Electricity metering devices (Russian market)

2022

28% reduction in electricity meter production to 6.3 million units

In 2022, about 6.3 million electricity meters were manufactured in Russia, which is 27.8% less than in 2021. Such figures are given in a study by BusinesStat, excerpts from which were published in December 2023.

Experts attributed the fall in the market for electricity metering devices to the loss of access to some components from manufacturers. The ability of the domestic industry to provide all production within the country with its own electronic boards necessary for the production of meters, in conditions of isolation from most Western suppliers, is limited, which affected the volume of production, the analytical report says.

Another reason for the fall in the electricity meter market is due to weakening consumer demand. The limited funds force to postpone the replacement of meters, and if for individuals it is a matter of their own choice, then for electricity suppliers it is a matter of fulfilling their own obligations. However, penalties for violating the planned deadlines for replacing meters were frozen until January 1, 2024. This allowed the companies to postpone the replacement.

According to the researchers, as fines for violating the planned terms of replacement come into force again, and manufacturers will be able to establish new channels for the supply of scarce components, a gradual increase in the production of electricity meters in Russia can be expected.

The following companies were named the largest manufacturers of electricity metering devices in Russia in 2022:

• IEC Holding;
• LLC "National Electrotechnical Company Morozova";
• JSC Electrotechnical Plants Energomera;
• Incotex Research and Production Company LLC;
• JSC "Ufa Instrument-Making Production Association."^[1].

In which countries Russia buys the most electricity meters

In 2022, about 984 thousand electricity meters were delivered to the Russian market from abroad, which is 630 thousand devices more than the export of these products. Such data in May 2023 led to the analytical agency BusinesStat.

According to the researchers, out of almost a million electricity meters imported into the Russian Federation in 2022, three quarters, or 765 thousand units, were meters from China. 95 thousand and 71 thousand meters were imported from Belarus and Slovenia, respectively. The rest of the countries accounted for about 5% of the total volume of meters imported into Russia for the year. At the same time, 6 out of 10 imported electricity meters are imported into the country without specifying a trademark or brand. In 2022, the peak of the import of electricity meters into Russia in 2022 fell in autumn - more meters were imported in November than in any other month, the research report said.

Analysts divide the meters according to three main criteria:

• devices of direct and transformer connection. The first group is directly connected to the network, and the second - only with a special transformer that is connected in front of the meter;
• single-phase and three-phase electrical appliances. The former are most often found in private houses or apartments, the latter are used at industrial facilities where a three-phase power grid designed for powerful equipment works.
• single-tariff and two-tariff counters.

From January 2022, power engineers must not only replace apartment electricity meters for free, but also install exclusively smart devices. The latter should be able, firstly, to independently transmit readings (residents do not need to write off numbers from the meter every month and enter or drive them into receipts). They can record voltage surges, attempts to open or influence residents on readings (for example, using magnets), remotely turn off or limit electricity to debtors, and connect back.^[2]

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