Roadmap for Smart Metering in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

The Slovak Republic (SR) is an inland country in the middle of Europe with a total area of 49 035 km2 and population 5.45 million people. The capital is Bratislava and the country is member of the European Union. The annual electric energy consumption is 28 862 GWh and production is 28 135 GWh (2011). The average electricity consumption in the household sector is 2.5 MWh per year and the average price is 140 EUR/MWh. The electric energy distribution in Slovakia is assured by 3 regional distribution companies covering 2.35 million points of supply. The annual volume of supplied electric energy by distribution companies via HV and LV networks has reached the level of 18 000 GWh. The area of electric energy distribution is regulated by the independent authority Regulatory Office for Network Industries. The Slovak Republic has approved the Concept of Energy Efficiency, having the primary target to achieve gradual lowering of energy demands to the level of European Union. In the years 2001 – 2010, the total volume of final electric energy consumption was reduced by 6%, i.e. by 7 TWh. Construction of intelligent metering systems is another step to achieve a higher energy efficiency, according to the Concept of Energy Efficiency of SR and according to the Directive of the European Parliament and Council 2009/72/EC of July 13, 2009. The intelligent metering systems are perceived as a part of a smart grid construction, conducted already for several years by main manufacturers, operators of the transmission and distribution systems. Automated meter reading (AMR) based solutions have covered all significant points of supply in the wholesale category, in a total number of 50 000 with consumption monitoring reaching the total volume of approximately 50% of consumed electric energy. At the LV voltage level, most of the points of supply have an electromechanical or static meter installed. The Regulatory Office for Network Industries in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy assessed the analysis of deploying intelligent metering systems for the LV level positively, and joined other European countries, such as Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Portugal and Belgium. The economic assessment of the AMI deployment project in Slovakia and implementation of intelligent metering systems is assumed within the years 2013 to 2020. The project covers the points of supply with annual consumption above 4 MWh, representing approximately 23% of all assumed points of supply at the LV voltage level. The target number of points of supply, expected to have the intelligent meters installed by 2020, is approximately 600 000, with consumption representing approximately 53% of the total annual consumption of electric energy at the LV voltage level. The rollout scope could be affected by the planned revaluation of CBA. The implementation is based on several types of intelligent 1 and 3 phase meters, according to the supply point type, which are differentiated by their functional specification in basic, advanced and special ones. The total assumed annual economic benefits following the implementation of intelligent metering system and installation of intelligent meters at the LV level are expected to be around EUR 36.16 per one point of supply. The biggest benefit will belong to the end customer. The CAPEX figures per one point of supply should be around EUR 131.00 and the operating costs OPEX should be EUR 8.23 per annum. Most of the problems in specification and architecture design are caused the current extent of standardization, legislation and return of investment. In order to verify the technical and economic assumptions, a pilot project will be launched in the years 2013 – 2014 covering 1% of the total final volume, i.e. approximately 6 000 points of supply. The rollout itself is planned in the years to follow. Until the end of 2016, it will cover the consumers having the annual consumption more than 15 MWh with a maximum reserve capacity in the point of supply at least 30 kW, or at least 45 A and until the end of 2020 the consumers having the annual consumption more than 4 MWh with maximum reserve capacity in the point of supply less than 30 kW or 45 A.