Prosumer meter — bidirectional meter replacement in Romania

1. What is a prosumer meter

A prosumer meter is a bidirectional electricity meter that separately measures energy consumed from the grid (import) and energy exported to the grid (from your solar production). A standard residential meter measures only total consumption — one register, one direction. To become a prosumer in Romania, you need a meter that records both flows so the distribution operator (DSO) and your supplier know exactly how much you consume and how much you produce.

In practice it is a modern smart meter (with remote reading via GPRS or PLC), just configured for the prosumer regime. For most residential customers in 2026, the existing meter is already a smart meter — the swap consists of firmware reconfiguration + new sealing, not necessarily a physical meter replacement. If you're new to the whole journey, start with our step-by-step guide to going solar.

2. When the meter gets swapped

The meter swap (or reconfiguration) happens after you sign the prosumer contract with your supplier and after the solar system is installed and certified by the installer (the PT3 and TG technical reports per ANRE rules).

Legal deadline: maximum 30 business days from the official request to the DSO, per OUG 163/2022 and updated ANRE regulations. In practice, in 2026, scheduling takes 2–6 weeks depending on DSO and county:

• E-Distribuție Banat / Muntenia / Dobrogea: 2–4 weeks
• Distribuție Energie Electrică România (Transylvania, Moldova): 3–6 weeks
• Delgaz Grid (Moldova): 2–4 weeks
• PPC Electrica: varies by zone (3–6 weeks)

The DSO request is usually filed by your installer as part of the commissioning process. You then receive scheduling confirmation by SMS, email, or phone.

3. Who pays for the meter

The DSO pays — the meter is free for the prosumer. This is mandated in OUG 163/2022 and reconfirmed in ANRE rules. No DSO in Romania can charge a residential customer for the standard prosumer meter.

Rare exceptions where you might pay:

• Request to relocate the meter to a non-standard position — relocation cost is yours
• Meter destroyed or stolen before install — replacement cost is yours if the fault is yours
• Request for a meter with specs beyond the DSO standard (rare for residential)

Check the operator's documentation for any line item flagged as your obligation — in 99% of cases it is zero.

4. The replacement process step by step

(1) The DSO schedules the visit. You receive an SMS or email with the date and time window (typically 8:00–12:00 or 12:00–16:00). Some zones also schedule by phone.

(2) The crew arrives. 1–2 ANRE-licensed electricians in a DSO-branded vehicle. Ask for ID if you have any doubt about identity.

(3) Brief power outage. The old meter is uninstalled or reconfigured. Outage lasts 15–45 minutes depending on the intervention type. Prepare in advance: shut down computers; the fridge is fine for that duration.

(4) New meter install / reconfiguration. Bidirectional meter mounted + DSO seal applied. On an existing smart meter, this is firmware reconfiguration + new seal only. The device is activated in DSO systems on the spot.

(5) Commissioning and verification. The electrician tests import, export, and communication with DSO systems. Verify together with your installer (or alone, if you have a consumer monitor) that the panels are producing and the export is being recorded correctly.

(6) Paperwork. You sign the install report. This is proof your system is active as a prosumer — keep a copy for any future dispute with the supplier.

Activation in your supplier's systems (the actual prosumer-regime billing) then takes 10–30 days after the DSO records the install — during this time the export shows up on the meter, but the bill does not yet reflect the offsetting.

5. What happens to the old meter

The old meter goes back to the DSO — it is uninstalled and taken for recycling or refurbishment. The final reading (total consumption and, if applicable, export under the previous regime) is read and recorded in the install report.

This final reading is the closing index for your previous regime (simple consumer) and the opening index for the new regime (prosumer). The reading must appear on the last bill under the old regime and on the first bill under the new regime.

Verify there is no inconsistency between these two readings — a typical customer overpays if there is an undeclared discrepancy. If the last bill under the old regime is unusually high, or the first bill under the new regime does not reflect export, dispute it in writing with the supplier within 30 days (the legal deadline for billing complaints).

6. Common problems and how to handle them

The DSO does not schedule within 30 business days. File a written complaint with the operator (form on the DSO website or official email). If you do not get a response within 30 days, escalate to ANRE via the form at anre.ro. ANRE can fine the DSO for missing the legal deadline.

The meter is installed but export is not being recorded. Check the seal (it may be visibly broken), then call the supplier (not the DSO). The supplier activates the prosumer regime in its systems after the DSO confirms the install — sometimes it takes 2–4 weeks from install to correct billing.

Multiple visits required. If the crew misses the first appointment (missing parts, no access, weather), rescheduling is free. Insist on the 30-business-day legal deadline overall, not just on the individual visit.

The solar system fails the DSO test. If the installer did not produce PT3 correctly, or the inverter fails the protection tests (anti-islanding, droop response), the DSO refuses commissioning. This is more common with budget inverters than with established brands — see our solar inverter brands guide for which models reliably pass DSO testing. Fix: your installer must remediate at no cost (it is part of the install contract).

You moved into a house with an existing prosumer system. You need a new prosumer contract under the new owner. The system stays operational under the old regime until the new contract is signed (~30–60 days total).

7. FAQ

Can I refuse the meter swap? No — without a bidirectional meter, you cannot be a legal prosumer. Your solar system would be outside the ANRE framework and you risk sanctions if you export.

Can I keep the old meter as a backup? No, the old meter goes back to the DSO. If you need a second meter (for example to monitor a tenant separately), install your own sub-meter on your side of the panel — not connected to the official one.

What happens if my system isn't ready when the crew arrives? Rescheduling is required. The DSO cannot install a prosumer meter if the equipment on your side is not functional (valid PT3, active inverter). You lose a few weeks — coordinate with your installer 1–2 days before the scheduled visit.

How do I read the new meter myself? The smart meter shows the import and export indexes directly on the display (with physical buttons) — press the Mode/Display button until you see both values. Reading is also remote, so you can also check it through your supplier's app.

Do I pay a subscription for smart meter functionality? No. The smart meter (remote reading, prosumer configuration, time-of-use regime) is standard for all meters installed or reconfigured by the DSO from 2024 onward, at no additional cost to the customer.

For the full context on what being a prosumer means, see what is a prosumer and the legal definition under OUG 163/2022. For the steps to sign the supplier contract, see prosumer contract. If you are still unsure whether to be a prosumer or an independent producer, see prosumer vs producer.

For precise sizing of your system, use the calculator. For a quote from an AFM-verified company, request a quote now.