More than 900,000 users of Serbia’s power distribution system now have smart meters, allowing nearly one in four meters to be read remotely, according to the country’s distribution system operator (DSO), Elektrodistribucija Srbije.
The installation of modern meters is the result of investments supported by the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Preparations are underway to replace an additional 400,000 meters, with financial support from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
EDS noted that the initial momentum for the smart meter rollout was enabled by a EUR 10 million grant from the EU. The installation was continued thanks to a loan from the EBRD.
Komnenić: EDS is actively working on digitalization
The smart metering program represents a major step in modernizing Serbia’s electricity distribution grid, EDS stressed.
Smart meters enhance service quality for consumers, improve billing transparency and accuracy, and provide the data needed for better grid management, strengthening system reliability and supporting Serbia’s broader energy transition, the company stated.
EDS acting director Biljana Komnenić said the operator is actively working on digitalization and on integrating state-of-the-art technologies into the distribution grid.
Around EUR 200 million has been invested in smart meter deployment in Serbia so far
“So far, around EUR 200 million has been invested in the deployment of smart meters in Serbia, and almost every fourth meter is now read remotely. Our strategic decision is for every new connection to feature a smart meter,” she stressed.
For EDS, this means better grid visibility and more efficient management, while consumers can monitor their own consumption and improve energy efficiency, Komnenić added.
She announced that a portal will be launched this autumn, giving all smart meter users continuous insight into their consumption.
Komnenić, alongside representatives from the EU and the EBRD, visited a residential building in the southern city of Niš where 40 smart meters were installed.
Corbo: Distribution grid modernization is key to transitioning to a more efficient energy system
Francesco Corbo, the EBRD’s Regional Head of Energy for the Western Balkans and Croatia, stressed that distribution grid modernization is crucial for Serbia’s transition to a more efficient, resilient, and low-carbon energy system.
Through the bank’s support to EDS for the smart meter rollout, the EBRD is enhancing grid reliability and efficiency, which simultaneously enables greater integration of renewable energy sources and more active consumer participation, he added.
Von Beckerath: Serbia’s energy system is entering a new phase
According to Andreas von Beckerath, the EU Ambassador to Serbia, the benefits for Serbian citizens are simple and practical: more accurate bills, easier access to consumption data, and better control over household energy costs.
“This is important, as Serbia’s energy system enters a new phase – rooftop solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles, and local energy communities will increasingly reshape how electricity is generated, measured, and consumed,” he pointed out.
