Smart grids

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DSO have been installing electricity smart meters in the mainland and in Madeira region. Decree-Law no. 15/2022, of 14 January, orders the integration in a smart grid of every BTN customer in the mainland Portugal, by 2024. Their integration in a smart grid allows customers to access a set of new advanced services.

Smart grid infrastructure includes not only the smart meters but also ICT and data management systems. Only with all these elements, it is possible to offer smart grid services to the end-user.

ERSE approved the Smart Grid Services Code (RSRI) for electricity distribution, which designed the services to be offered by network operators and suppliers to users integrated in a smart grid. The new smart grid services include, for instance:

Daily remote meter reading and availability, in an electronic platform, of the detailed 15 minute demand and generation data
Bills based on actual consumption, without estimates
Possibility to access the meter locally, with close to real time data available
Possibility to remotely change the contracted power and access other services, without having to be present at your facilities and with shorter scheduling times
Alerts for consumption level and usage of contracted power

DSO who offer smart grid services to users are awarded with an incentive. The incentive ensures the sharing of costs and benefits with consumers, based on the actual availability of the services.

RSRI was approved by Regulation no. 817/2023, of 27 July, following Public Consultation no 113. The previous versions can be consulted at ERSE's Normative Acts.

Smart Grid Services Code – only available in Portuguese

Smart Grids Implementation

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Current situation

At the end of the first half of 2025, 99% (i.e., 6.4 million) of Normal Low Voltage installations in mainland Portugal had smart meters and were integrated into a smart grid, accessing the services provided for in the Regulation, such as:

Daily remote collection of readings and load diagrams
Data provision on the network operator's platform
Remote provision of various services
Billing without estimates

See the ERSE Report on smart grids in mainland Portugal, which analyses the particular situation of each low-voltage network operator, with reference to the first half of 2025.

Through smart grids, customers can:

Access power data via the network operator's or supplier's electronic platforms, or even directly from the meter
Use the data to choose the most suitable supply offer, adjust the contracted power or identify potential for reducing consumption or bills
Gain knowledge about their consumption, encouraging the adoption of more efficient consumption equipment or self-consumption, or a change in consumption habits

Smart grid systems are subject to monitoring of their performance and the quality of the services provided. Access to this new data environment is facilitated by the publication of the energy data access Procedures, namely by third parties wishing to provide data-based services, with the customer's consent.

Smart grid key performance indicators

As provided for in Decree-Law No. 15/2022, of January 14, and in the Networks Operation Code (ROR), ERSE approved the electricity smart grids key performance indicators (Directive no. 19/2024, of August 19), following proposals presented by network operators and a public consultation procedure.

The approved indicators are grouped in 10 dimensions: network planning, observability and controllability, asset management and power losses, quality of service, system and flexibility services, coordination between operators, new actors in the power system, provision of information to grid users, cybersecurity and economic efficiency.

Smart grids have become a pillar of the energy transition and these key indicators will make it possible to assess their performance, contributing to the adoption of measures (political, regulatory, operational) that guarantee or accelerate the achievement of the desired results with the development of these grids.

Electricity transmission and distribution network operators in mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira are responsible for reporting these indicators, by May 15th of each year, with reference to the previous year.

The network operators must use the indicators reporting model, as well as the manual to help complete it, in the current version.