Germany: Dusseldorf makes history with AMM

Stadtwerke Dusseldorf had a turnover of 1.33 billion Euros in 2006 and employs over 2500 people. It has approximately 520,000 end electricity customers in Dusseldorf and the region. It supplies electricity, gas, district and central heating as well as drinking water and incinerates domestic waste.

Uwe Schöneberg, member of the board of directors at Stadtwerke Dusseldorf said: “Our customers will now be able to analyse their energy consumption through active participation and thereby make energy savings. This contributes to a reduced burden on their finances, while also making a contribution to the protection of the environment.”

Dr. Werner Goertz, Head of the Department of the Environment of the region of Dusseldorf, said: "With this project, customers have a further possibility to reduce their electricity use on their own initiative. Data will be evaluated and savings opportunities identified by us along with the utility and the consumer centre. “

The contract, signed in February, comprises system software, concentrators, meters as well as the ecoMeter. The first thousand meters are currently being installed at the homes of 1000 utility customers within the city of Dusseldorf who volunteered to be part of the project.

From autumn 2008 Landis+Gyr will introduce the eco-Meter, the in-home display, into the customers’ homes. This will enable customers to monitor their individual energy consumption in terms of cost, as well as the amount of greenhouse gas emissions their consumption produces, directly from the small display, which they can place in their living room or kitchen.

Other developments include the connection of the meter to other, multi-energy media such as gas and water, giving the customer a further insight into their individual consumption patterns.

Regular questionnaires will be sent to project participants in order to monitor how they find the new communication channels, and to analyse how this affects the usage of these channels.

The project, which is a pilot lasting one year, is being carried out in conjunction with the ministry for the environment of the regional capital of Dusseldorf, the consumer advice center NRW and the centre for innovative energy systems at Dusseldorf university of applied sciences.