Order Process Smart Meter

Written by Philip Janz
May 5, 2026

🧭 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.

Link to Website

📍 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.

Once the grid operator declines the installation, Ostrom can no longer mediate the meter change on your behalf.

👉 What can you do? You have two options to get your meter changed:

• Contact your grid operator (Netzbetreiber) directly to discuss alternatives or find out when installation may become possible.
• Reach out to a wettbewerbliche Messstellenbetreiber (wMSB) — a competitive metering point operator who can install the meter independently of the grid operator.

📋 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:

1. We receive regular interval consumption data via market communication.
2. We then switch you to SimplyDynamic at the next possible date.
3. You will receive a tariff change confirmation by email with all important information.