All set for the roll-out: The practical handbook on the Metering Station Operation Act (Praxishandbuch Messstellenbetriebsgesetz), published by VDE-Verlag and edited by BBH’s smart meter experts Jan-Hendrik vom Wege and Dr. Michael Weise, serves as a guide for all market players who (have to) deal with the roll-out of intelligent metering systems.

Is it coming or not? Regarding its timeline for implementation, the smart-meter roll-out is increasingly resembling the Berlin-Brandenburg airport. Though the Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik – BSI) finally certified the first smart-meter gateway at the end of 2018, it is still unclear when the other two certificates will be issued. Only then can the obligatory roll-out officially begin. In the meantime, the Digitalisation Barometer (Digitalisierungsbarometer), an annual study carried out by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie – BMWi), has found that the progress of digital transformation in the context of the energy transition is unsatisfactory (22 of 100 possible points).

One thing is for sure: So far, it has been neglected to bring the statutory requirements in line with the technological developments. The obligation to install smart metering systems and modern measurement equipment is a central provision of the Metering Station Operation Act (Messstellenbetriebsgesetz – MsbG), which serves as the “principal act” (Stammgesetz) for energy metrology and based on which the metering infrastructure in Germany is digitalised. Furthermore, the Act introduces new contractual and billing relationships and also provides for a general system change in the area of (metering) data communication.

In their practical handbook, editors Jan-Hendrik vom Wege and Dr. Michael Weise, along with a team of high-profile authors, also shed light on the changes ahead for the metering infrastructure.

Becker Büttner Held is a leading provider of advisory services for energy and infrastructure companies and their customers. Energy and supply companies, particularly public utilities, municipalities and local authorities, industrial companies and international groups are among its core clients. BBH advises these and many other companies and organisations in all legal matters and also assists them with business and strategic advice.

Contact:           

Prof. Dr. Ines Zenke
Lawyer, Partner
Tel +49 (0)30 611 28 40-179
ines.zenke@bbh-online.de

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