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Find out how a smart meter can help you save on your bill
Want to save on electricity? With the help of smart meters, it’s possible – and we’ll explain everything in this article. But first, let’s look at how these devices work and what their main benefits are.
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Main benefits of having a smart meter

Unlike traditional meters, which require manual readings, a smart/digital meter automatically records and sends consumption data. This means you no longer need to submit readings or wait for technicians to visit your home. 

Bills are always based on actual consumption, eliminating estimates and reading errors, making invoicing fairer and more transparent. In addition, you can monitor your energy usage, change your contracted power, report faults, and access other services through our Balcão Digital, all without the need for direct contact. 

Discover more benefits of smart meters on this page. 

So, how can smart meters actually help you save money each month?

Having a smart meter on its own doesn’t automatically guarantee energy savings. The real difference lies in the actions you take by using the information the meter provides.

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smart meters save on your bill

The digital energy meter allows you to analyze:

  1. Real-time data 

    A smart meter tracks your daily energy use, showing you when you consume the most – so you can take control and cut back. 

  2. Contracted power 

    The contracted power corresponds to the maximum amount of energy you can use at the same time and affects the fixed charge on your monthly bill, even if you consume little electricity. By accessing real consumption data, you can check whether you’re paying for more power than you actually need. You can view and change your contracted power through our Balcão Digital.

  3. Flexible tariffs 

    With the right information at your fingertips, you can analyze your data and choose a flexible tariff tailored to your needs. These tariffs offer different energy prices depending on the time of day, the day of the week, or even the season. During off-peak periods – usually at night or on weekends – energy costs are lower. By shifting your consumption to these periods, you can significantly reduce your bill. 

Other tips to control your energy consumption

To optimize your energy use even further and make the most of your smart meter, here are some practical tips you can adopt in your daily routine: 

  • Use appliances during off-peak hours (when applicable);
  • Track and compare your consumption in our Balcão Digital;
  • Adjust your habits based on identified peak usage times;
  • Review your tariff plan and adjust your contracted power if needed;
  • Use tools and apps to better plan your energy usage;
  • Analyze your monthly habits to identify consumption patterns;
  • Invest in efficient appliances and adopt best usage practices. 
The role of smart meters in the energy transition 

Smart meters don’t just help reduce your electricity bill – they’re also a key element in accelerating the energy transition.

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These devices make it easier to integrate renewable sources, such as solar or wind power, by providing real-time data that enables better management of both production and consumption. For example, a solar panel system can automatically adjust the distribution of the energy it generates, storing any surplus or feeding it into the grid when it’s not needed immediately. 

Smart meters are also essential for self-consumption and for the operation of energy communities – groups of consumers and producers who share electricity among themselves. This way, the surplus energy from one household or business can be used by other members of the community, making the most of the renewable energy generated. 

The consumer’s impact on the energy of the future

The energy transition doesn’t depend solely on new technologies. Every daily choice, whether at home or at work, has the power to transform the way we consume energy and drive real change in our country. By making use of the information smart meters provide, we take on an active role in building a more sustainable future. 

By changing habits – such as using energy during off-peak hours or investing in renewable sources – we contribute to a cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient power grid. 

Taking part in this transformation is an invitation to everyone: consumers, citizens, and agents of change. The collective impact of our individual actions will be decisive in the race toward a greener planet and an energy model that safeguards the future of the next generations.

Smarter solutions for more efficient businesses

Smart meters offer businesses much more than just savings: they provide control and detailed access to energy consumption data. This is especially valuable for corporate clients looking to optimize energy management and increase operational efficiency.

With these devices, it’s possible to analyze consumption by hour, department, or equipment, enabling more precise and informed management. In addition, smart meters support energy audits and make it easier to prepare ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports – essential for companies committed to environmental responsibility and sustainability. 

Smart Metering Plus Pilot Project

E-REDES is strengthening its commitment to innovation and the energy transition, taking on an active role with its customers. 

To this end, it will launch a pilot project to test, under real conditions, the devices and interfaces for the virtualization of the HAN port. 

This will make it possible to assess the technology and concept in real use, gather customer feedback on the interfaces (App, Balcão Digital, and API), and prepare new services.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Smart Metering Plus is a technological solution that facilitates near real-time access to smart meter data. In practical terms, it consists of virtualizing access to the HAN port, which currently can only be done locally and by installing an additional device by the interested party.

    This solution includes two main features:

    • Access to a standardized API for online, near real-time access to smart meter data. This API provides raw data, equivalent to what currently happens with the physical HAN port.
    • Access to real-time information and new services, made available directly to the end customer through the E-REDES APP and/or Digital Counter.
       

  2. Energy management at the residential and small business level is becoming increasingly important in the context of energy transition (PV, PCVE, heat pumps, etc.). This energy management requires (almost) real-time knowledge of consumption, production, and connection status to the distribution network.

    The Smart Metering Plus solution facilitates access to consumption and production data in (almost) real time, as this data is now available online. This easier access to data will enable the market to develop and promote new services of real value to the customer. These services may be provided by third parties, namely by marketers, energy service providers, and/or aggregators (among others).

  3. As this is a new service currently under development, the pilot project has a number of complementary objectives:

    · To test the technological solution and concept in a real environment;

    · To obtain customer feedback on the service and interfaces provided (APP, Digital Counter, and API);

    · To optimize the solution before any industrialization of the service;

    · To prepare for the provision of additional services.

  4. As this is a new service currently under development, the information and services available during the pilot phase will be a subset of the final service.

    During this pilot phase, a subset of the information available on the physical HAN interface will be available, in accordance with specification document DEF-C44-509. Specifically, the following quantities will be available: instantaneous imported and exported power (*), imported and exported active energy totalizers, maximum power, and instantaneous voltage (*). [*with phase discrimination in the case of three-phase installations]

    At a later stage, after the pilot, the customer will be able to select the subset of information to receive/consult.

  5. Participants in the pilot programme will have access to information through the Digital Counter, the E-REDES app, and a standardised API. In the case of the Digital Counter and the E-REDES app, information will be made available in visual and/or graphic format. In the case of the API, raw data will be made available in standardised format.

  6. The frequency of information updates during the pilot phase will normally be less than 10 seconds.

    However, considering that service optimization is one of the objectives of the pilot, there may be adjustments to the frequency of information updates during the course of the pilot.

  7. Participation in the pilot phase does not entail any additional costs for participants.

  8. The pilot program is expected to last six months.

  9. The pilot phase will serve to optimize the service, tailoring it as closely as possible to the needs of customers and other relevant stakeholders. To this end, it is hoped that, by the end of the pilot, participants will be able to provide feedback on the service (in its various forms—Digital Counter, APP, and API) and opportunities for improvement.
     

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Learn more about smart meters

If you want to deepen your knowledge of how these devices can transform your energy consumption, visit the smart meters page. There, you can find all the key information and a FAQ section to answer your questions.

How to access Balcão Digital

Through Balcão Digital, you can check consumption, report faults, and much more.

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