The relation between smart meters and electricity consumers

Technological progress in electronics, IT and communication is rapidly adopted by industrial systems, making them more intelligent. In the energy field, the real-time information provided by smart meters can bring benefits to the whole system and open new progress directions. At the European level, effort is being made to promote smart meters and the results can already be seen. The report on smart metering roll-out for Romania was finished at the end of 2012 showing that smart metering can be profitable for the electricity sector. At the moment, the regulator has to establish a program for the implementation of smart systems. As a high percentage of the population has financial difficulties and uncertainties regarding the day-to-day life, a change in technology must be very careful introduced. The relation between the consumer and the smart meter is important because the consumer's involvement in controlling his energy use is a key factor for his future money savings and for the benefits of the whole energy chain. The paper discusses smart metering from the consumer's point of view.