Industry players must “rapidly” agree on a set of common standards for the management of the energy systems of the technology-driven “smart homes,” the European Commission says in a draft retail market communication, which
Europolitics
has obtained.
“While standards have been defined for smart meters and smart distribution networks, standardisation and interoperability have to be extended into the home – to smart appliances and home energy management systems,” the draft text reads.
With smart technologies set to allow consumers to…
Experimenting with contract types
Consumers need to have access to price signals that allow them to be flexible with their consumption, the draft communication reads. These kinds of signals depend on the type of contracts customers have with their provider. One type of contract the Commission is highlighting is based on so-called dynamic pricing, one that would have short settlement periods of about an hour that could highlight to the customer how his or her behaviour influenced the final bill. “Although still in their infancy, initial experience with dynamic price contracts shows that they can deliver the best deals for consumers, while their popularity depends on information, personal preferences and billing options – just as with fixed versus flexible mortgage rates,” according to the text. These kinds of contracts are increasingly popular in Sweden and Finland.