Electrical Energy Meters: New Developments and Changes

Properly certified electrical energy meters ensure fair measurement and billing of electricity consumption. Their accuracy, reliability, and safety are essential for both distribution system operators and end users.

Within the European Union, this field is regulated by the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID, 2014/32/EU), which defines the technical requirements for electrical energy meters and the procedures for their certification. The specific requirements for electrical energy meters—such as accuracy class, maximum permissible error, and permissible effect of disturbances—are defined in Annex MI-003 of the Directive.

In recent years, electronic smart meters have become dominant on the market. These meters enable bidirectional communication, real-time consumption monitoring, and integration into smart grids. This technological progress has required updates to standards and guidelines for type approval, as well as design examination. The latest standard, EN 50470-3:2022, specifies requirements for low-voltage electrical energy meters and refers to international IEC standards, such as IEC 62052-11:2020, which covers general requirements for accuracy, durability, and functionality, and IEC 62052-31:2022, which defines safety requirements. The standard defines the tests an electrical energy meter must undergo and the requirements it must met before being placed on the market.

WELMEC guides—particularly 7.2, 7.4, 8.x, and 11.x—together with EN 50470-3:2022 provide guidance on software integrity, security, and the interpretation of the MID. As a notified body, SIQ performs certification of active electrical energy meters under Module B (EU-type examination), Module D (conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process), and Module H1 (conformity based on full quality assurance plus design examination).

The type approval process includes the preparation of technical documentation, prototype testing, and design assessment based on the review of technical documentation and test reports, as well as the assessment of the quality system for production of meters and their development. The new standards and WELMEC guides strengthen requirements for electrical safety, digital communications, cybersecurity, and robustness, while also enabling the integration of smart functionalities that improve grid efficiency and consumption transparency. For end users, the primary benefits are reliable measurements and fair billing.

The new EN 50470-3:2022 standard, in conjunction with applicable IEC standards and WELMEC guides, represents a significant step toward modern, safe, and accurate electrical energy meters. As a certification body, SIQ ensures compliance, safety, and support for manufacturers, in this wav enabling comprehensive control over measuring instruments and ensuring that even complex smart systems meet the highest standards of quality and safety while allowing efficient implementation on the European market.

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