🧭 1. What does the Smart Meter ordering process look like?
The path from ordering a Smart Meter to switching to the dynamic SimplyDynamic tariff works as follows:
Check availability & cost (Website/App)
Place your Smart Meter order
Ostrom reviews your data & forwards your order to the grid operator
Grid operator checks feasibility & schedules an installation appointment
Smart Meter is installed at your home
Meter data is transmitted via market communication
Grid operator switches you to registrierende Lastgangmessung (RLM)
Switch to the SimplyDynamic tariff once regular consumption data is received
🌐 2. How can I order a Smart Meter?
👉 You can request a Smart Meter in two ways:
through our website, or
directly in your Ostrom app
Prerequisite: You must be located in a cooperating grid area.
📍 3. How do I know if a Smart Meter is possible at my location—and what it costs?
On our website, simply enter:
your postcode, and
your annual electricity consumption
You will then see:
whether we have a partnership with your grid operator, and
how much the installation of the Smart Meter will cost.
💬 If you want to know the exact cost for your specific Smart Meter, just ask us in the chat.
📤 4. What happens after I place my order?
After you submit your order:
we review your data, and
we forward all Smart Meter orders to the grid operator at the beginning of each month.
You don’t need to take any further action — we handle everything.
🏢 5. What does the grid operator do after receiving the order?
After receiving your order, your grid operator checks:
whether a Smart Meter can technically be installed at your location.
If the check is successful:
the grid operator will contact you directly with an installation date proposal, or
a service company commissioned by the grid operator (e.g., a metering technician) will contact you to schedule the installation.
🚫 6. What happens if installation is not possible?
If your grid operator cannot perform the installation:
we will contact you
and inform you of the reason for the rejection.
📋 7. What are typical reasons for rejection?
Some common reasons why a Smart Meter cannot be installed are:
🔧 Metering concept (incompatible setup)
⚙️ Controllable consumption devices
🧩 Competitive metering operator (wMSB) active at the supply point
📡 Insufficient signal at the meter location
🌞 Feed-in systems (e.g., PV systems requiring special metering concepts)
🔗 Meter cascades
Important notes:
Not all reasons apply to all grid operators.
Grid operators are at different stages of Smart Meter rollout.
Many operators are working on adapting metering concepts or finding alternative solutions (e.g., when there is no signal at the meter location).
⏱️ 8. How long does the grid operator have to carry out the installation?
Once the feasibility check is successful, the grid operator has:
up to 4 months to install the Smart Meter in your home.
🔧 9. How long does the installation take?
The installation of your Smart Meter typically takes:
about 30 minutes.
📸 10. What should I do after the installation?
After your Smart Meter is installed, you are welcome to:
send us a photo of your new meter (e.g., in the chat).
Important:
We cannot manually add your new meter to our system.
All meter data must be transmitted to us via market communication from your metering point operator.
⏳ 11. How long does data transmission take—and what if nothing happens?
Data transmission times vary by metering operator, but:
typically, all data should arrive within 12 weeks.
If your meter data has not arrived within 12 weeks:
➡️ Please contact us so we can follow up with your metering operator.
📊 12. Why is switching to RLM important for the dynamic tariff?
To use our SimplyDynamic tariff, we need:
confirmation from your grid operator that your metering setup has been switched to registrierende Lastgangmessung (RLM).
Only then can we receive your interval consumption data (e.g., every 15 minutes).
📅 Since December 1st, 2024:
the supplier’s right to choose the forecast basis has been removed.
your grid operator is now responsible for performing the automatic rebalancing (Umbilanzierung).
Further details can be found in the:
📄 "Application Guide – 24-Hour Supplier Change (Electricity)" (BDEW), see page 120.
🔁 13. When will I be switched to the SimplyDynamic tariff?
As soon as all requirements are met:
We receive regular interval consumption data via market communication.
We then switch you to SimplyDynamic at the next possible date.
You will receive a tariff change confirmation by email with all important information.