How do we measure electricity consumption?
The main tool for measuring electricity consumption in your home is the meter. Find out how it works, how we read it, and what periodic replacement entails!
What is a meter?
It is a device that measures the amount of electricity transited (drawn from or delivered to the power grid), associated with a consumption or production place. Along with measuring transformers, intermediate elements that make up the measuring circuits, and security elements, it forms an electricity metering group.
Types of meters
Depending on the model and operating principle, meters can be induction or electronic. Induction meters have mechanical displays and measure a single type of electricity consumption. Electronic meters have digital displays and can record multiple indices or electrical measurements, such as for customers with time-based tariffs. A modern type of electronic meter is the smart meter.
Smart meter
It provides better control over consumption and uses secure communication technology to send collected data directly to us, eliminating the need for manual readings. The transmitted data includes energy consumption, load curve, and other electrical parameter values. This data is communicated via the PLC (power-line communication) system, using a data concentrator connected to the transformer station, which then transmits the data to the central system. More than half of our customers already have smart meters installed, and the rest will receive them according to ANRE-approved installation plans. Find out more here.
Meter reading
As a network operator, we conduct regular meter readings for residential and business customers every three months through on-site representatives or every month through the remote reading system (for smart meters). We can also read your meter in response to complaints or upon request (see rates here).
Consumption data
To access your consumption data log in to your account and access the “Date de consum” online service. This service includes load curve and readings history. The load curve provides data on energy consumption, distributed over time, and is only accessible to customers with a smart meter that can record hourly consumption and is integrated into a telereading system, and they know when and how much they consume and can take steps to increase their energy efficiency. The reading history is the consumption history based on the readings and can be viewed in the form of a table with the reading indexes saved in our system.
How do we read the meter?
It is important that the measurement of energy consumption by reading the meter in your home is done periodically and in complete safety. That’s why every employee of the companies that provide meter reading services for us has a valid ID with name, surname and photo, also signed by our company, so that you are safe. Click on the orange arrow in the corner of this border to find out with which companies we read the meters in each of the regions where we operate.
Muntenia:
Inform Lykos S.A. – Bucharest and Giurgiu county
Andrem Strategy S.R.L. – Ilfov county
Banat:
Inform Lykos S.A. – Arad and Timiș counties
Allsys Energy S.A. – Caraș-Severin and Hunedoara counties
Dobrogea:
Inform Lykos S.A. – Constanța county
Andrem Strategy S.R.L. – Călărași and Ialomița counties
Electro Strategy S.R.L. – Tulcea county
In your online account, you can see what consumption data your meters have recorded. If you have only one place of consumption, the reading history can be found on the main page of your account and gives you access to the index read by us at different time intervals.
If you have several consumption places associated with the account, go to “Istoric citiri” and the “Informații consum” button, then choose from the list the unique code (POD) related to the place for which you want to see the history.
From the online account, energy suppliers can send requests for meter readings to their customers by going to the category “Servicii online suplimentare de măsură”and then “Citiri la cerere”.
The service also allows requests for reading verification, reading of the claimed billed index, rescheduling of the regularization reading etc.
As a supplier, you can upload your customers’ self-readings directly from their online account by accessing “Încărcare autocitiri” on the home page.
You can simultaneously upload data for multiple clients, quickly and efficiently.
How do we verify the meter?
We conduct periodic meter verifications, including readings, based on the approved power level in the connection certificate:
At least once a year
Users with approved power over 1 MW, except those connected to low voltage (LV)
At least once every 3 years
Users with approved power between 100 kW – 1 MW, as well as those over 1 MW at LV and users below 100 kW at medium voltage (MV)
At least once every 4 years
Users with approved power between 30 kW – 100 kW at LV
If a meter malfunctions, we recalculate your energy consumption during the downtime according to ANRE Order no. 190/2020.
We need to receive a request from you or your electricity supplier stating the meter series, the type of fault and a contact telephone number. Among the possible faults can be found: no display, registration of excessive consumption or blocking of the meter. When checking the meter, you can request that it be carried out at a metrological laboratory certified by the Romanian Bureau of Legal Metrology, in which case we will replace your device, and later send you the result of the check via the supplier.
You can send us your reports of fraudulent activity, such as illegal network connections, through our contact form and help stop the fraud. If there are unauthorized interventions at the power plant, we will describe what we found in an information note. According to ANRE Decision no. 39851/26.06.2014, places of consumption suspected of fraudulent consumption remain supplied with electricity until the judgment of the courts.
In addition to the two types above, we can also check a group of measures when malfunctions of the telereading system occur at meters that have this function, when a field reading shows that the device is defective, unsealed or affected by an unauthorized intervention, at large business consumers that require checks before commissioning or following non-conformities observed during the analysis of consumption parameters.
As a supplier, you can send us meter group-specific requests for your customers directly from your online account by going to the category “Servicii online suplimentare de măsură” and then “Măsură”. The option will allow you to request both unsealing or resealing of the meter and its verification.
Additional services for proper meter functioning
Find out more about meter replacement, relocation, unsealing, or resealing.
Periodic change of meter
It is carried out every 15 years, free of charge, according to the regulations in force – The official list of measuring instruments subject to mandatory state metrological control, approved by 2022 L.O. Order.
Unsealing or resealing the meter
In the case of renovations that involve work such as changing the fuse panel or replacing the cables in your indoor installation, which requires intervention in the electrical panel, request, through your energy supplier, the unsealing/resealing of the meter and pay them the related tariff (see here). To be able to benefit from this service, you need to be the owner of the place of consumption, that is, to have a supply contract in your name concluded with the electricity supplier.
Counter repositioning
At your request, the meter can be moved, but the action involves starting a new connection process. Moving the meter involves changing the electrical installation and you need to make a request to issue a new ATR. You tick “modification of technical elements without exceeding the approved power” on the application, pay the issuance fee, sign the connection contract and follow the steps of the connection process.
Rates for metering and distribution services
Discover our rates for measuring electricity consumption and the rates set by ANRE for distribution services, depending on the region where you are.
Measurement data for settlement
As a supplier, you can download billing metrics from your online account by going to “Billing metrics” on the home page. We provide you with the data in accordance with ANRE decision no. 1790/14.08.2015 regarding the approval of the framework format of the measurement data in order to settle the electricity consumption.
Access your measurement data
Create a new account or log in to your private account to see the measurement data for your place of consumption.