Whether electricity or heating: Many people would like to have more visibility into their energy consumption. Three quarters (74 percent) would like to know which devices in their household use how much so that they can identify energy guzzlers. 59 percent would like information about the CO 2 emissions resulting from their consumption. 79 percent would like to have a smart meter on their heating system that shows in real time how much energy it is currently using. This is shown by the results of a representative survey commissioned by the digital association Bitkom among 1,008 people in Germany aged 18 and over.
Germans are consciously reducing energy consumption
According to this, 89 percent of Germans are currently consciously saving energy. 71 percent say: I would like to get an exact overview of my consumption more often and not just at the end of the year. “For the energy transition to be successful, the consumption of fossil fuels must be massively reduced and overall energy efficiency increased. People in Germany can and want to do their part – but they need practical help and support,” says Matthias Hartmann, member of the Bitkom Executive Board.
“The law to restart the digitalization of the energy transition is already being implemented. This is good and important in order to finally accelerate the spread of intelligent measuring systems, so-called smart meters. Smart meters are a basic requirement for the energy transition – and they offer private households valuable insights into their actual consumption.”
“For the energy transition to be successful, the consumption of fossil fuels must be massively reduced and overall energy efficiency increased. People in Germany can and want to do their part – but they need practical help and support.”
Matthias Hartmann, member of the Bitkom Executive Board
The vast majority of people in Germany are currently dissatisfied with the pace of the energy transition. 78 percent say the energy transition is going too slowly, which is another 7 percentage points more than in the previous year (2022: 71 percent).
A third of Germans do not know their own electricity consumption

Currently, a third of Germans (32 percent) cannot quantify how much their household electricity consumption is per year. That is slightly less than last year, when 40 percent did not know about their consumption. Nevertheless, many people are concerned with the topic of saving energy and take various measures to do so: 72 percent pay attention to power consumption when purchasing new devices, 59 percent turn on the lights at home less often and 53 percent avoid standby on electronic devices. Almost half (46 percent) completely unplug certain power guzzlers in the household and a third (36 percent) use the dryer less often. One in ten (10 percent) is streaming fewer films and videos on the Internet to save energy.
Most people would prefer to be able to understand the effect of such measures directly. 83 percent of consumers in Germany say: I would like to be able to read my electricity consumption as easily as I can see the data consumption on my cell phone or the fuel consumption in my car.
61 percent would use smart meters to create transparency
At the same time, interest in smart meters has increased again. 61 percent of Germans are now interested in digital, networked electricity measuring devices. In 2020 it was just 36 percent and 45 percent in 2021.

“With a smart meter gateway, every household can use a smartphone app to see exactly when and how much electricity is being used,” says Hartmann. “Smart meter gateways form the digital infrastructure for the energy system of the future. As digital, networked measuring devices, they ensure grid stability in order to integrate the volatile feed-in of electricity from wind and sun and at the same time high and variable consumption from electric cars or heat pumps into our electricity system.
Not everyone can use this technology yet. 31 percent have never heard or read about smart meters - at least 16 percentage points less than at the beginning of 2020, when it was 47 percent. “You can only take effective measures if you know how high your own consumption is, where it currently comes from and which devices are the biggest energy guzzlers,” emphasizes Hartmann. “The smart meter rollout therefore urgently needs to be accelerated and, above all, made less bureaucratic.”
“The smart meter rollout therefore urgently needs to be accelerated and, above all, made less bureaucratic.”
Matthias Hartmann, member of the Bitkom Executive Board
Variable electricity tariffs are generating great interest
Smart meters are also the prerequisite for dynamic and variable electricity tariffs that energy suppliers will have to offer their customers in the future - as the draft law to restart the energy transition stipulates. Such tariffs pass on the dynamic energy prices on the electricity exchange directly to households. To put it simply, the principle means: Electricity costs less when there is a large supply due to lots of sunshine and strong wind - and it costs more when these energy sources are only available to a limited extent. Currently, more than three quarters (78 percent) can imagine using a variable electricity tariff in the future. Households in Germany currently generally pay a fixed monthly fee - regardless of whether electricity is cheap or expensive on the stock exchanges.
“So far, flexible electricity tariffs for consumers have been an exception. Households can save money with such offers. For example, the electric car can be charged particularly cost-effectively at certain times,” emphasizes Bitkom executive board member Matthias Hartmann. A fifth (20 percent) still do not want to use variable electricity tariffs.
Almost three quarters are worried about hacker attacks on the power grid
Three quarters of Germans (74 percent) are of the opinion that digital technologies, devices and applications contribute to the success of the energy transition in Germany. Nevertheless, 72 percent are also concerned that hackers could paralyze a digitized power grid. “With the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and hybrid warfare also in the digital space, the threat of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure has come into focus. IT security must be strengthened in order to be able to detect and ward off attacks at an early stage,” says Hartmann. Half of consumers (52 percent) are also worried about the risk of a blackout.
69 percent would share their consumption data when heating
People in Germany want more clarity not only when it comes to electricity, but also when it comes to heating. 79 percent would like a smart meter that shows in real time how much energy the heating is currently using. 77 percent would welcome a seal or label that provides information about how energy efficient their own heating system is. The vast majority of Germans are also willing to provide anonymized data on their heat consumption. 69 percent - 10 percentage points more than in the previous year (2022: 59 percent) - would share their consumption data with their energy supplier if this meant they could save on heating costs in the future.
“The heat transition is underway – but there is still a lot of potential, especially when it comes to heating,” emphasizes Hartmann. “We could use household consumption data in a much more targeted manner and thus make heating more efficient and climate-friendly. Too much of the final energy consumption is still spent on warm apartments and warm water.” In order to save energy, not only classic energy-saving renovations are necessary, but also smart control of heating systems – in commercial properties as well as in private households.
79 percent would like more information about saving energy
Politicians particularly want more information for owners and tenants about saving energy. That's what 79 percent of those surveyed say. 63 percent call for the rollout of smart electricity meters to be accelerated. Well over half (57 percent) think that energy-saving smart home technologies should receive more government support. 46 percent support financial incentives for landlords to install energy-saving smart home technologies in apartments.
Bitkom executive board member Hartmann: “The federal and state governments must now quickly and consistently adopt and implement the law to restart the digitalization of the energy transition. Energy efficiency, climate protection and decarbonization are inextricably linked to digitalization - digitalization is essential for the energy transition." In addition to the accelerated smart meter rollout, which can be rolled out even faster through realistic technical standards, processing is also necessary and to facilitate the use of anonymized consumption and measurement data.
Above all, individual households need to be given more insight into their daily energy consumption. “Only those who know exactly where the most energy is used can make targeted savings. Consumption must be as simple as possible, e.g. “It can, for example, be visible via an app – ideally in real time, but at least on a daily basis,” emphasizes Hartmann. “The expansion of renewable energies and, above all, energy efficiency must now be strongly promoted. And that’s only possible with the necessary digital infrastructure.”
Source:
BITKOM
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