ZUG, Switzerland, September 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Landis+Gyr welcomes the EU energy package, which officially comes into force today, as a positive move towards the development of the Smart Grid. The two Directives and three Regulations are the latest acts to achieve an integrated EU-wide energy market and to enhance consumer protection measures.

Importantly, both the gas and electricity Directives stipulate that the Member States ensure the implementation of 'intelligent metering systems that shall assist the active participation of consumers' in the gas and electricity supply markets respectively. The electricity Directive sets a timeline of 80% coverage by 2020 and every European household equipped with smart meters by 2022.

The deployment of smart metering and the consequent empowerment of consumers to actively participate in the energy market is the first step towards the creation of a 'Smart Grid', an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both - in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies.

"As the world moves toward an increasing focus on renewable energy, home automation and plug-in vehicles, we must focus on deploying Smart Grid solutions to deal with these new resources. However, the creation of a Smart Grid must be the result of conscious energy, environmental and regulatory policy decisions. A first step in this transition of the grid must be the introduction of smart metering," says Landis+Gyr's President and Chief Operating Officer Andreas Umbach. "Landis+Gyr supplies the industry with products and solutions to manage the scope of change to come and fully supports the commitment made by the European Union for an EU wide roll out of smart metering, which will benefit end customers as well as the future energy supply system as a whole."

In further steps towards Smart Grid development, the company recently announced its cooperation agreement with Cisco to work together on a holistic approach to Smart Grid communications infrastructure that is expected to help utility companies and their customers manage energy better. The collaboration between Cisco and Landis+Gyr is expected to accelerate the delivery of standards-based solutions for the energy industry and facilitate the integration of existing capabilities with renewable power sources, plug-in hybrid electrical vehicles (PHEV) and distribution automation functionality.

About Landis+Gyr

Landis+Gyr is the leading provider of integrated energy management solutions tailored to energy company needs. With a global presence and a reputation for quality and innovation, Landis+Gyr is unique in its ability to deliver true end-to-end advanced metering solutions. Today, the Company offers the broadest portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry, and is paving the way for the next generation of smart grid. With annualized sales of more than US$1.25 billion, Landis+Gyr operates in more than 30 countries across five continents, and employs over 5,000 people with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better.