Japan accelerates deployment of smart meters after March quake

Smart meters for among 80% households to be delivered come 2015 instead of 2020.

“Our original target to deploy smart meters in Japan was introducing smart meters for all users in the 2020’s as early as possible. However after the earthquake in Japan, we will accelerate the plan drastically and so smart meters will be installed, within five years, for 80% of total energy demand,” said Takuya Kimura, a representative of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry during the Singapore International Energy Week.

According to Mr. Kimura, the government is also keen to promote realizing the visualization of real-time energy consumption data by utilizing smart meters and introducing electricity tariffs to promote “peak-cut“ and “peak-shift.”

“METI and Smart grid related companies have been discussing how to utilize energy consumption data for contributing to the energy conservation and creating new businesses. We promote the data utilization by not only Utility companies but also third parties as new servicers,” he said.

“So we plan to establish the special working team composed of stakeholders to standardize the data flow, data format, security and so on. We believe that such kind of data utilization will realize the energy conservation and the creation of a new industry and an enormous market,” he added.