. This will enable more efficient and flexible control of the electricity grid.