BKW

The largest smart meter rollout in Switzerland is starting at record speed. One year after the rollout started, BKW Energie AG (BKW) has already installed 100,000 Kamstrup electricity meters. 

About BKW 

BKW supplies electricity to an area ranging from the Jura to the Bernese Oberland. The supply area includes alpine landscapes, rural regions, and urban agglomerations in German- and French-speaking Switzerland. The customer base is just as diverse: industrial companies, SMEs, over 100 downstream distribution system operators, government institutions, critical infrastructures, and private households – a true cross-section of society and the energy sector. As a leading energy and infrastructure company, BKW is actively shaping the energy system of tomorrow. In its grid business, where it operates Switzerland’s largest distribution network, BKW is driving forward the smart meter rollout, among other initiatives. 

Facts

Switzerland’s energy transition is closely linked to the federal government's Energy Strategy 2050, which outlines the long-term shift toward a sustainable, efficient, and CO₂-neutral energy supply. A key element of this strategy is the smart meter rollout. The nationwide rollout will automate and digitise electricity metering, facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, and increase energy efficiency. For example, the smart meters are a foundational component in enabling initiatives like "Local Electricity Communities" (LEGs). By the end of 2027, 80% of Swiss electricity meters must be replaced with smart meters. BKW is aiming for 100% coverage by 2028 with all BKW customers having smart meters installed by then. 

Scope of the project 

As part of a nationwide rollout, BKW will install over 400,000 OMNIPOWER® electricity meters by 2028, including a head-end system from Kamstrup. The ambitious goal of installing 500 smart meters per day was achieved in record time. And in September 2025, just one year after the rollout began, a quarter of the project had already been implemented. The plan is to continue installing over 500 meters per day. "A rollout at this speed is a top achievement," says Urs Ackermann, Program Manager Smart Meter Rollout.

In a project of this scale, the development of new systems, processes, and functioning logistics is the biggest challenge – but at the same time the key to a smooth process. This requires a strong partner. During the selection process, Kamstrup impressed with its logistical coordination across delivery, installation, and data acquisition. These processes are crucial to enabling the rollout and play a critical role in the new "meter-to-bill" process. Follow-up processes, such as data processing and accounting, build on this foundation. The experience and commitment of the on-site Kamstrup team was also convincing. Together with the Kamstrup team in Switzerland, BKW tested how quickly meters could be installed. Ultimately, the installation process is crucial in the rollout. This decides, for example, how many meters a fitter can install per day, how quickly the data is then transferred to the meter-to-bill system, and how many customers can be reliably reached without reworking – for example using repeaters or external antennas. The results exceeded BKW's expectations. "Kamstrup's Swiss team did an outstanding job," says Urs Ackermann. From the excellently organised delivery process to the coordination with the installation service providers to the customer (BKW), the team’s commitment and efficient logistics enabled a quick rollout. 

When it came to the choice of partner, choosing the right technology was just as decisive as the logistics. And this is where Kamstrup's Radio Mesh solution proved to be a reliable and efficient technology for BKW. The system ensures a stable network through tight meshing and enables reliable, precise collection of consumption data. Thanks to the simple operation, time and costs can be saved without compromising quality and accuracy.

Even buildings in remote settings or with complex requirements can connect to the mesh system. "Kamstrup's Radio Mesh concept has proven to be reliable, even in remote and topographically challenging parts of BKW’s grid" says Urs Ackermann.

In areas where the network is not yet fully developed, a SIM card module offers a flexible temporary solution. This way, PV systems outside the scheduled rollout can be deployed quickly and reliably within the legal deadline.

It was also crucial that Kamstrup meets the highest standards of quality and data security. With the relevant Swiss certificates, established data collection systems, and many years of expertise in smart metering, Kamstrup offers the necessary basis of trust. 

The nationwide rollout will standardise BKW's meter fleet: Instead of numerous analogue variants with different settings, fewer meter types will be used in the future for noticeably reduced complexity.

Along the entire process chain – from measurement data management and accounting to customer service – there is the possibility of introducing new, digital, and automated procedures, processes, or products.  

Smart meters create transparency about one's own electricity consumption. Using the new energy monitoring service in BKW's online customer centre, customers can track their electricity consumption in detail. This makes it easier to identify power guzzlers and optimize consumption in a targeted manner. There is also no need for manual meter-readings, as the measurement data is transmitted digitally and automatically. This means that in the future, neither  customers nor hired staff will have to regularly record the meter reading manually and pass it on to the grid operator.

At the same time, the smart meter data provides valuable information about the current grid load. This allows grid planning to be improved in a targeted manner and grid expansion to be driven forward more efficiently. In addition, new opportunities in form of incentive schemes or pricing mechanisms may present themselves in the future to help optimise electricity consumption.

For Urs Ackermann, the central principle is: "The more data is recorded – in this case meaning more frequent and thus granular measurements – the more useful insights can be drawn from the data." Smart meter data is one of many keys to successfully mastering the challenges of the energy transition, such as phasing out nuclear energy, growing the share of renewables, and dealing with the electrification of mobility and heating.