Electricity billing will change a lot. This applies to all Poles

• By the end of 2028, as many as 80 percent of customers will have to use remote reading meters. By 2031, this will apply to everyone.
• The meters allow for settlement based on actual electricity consumption and the use of dynamic tariffs. They also provide a chance for lower bills.
• Companies are taking a breakthrough step towards modern and efficient meter handling.

Remote reading meters are used to measure electricity and bill for electricity. They have a built-in memory, where measurement data is saved, and are equipped with a remote transmission function. They enable billing based on actual electricity consumption and the use of dynamic tariffs. By the end of 2028, as many as 80 percent of customers will have to use such meters .

The technologies for servicing this type of meter are constantly changing and developing. PGE Systemy has just announced that, in cooperation with PGE Dystrybucja and Polkomtel, it is the first in Poland to launch remote reading meter service using the Virtual Mobile Network Operator (MVNO M2M) service. It allows for the installation of PGE Systemy SIM cards in meters, some of which will operate in the future in the LTE network currently being built under the LTE450 Program.

- The launch of the MVNO M2M service is a breakthrough step towards modern and effective remote reading meter service. Thanks to full control over SIM cards, PGE Systemy can ensure the highest quality of services and flexibility in network management. We are pleased that we can introduce technologically innovative solutions to the Polish market - says Robert Grochowski, CEO of PGE Systemy.

The implementation of the project is to ensure the stability and security of services and, above all, improve ongoing control over the operation of the network.

As PGE emphasises, the service is an innovative solution on a Polish scale, because full control over the SIM cards is held by PGE Systemy, not a commercial operator.

A mobile MVNO M2M operator constructed in this way has the ability to freely migrate SIM cards from the operator to its own LTE450 network being built. As PGE explains, this will allow for significant savings due to the lack of the need for installers to visit customers to exchange SIM cards for LTE450 cards. It will also significantly improve the logistics and handling of these cards in the future, as well as make PGE Dystrybucja independent of commercial suppliers.

So far, 50,000 SIM cards have been installed in new meters. Ultimately, the project assumes that up to 1.25 million SIM cards will be supported by MVNOs.

According to the Energy Law, based on EU Directive 2019/944, these meters are to be installed at all energy consumers in Poland by 4 July 2031. Distribution system operators are responsible for implementing remote reading meter technology (RMM).

This technology allows customers to pay based on actual energy consumption, rather than forecasts. In addition, VOC holders can benefit from a dynamic tariff that changes depending on price changes on the wholesale electricity market.

Smart grids allow for the collection and effective management of data on energy production and consumption, which can lead to, among other things, increased energy efficiency. The more VOCs in residents, the easier it should be to identify failures in the Polish energy system.