Digital Access and Equity in National Utility Services

Digital transformation is reshaping Europe’s energy systems, enabling smarter grids, real-time analytics, and customer-centric services.

Yet, the benefits are not distributed equally.

The digital divide,  between urban and rural, affluent and disadvantaged, or connected and under-served, risks leaving communities behind at a time when reliable access to energy data is essential.

Digitalisation as a Public Good

Across the European Union, the Digital Decade policy programme (2030) commits to ensuring all households have access to gigabit connectivity. For utilities, this is not just a connectivity issue but an equity imperative. Without digital inclusion, national targets on demand-side flexibility, decarbonisation, and smart tariffs cannot be achieved.

Closing Gaps: Policy and Practice

• United Kingdom: The Smart Metering Implementation Programme, coordinated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, has already seen over 34 million meters installed. Yet, reports by Citizens Advice show that vulnerable households, particularly renters, risk being excluded from the benefits of smart tariffs if rollout is not equitable.
• Germany’s Bundesnetzagentur has mandated the gradual deployment of “intelligent measuring systems” for consumers above certain usage thresholds, ensuring high-consumption households drive early adoption while mechanisms are explored for wider affordability.
• Enedis (France) has deployed over 37 million Linky meters, combining digital rollout with community engagement programmes to address consumer trust and literacy gaps.

The Role of Utilities and MSPs

Bridging the digital divide requires not only infrastructure investment but also trusted solutions. Member-owned utilities and distribution system operators (DSOs) play a vital role in ensuring access to secure, interoperable, and affordable metering.

EDMI’s portfolio, from SMETS2-compliant devices in the UK to multi-utility platforms across Europe, enables policymakers and providers to demonstrate compliance while ensuring digital equity. By supporting remote configuration, accessibility-focused user interfaces, and secure data transparency, EDMI helps to align national rollout with inclusive energy transition goals.

Towards Equitable Energy Participation

Digital equity is not simply about access to devices. It is about ensuring that every household can participate in and benefit from the energy transition. That means affordable tariffs, transparent reporting, and protections for vulnerable groups.

Europe’s path to net zero depends on closing the digital divide. For utilities and governments alike, digital access is now as important as physical access, the new frontier of energy equity.