Market facilitation
The delivery of timely and correct data on our customers’ energy use to TenneT and market parties is known as market facilitation. In 2023, the importance of correct and timely metering of energy consumption and feed-in increased significantly in view of congestion management. For instance, in order to prevent grid overload, we check whether the contracted capacity use is not being exceeded.
KPIs | Note | Unit | Result for 2022 | Target for 2023 | Result for 2023 | Target for 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Market facilitation | |||||||
Smart meter data provision* | The timely and full provision of smart meter data for energy services and market processes. | % | 97 | ≥ 97 | 98 | ≥ 98.5 | |
- * In 2024, this KPI will be changed to ‘First Time Right P4 smart meter data provision’
Grid quantification and data quality
Behind-the-scenes quantification of all the energy flows transmitted through Stedin’s grids is an important pillar of our operations and fundamental to the functioning of the energy market as a whole. We use this information among other things to make better analyses of (the state) of our grid. This helps us to optimally utilise the grid.
Good data quality is essential for grid quantification. This year, therefore, we focused on further improving data quality. Using an increasing number of automated data checks, we can detect and remedy data contamination directly at the source.
Central Metering Data Platform
Market facilitation in large part revolve around sharing smart meter data. Sector-wide, the use of remote data reading via smart meters increased by 40% in 2023 compared with 2022. In 2023, Stedin received around 260 million data requests per month. In 2022, this figure was around 185 million.
To facilitate all this data traffic, EDSN in September 2023 developed the Central Metering Data Platform in cooperation with all the grid managers. Through this platform, we share data we read out from the smart meters every 15 minutes. These 15-minute meter readings enable us to offer ‘dynamic energy tariffs’. With the customer's consent, we measure the consumption and feed-in on the relevant connections every 15 minutes. In this way, suppliers can fine-tune their energy purchasing and charge their customers based on the energy market prices.
Allocation 2.0
The amount of energy fed into the grid must always equal the amount of energy consumed (allocation). Using special calculation methods, grid managers estimate the amount of energy their customers are likely to use. Due to the increase in renewable generation, electric transport and climate change, these calculation methods have become less and less accurate.
In the nationwide programme Allocation 2.0, we are working together with other regional and national grid managers and market parties to create an energy system that is flexible and can therefore be sustainable and future-proof. In the context of this programme, a new, more accurate method of allocating energy flows to the various energy parties was rolled out in April 2023.
Market facilitation: facts and figures for 2023
Transmission costs charged to our customers: revenue of 1,584 million in 2023 (2022: € 1,134 million)
Monthly validation of consumption on more than 51,000 heavy-use and business connections.
Customer switches (to a different energy supplier) on 432,856 connections processed (2022: 429,296 connections). The substantial drop in 2022 compared to 2021 was largely due to the high energy tariffs. We were not yet back to normal levels in 2023, although we did observe a slight increase.
Checks on 24,374 GWh of electricity and 3,602 million m3 of gas transmitted in 2023 (2022: 20,746 GWh and 3,782 million m3 respectively).
Number of connections with no energy contract 58,636 (2022: 54,384).
Smart meter data
To facilitate the energy transition, we need smart grids that provide insight into the status of the grid. Together with customer demand, this data provides important information to accurately predict where bottlenecks may arise in our grid in the future. At the same time, we are working with partners on innovative solutions that can accelerate the energy transition. Insight into consumption and better matching of energy consumption and supply are of key importance for the energy transition. If we provide accurate smart meter data to parties such as energy suppliers, they will be able to make better estimates of the development of energy needs. This helps us prevent grid congestion.
Since the Code of Conduct for Smart Grid Management(Gedragscode Slim Netbeheer) came into effect, we use smart meters on the low-voltage grid not only for meter readings. For example, smart meters also enable us to read out the voltage in the event of voltage failures, or to obtain data on the status of a meter in case of a power failure in order to locate the failure. You can read more about this in the ‘Management’ section.
Connectivity for reading out smart meters
In 2023, we continued to work with Enexis and Alliander on the collective telecommunications strategy entitled ‘Samen, Flexibel, Nu’ ('Together, Flexible, Now'). The first initiative under this strategy is the joint procurement of a SIM card (sector eSIM) through which we will create a flexible and future-proof solution for reading out smart meters.
