Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania (DEER) is carrying out an information campaign addressed to users in its distribution area regarding the importance of ensuring access to electricity meters located on private properties, in order to carry out periodic readings of these measuring equipment.
Periodic reading of electricity meters is a legal obligation of the distribution operator, provided for by the Electricity and Natural Gas Law no. 123/2012 and by the regulations issued by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE).
In the case of household customers, reading is carried out once every three months and ensures the regularization of consumption and the issuance of invoices in accordance with the electricity actually consumed.
To carry out this activity, it is necessary that representatives of the distribution operator can have access to meters located on private properties, in situations where they are not accessible from the public domain.
Allowing access to electricity meters brings direct benefits to users. Periodic reading of the index allows for billing of actual consumption, eliminates differences generated by estimates and contributes to the early identification of any unusual changes in electricity consumption, which may signal malfunctions of the internal installation, of the electricity metering group or other situations that require additional checks.
At the same time, access to electricity meters contributes to the proper functioning of the distribution system and to the correct monitoring of the energy distributed in the network, an essential aspect for maintaining the quality of the service offered to all users of the electricity distribution network.
DEER recommends that users allow access to representatives of the distribution operator when they are scheduled to read the meters and to check, whenever they deem necessary, the identity of the person carrying out the reading.
All readers who carry out this activity on behalf of Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania wear their service ID card. Their activity aims at reading the meter and checking the metering group, in order to correctly record the electricity consumption and verify its functioning.
Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania calls on the collaboration of users and recalls that the distribution operator is responsible for the operation, maintenance, development of the distribution network, as well as for the measurement of distributed electricity, an activity distinct from that carried out by electricity suppliers. Good collaboration between the distribution operator and users contributes to ensuring a safe, efficient and transparent service, for the benefit of all consumers.
The meter reading activity is carried out by DEER, through authorized personnel, in the 18 counties in Romania it serves: Alba, Bihor, Brăila, Bistrița-Năsăud, Brașov, Buzău, Cluj, Covasna, Dâmbovița, Galați, Harghita, Maramureș, Mureș, Prahova, Satu Mare, Sălaj, Sibiu, Vrancea.
“Access to the meter is not only an obligation provided by law, but also a guarantee that each user pays exactly for the energy they consume. Through this campaign we want to strengthen users’ trust in the work of our field teams and explain the essential role that periodic meter reading has for the correct functioning of the distribution service,” said Mihaela Suciu, DEER General Manager.