Russia (bbabo.net), - From January of this year, power engineers must not only replace apartment electricity meters for free, but also install exclusively smart appliances. What such a counter should be able to do and will there be enough of them for everyone, experts said.

Since July 2020, the installation, verification and replacement of electricity meters has become the responsibility not of residents, but of power engineers, and they are carried out at the expense of these organizations, says Tatyana Vepretskaya, director of the ANP "National Housing Congress". And since January of this year, consumers should install free of charge not just meters, but devices with a minimum set of functions of intelligent metering systems.

What can a smart meter do?

Smart devices should be able, firstly, to independently transmit readings (there is no need for residents to write off the numbers from the meter every month and enter or drive them into receipts). They can detect power surges, attempts to open or influence residents on readings (for example, using magnets), remotely turn off or limit electricity to debtors, and also connect back.

At the same time, the installation of a smart meter does not mean that it is connected to an intelligent metering system and residents can immediately stop transmitting readings. The device must be connected to the system before May 2023. Residents must be notified of this.

When will the meter be installed?

Electric networks are required to install metering devices in case of a technical malfunction of the previous meter or the end of its service life, Vepretskaya explains. If on April 1, 2020 the meter's service life has already ended or it has already been broken, then a new device must be installed before the end of 2023. In other cases, the installation, replacement or verification of devices is given six months from the date of failure or expiration of the service life.

Do they always change for free?

Free installation of smart meters does not apply to some new settlers - those who have bought or are going to buy an apartment in a new building. In homes where the supplier of last resort did not supply electricity as of January 1, 2022, he may charge a fee for the installation of a smart meter, unless such devices were provided during the construction of the house (until January 2021, this was not mandatory for the developer).

The situation with the replacement of counters is not yet simple: there are not enough of them

In addition, for a fee, meters are changed for those residents who want to install a new device before the expiration of the calibration or operation of the old one. For example, if the owner of an apartment wants to install a meter with more functions.

And if the counter was not replaced in time?

The situation with the replacement of counters is still not simple: there are simply not enough of them. According to the Ministry of Energy, in addition to devices whose service life will come to an end in 2022, grid organizations and guaranteeing suppliers will have to install an additional volume of meters accumulated over the past years. Which were previously supposed to be replaced by consumers, but this was not done. So, in 2022-2023, more than 8.5 million devices are to be installed.

In this regard, the opportunity was recently extended for two years not to replace, but to verify apartment meters (whose service life has not yet expired) until the end of 2024. For a year, until the beginning of 2024, the procedure for reducing the payment for electricity for residents (a kind of fine in favor of the population) in cases where a new meter was not installed on time was also postponed.

The Code of Administrative Offenses has a fine for power grids that overdue the replacement of the meter: the organization can be punished by 100 thousand rubles.

If the organization does not fulfill its obligations to install meters, residents can contact the state housing inspectorate or the prosecutor's office. However, the State Duma is considering and, apparently, will promptly adopt a bill on a moratorium on these fines - they are supposed not to be charged until the beginning of 2024.

bbabo.Net