Questions answered by: Ministry of Economic Affairs

About: The Ministry of Economic Affairs is responsible for metrological regulations in the Netherlands. The MID is implemented in the Law on Metrology and its underlying regulations. The Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands (AT) is a specialised agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and responsible for market surveillance and inspection of electricity meters.

Q: Do colocation providers have to use MID certified energy meters when billing customers for their energy usage?

A: Yes, article 2 and 5 of the Degree measuring instruments and economic operators requires the use of an approved and correctly installed meter for billing a quantity of electricity. Until the 30th of October 2006, all meters were approved under NL national legislation. Since this date meters have also been approved under the MID. From the 30th of October 2016, all new meters placed on the market must be approved under the MID. However nationally approved meters can continue to be used, repaired and refurbished, for as long as they conform to the legal requirements.

Q: Are ‘Billing grade’ or ‘ANSI’ approved meters approved for the billing of electricity?

A: No, all meters must be approved either under NL national legislation, or under the MID.

Q: Are there any special requirements when billing colocation customers with a power usage in the range of 0-99kW and +100kW?

A: Only a connected load of up to 3 x 80 ampere is required to use MID certified energy meters. 

Q: Is a periodical verification required once the MID meter is installed?

A: MID meters have no defined in-service life or verification period. However there is a requirement for the owner of the meters to keep the meters in proper order for correctly registering the quantity of electricity supplied.

Q: We just charge a flat rate per contracted Amp or kW and not per kWh, must we use MID?

A: If a customer is being billed for the quantity of electricity supplied, they must be billed through an approved electricity meter.

Q: Is there a fine for non-compliance with the MID legislation?

A: Where a customer is being charged for a quantity of electricity supplied, it is an offence under the Economic offences law  to supply the electricity through a non-approved meter or through a meter which is not installed in an approved manner.

Q: How can one tell if the meter is MID certified?

A: MID meters are required to carry the CE and metrology “M” markings as shown below:

CE and “M” mark followed by last two digits of the year in which the CE marking was affixed (i.e. 16 = 2016)

XXXX denotes the number of the notified body that is involved in the production control phase.