By 1 January 2027, flat owners and multi-local building managers must replace conventional water meters and heat meters with modern devices with distant reading function. This work is due to the amendment of the Energy Efficiency Act and aims to improve media consumption control and to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. Failure to comply with this request may consequence in severe sanctions, including financial penalties of up to PLN 10 thousand, and even imprisonment in utmost cases.
Scope and time limits for the exchange of meters
The fresh rules include all Heat meters, water meters and heating cost dividerswhich were fitted before May 22, 2021. In practice, this means that devices older than 4 years must be replaced with models allowing remote data reading. This solution allows for the day-to-day monitoring of media consumption and eliminates the request for collectors to visit the premises, which translates into convenience and greater accuracy of billing.
The exchange date is set to January 1, 2027, which means that building owners and managers have little and little time to adapt to the fresh requirements.
Exchange costs and settlement
Although the exchange of meters is formally presented as a free process, costs of installing fresh equipment are transferred to residents. In practice, this means that the amounts associated with modernisation are included in the monthly operating charges.
In the simplest cases, the financial contribution to the exchange is about 300 PLN per apartment. However, in premises with additional water bodies or ones that have not yet had individual measurement, costs may be importantly higher.
Penalties for failure to comply
Failure to comply is at hazard of severe penalties. The Act provides for fines reaching even PLN 10 000. Moreover, in circumstantial cases it is besides possible to apply arrest or restrictions on freedom to those liable for failing to comply.
It is worth noting that the exchange work does not apply to owners who already have counters with distant reading function. Exemptions are besides provided where the exchange would non-economic, i.e. erstwhile installation costs outweigh the possible savings resulting from the usage of modern equipment.
Benefits and challenges of modern meters
The introduction of meters with distant reading has a number of benefits that improve the comfort and efficiency of media management:
- No request to be present during readings – which reduces nuisance for residents.
- Faster and more precise access to water and heat consumption data.
- The anticipation of ongoing monitoring of consumption, which promotes savings and better energy management.
However, modern meters are not without defects. Apart from the comparatively advanced cost of the installation, they are besides more prone to failures than conventional mechanical devices, which can make additional operational problems.
Broader context of modernisation of meters in Poland and the EU
The modernisation of meters falls within the broader context of the European Union and Poland policy on improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings. This work is 1 of the elements of the wider digital transformation of the housing sector, which besides includes the exchange of electricity meters for smart distant reading devices.
Such actions aim not only to improve user accountability and convenience, but besides to reduce energy and water consumption in a real way, which is crucial in the fight against climate change and expanding media costs.
The upcoming date for exchange of meters requires owners and building managers to take action to avoid advanced penalties and legal problems. The introduction of modern distant reading systems will gradually change the property management market, as well as affect the regular habits of residents.
Further regulation on smart housing solutions can be expected in the coming years, which will be increasingly common and enforced by law.
Continued here:
Mandatory exchange of water and heat meters up to 2027: penalties up to PLN 10 1000 and detention for delays
