There are myriad driving forces behind the ongoing energy crisis – a sluggish reaction to return to normal demand following COVID-19 lockdowns, extreme weather events, and geopolitical shocks affecting global supply lines, to name a few.

Energy costs for households and businesses alike are rising steadily and prone to sudden hikes. Over the span of 24 hours in October 2021, UK wholesale gas prices saw a spike of 37% and those market fluctuations are becoming more and more frequent.

According to the think-tank Bruegel, EU countries have already spent in excess of €280bn in the past year to try and shield consumers from soaring energy costs driven by gas prices that are almost 12 times higher than the start of 2021.

Even before the recent crisis swept the globe, there was a growing recognition that we need to transform our approach to energy use – improving efficiency, empowering consumers, and developing energy systems with net zero targets in mind. Indeed, in the International Energy Agency’s landmark Roadmap to Net Zero Emission by 2050, they repeated their belief that a key solution is a dramatic scaling up of energy efficiency. Recent events only made that need more urgent.

To transform to our energy consumption, first we must measure and analyse our patterns of use.

Smart meter technology is central to this push for energy efficiency. The data that smart meters provide can shape our understanding of how we use energy, and what innovative solutions might look like.

Transforming our approach to monitoring vital services

Across the world, policymakers are increasing funding for grid modernization and supporting the rollout of smart technologies including smart metering.

This movement towards advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is already underway in many countries. AMI relies on an integrated system of equipment, communications, and information management programs that can give real-time data without the need for manual intervention.

For domestic use this infrastructure helps both users and providers. Real-time data helps consumers take command of their energy use and, in turn, their bills. They are incentivized to adopt more efficient approaches to their energy use through cost savings which, in the current climate, can go some way towards offsetting price increases.

But perhaps the greatest benefits are to be found in large industries and smart cities. These large scale projects are revolutionizing how energy is monitored and managed, and will be the driving force behind changing our collective consumption.

While the energy crisis garners the most attention right now, it is not the only place where the benefit of AMI can be seen. Meters can be used in any number of settings; optimizing practices in factories and warehouses, spotting leaks in water or gas pipes, or in encouraging efficient energy consumption in electric vehicles.

Moreover, proper smart meter use in these settings and managing our consumption of other essential resources are just as important for tackling the ongoing energy crisis.

Take water, for example. When we reduce our water consumption through smart monitoring and planning, we also save on the energy required to heat water and to clean wastewater. On the larger scale, water utility companies are deploying smart meters across their networks to help them to monitor use and to pinpoint the location of leaks. This saves both water and energy.

Smart cities function thanks to a connected network of systems that are underpinned by AMI that provides immediate insight and monitoring. It gives public bodies and private industries the steer to make informed decisions about supply and demand, and how to optimize their efficiency.

Playing our part in the smart meter revolution

Broadly, smart meters are considered to be one of the greatest IoT success stories, with more than 700 million installed smart meters worldwide (January 2019, Omdia).

As the spread of smart meters continues at pace the devices themselves need to be truly robust and long-lasting – as do the batteries that power them.

Saft’s batteries for metering are designed to last with high performance for 20 years and more, even in extreme temperatures and conditions. This reduces the need for early and costly replacements, and helps businesses to cut costs and lower their carbon footprint.