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How E.ON implements meter-to-cash with NB-IoT in compliance with EED and without Vendor Lock-in
This use case shows how E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions uses modern NB-IoT connectivity as part of a digital asset strategy. With smart wireless technology and Elvaco modules, meter readings are captured and processed efficiently for billing purposes in compliance with the European Union’s Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions GmbH supports cities, municipalities and industrial companies in transforming their energy infrastructure across the entire value chain – from planning through to the ongoing optimisation of energy generation and management systems. Its responsibilities also include meter-to-cash processes for heat supply companies, ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements arising from the German implementation of the European Union’s Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
Challenge
E.ON has established a company-wide process covering everything from energy meter reading through to receipt of customer payment. The implementation of the EED in Germany in the form of the “Fernwärme- oder Fernkälte-Verbrauchserfassungs- und -Abrechnungsverordnung (FFVAV)“, the German regulation on the metering and billing of district heating and cooling consumption, presented the energy provider with a number of challenges: by the end of 2026, all properties must be remotely readable, and customers must be able to access intra-year consumption information. Across Germany, E.ON operates several hundred sites that must roll out and remotely read a total of 16,000 heat meters by the end of 2026.
Solution
The NB-IoT wireless standard proved compelling thanks to its strong building penetration, availability and reliable data transmission. It is also well suited to E.ON’s many decentralised projects across Germany. NB-IoT does not require a dedicated infrastructure: the technology uses the existing transmission masts and networks of major mobile network operators. Installation and commissioning of the modules do not require specialist expertise. Time was another important factor, as NB-IoT does not require readout locations to be built and maintained on site.
E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions recognised early on the issues associated with proprietary solutions that result in vendor lock-in. It therefore sought an approach that would allow equivalent hardware from other providers to be used.
The answer was Elvaco’s technology-agnostic meter communication module, which integrates seamlessly into the existing systems. Once the Elvaco modules have been installed and activated, they transmit meter data directly to E.ON’s own IoT infrastructure, where the meter values and other data are collected and processed.
Successes
In spring 2024, E.ON developed the corresponding product: the “digital customer meter”. It consists of a meter from Landis+Gyr, the NB-IoT module from Elvaco, a SIM card for the Telekom mobile network and a long-life battery. The key driver for the project was the meter-to-cash use case – in other words, the implementation of billing processes, for which E.ON now has a reliable technology in place. The solution also enables further useful applications. Elvaco’s modules provide not only consumption values, but also data such as flow and return temperatures. Some E.ON operating companies have used this data to develop small prototypes, which they make available to network operations. This allows so-called weak points in the network to be identified and visualised on a map.
E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions has also implemented a quality assurance system. This enables those responsible to detect immediately when a meter is sending incomplete data packages or has stopped sending data packets over an extended period of time. Thanks to remote reading, manual readings and technician visits to faulty meters are no longer required. The meter modules can be restarted remotely by Elvaco – and in most cases, this resolves the issue automatically. A further advantage is that, on the infrastructure side, all data is available in one place. Overall, this reduces the personnel effort required by E.ON, saves costs and frees up capacity and resources.
Products used
Sven Eckert, Digital Product and Transformation Manager at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions GmbH:
“As the central control and strategy unit, we present the implemented use cases to our operating companies and support effective collaboration as well as a fast and efficient company-wide rollout. The results are compelling: by the beginning of 2026, six operating companies were already using the data productively and were in the rollout phase. More are being added every month – for example, Envia Therm GmbH moved into implementation following a pilot project.”
Highlights
- 16,000 heat meters remotely readable by the end of 2026
- Elvaco’s technology-agnostic meter communication module prevents vendor lock-in
- More than meter-to-cash: network optimisation and quality assurance in addition to billing
