According to the requirements of Directive 2009/72/EC, Annex I, point 2, which are transposed in the Bulgarian Energy Act, Member States shall ensure the implementation of intelligent metering systems that shall assist the active participation of consumers in the electricity supply market.

The implementation of those metering systems may be subject to an economic assessment of all the long-term costs and benefits to the market and the individual consumer or which form of intelligent metering is economically reasonable and cost-effective and which timeframe is feasible for their distribution. The Member States had to perform such an assessment by 3 September 2012.

Subject to that assessment, Member States or any competent authority they designate (SEWRC – in the Bulgarian case) shall prepare a timetable with a target of up to 10 years for the implementation of intelligent metering systems. Where roll-out of smart meters is assessed positively, at least 80 % of consumers shall be equipped with intelligent metering systems by 2020.

With its Decision No “ИС-1” dated 31 July 2013, SEWRC concluded that the implementation of intelligent electric metering systems is currently not economically reasonable.

Taking into account the lack of positive assessment, respectively, SEWRC did not prepare a timetable for the implementation of intelligent metering systems.

The regulator recommends installation of intelligent metering systems up to 20% but not less than 10% by 2020, as well as their implementation to be financed by public resources – EU funds, thus not leading to price increase for the end customers.

There are about 130 000 smart meters installed by now, which represents 2.7% from the total number of the electric metering devices of the distribution companies.