HEDNO, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, locally acronymed DEDDIE, intends to begin proceedings in 2018 for the replacement of 7.5 million conventional power meters with smart meters, the operator’s president Nikos Hatziargyriou noted during an interview at European Utility Week, a key annual energy-sector event.

An international tender for a pilot program concerning the replacement of 200,000 old meters has been completed but this preliminary stage of the overall project has been held up by legal complexities involving the Council of State, Greece’s Supreme Administrative Court.

HEDNO is currently preparing a national rollout plan for the installment of 7.5 million smart meters around the country over the next few years, Hatziargyriou informed.

The HEDNO boss also told that he envisions the operator becoming one of Europe’s ten leading distribution system operators based on a combination of quality services, low cost and environmental protection awarness.

Cooperation and exchange of knowhow with leading European operators, the objective being to explore opportunities offered by innovation and new technologies, is a key concern at HEDNO, Hatziargyriou pointed out.

DEDDIE is also exploring a“smart island” plan entailing major RES penetration at levels of over 60 percent on non-interconnected islands and use of storage cells to cover needs for considerable time periods each year, the operator’s head noted, while admitting this represents an ambitious plan which, to the best of his knowledge, has yet to be implemented anywhere on any non-interconnected island.