Rollout of digital meters among prosumers is on track
The rollout of digital energy meters among the last large group of 403,000 Flemish solar panel owners is on schedule. Specifically, this concerns customers with solar panels younger than 15 years old and inspected before 1 January 2021, who were given a reprieve until the end of 2024. In total, Fluvius has already installed digital meters in 67,000 of these Flemish prosumers. For 336,000 others, the installation is still scheduled this year.
Although the rollout of digital meters at prosumers is on schedule, Fluvius does notice that misinformation sometimes circulates via social media. And this can cause confusion. This is the case, for instance, with the compensation scheme for the 'reversed counter' and the retroactive investment premium. Fluvius is therefore pushing for additional information with these 4 main messages:
- Balance 'reversed counter' is automatically compensated
When Fluvius visits to install the digital meter, we automatically calculate whether there is still a balance 'reversed counter'. That is the difference between the meter reading at the previous final statement and the meter reading at the meter replacement. That balance will then be settled on the next final bill, just as with the previous reverse counter system. So prosumers never lose their already accrued solar power at the time of installation.
Note: customers should best wait until their next annual invoice after installation to change energy supplier or switch between single or dual hourly rates. Because then their balance does return to zero, as was the case before. The same goes for starting energy sharing, monthly invoicing or the SMR3 metering regime. - Don't wait too long to apply for your premium
Customers who had their solar panels installed between 2014 and the end of 2020 are often still entitled to a retroactive investment premium. For an average installation, that amount is between 1,000 and 2,000 euros. After the installation of the digital meter, the customer still has 6 months to apply for the premium. And after 31 December 2025, the premium can no longer be applied for. We therefore urge customers to be sure to check whether they are still entitled to a premium and best to apply for it as soon as the digital meter is installed. More information on the retroactive investment premium can be found here. - The digital meter does not change green certificates
Are you a customer still entitled to green certificates? Then the installation of the digital meter does not change that. So that system will continue as before. - Rescheduling appointments is possible, but limited
As with every customer who receives a digital meter, Fluvius also sends each prosumer an invitation several weeks in advance to fix an appointment. The meter replacement itself usually takes an hour.
Those who are invited can schedule their appointment themselves at a time that suits them, although customers must fix their appointment in good time and cannot reschedule it several times. After all, the placement is mandatory. Moreover, if clients keep excessively moving their appointment, they may lose their entitlement to a premium. Timely scheduling is therefore the message.
Read more about these 4 topics in the blog on the Fluvius website: https://www.fluvius.be/digitale-meter-zonnepanelen
More than 4.4 million digital meters in Flanders
Across all customer groups, 4,403,000 digital meters for electricity and gas had already been installed for the whole of Flanders by the end of February 2025. They are already installed in almost 7 in 10 houses, flats and small businesses. No fewer than 742,000 households actively monitor their energy consumption via my.fluvius.be. Some 224,000 customers use a smart app or control system to do so.
More info: www.fluvius.be/digitalemeter
Lara Lammens