Finland’s Elenia marks 200,000 smart meter milestone

Finnish distribution system operator Elenia has announced a 200,000 smart meter milestone for its meter replacement drive.

The smart electricity meters are being installed as part of the DSO’s electricity consumption measurement reform, giving their customers access to Elenia’s AinaLab service, where they can monitor the load distribution of the home’s electricity system and view their own electricity consumption almost in real time.

Measurement data obtained from AinaLab is then suitable for monitoring consumption habits or to support the planning of electrical work.

The new electricity meters also have the option of load control, which can be implemented in AinaLab, enabling them to schedule electrically powered devices while considering the spot hourly price of electricity on the exchange.

In addition, the new smart meters have a home automation connection, which enables the reading of the electricity meter for the customer’s own use. The customer can use this feature with the help of their own service provider, for example in controlling home automation or charging devices for electric cars.

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“Usually, in different electricity consumption monitoring services, the total consumption information is available with a delay of a day or two. In Elenia’s AinaLab service, consumption information can be seen step-by-step, and the delay is at best only a few minutes, usually no more than an hour,” said Sanni Harala, Elenia’s customer and stakeholder manager.

“The energy sector plays a key role in the electronic, green transition, which we promote by renewing the electricity network and its technology and developing new services for customers.”

Elenia’s electricity consumption measurement reform has been taking place since 2021 and will continue until 2025.

The development of the new services is made possible by the technology platform that electricity meter and system supplier Aidon has created in cooperation with Elenia. Aidon’s partner is the telecom operator Elisa, which is responsible for the IoT communication connections between the measurement equipment and the system.

Meter installation is being carried out by Voimatel, a Finnish company providing lifecycle services and solutions for electricity and information networks and systems.

Installations have progressed in Elenia’s network area in North and South Ostrobothnia, Central Finland and Pirkanmaa. Installations in Kanta-Hämee will begin in 2024 and in Päijät-Hämee in 2025.