Smart Gas Meters Are Becoming the Norm in Russia – Lessons From the Kurgan Region

A pilot project to roll out smart gas consumption meters has been launched in the Kurgan region. The intelligent gas meter is more than a measuring device – it functions as a full-fledged element of an automated system. It transmits readings on its own, eliminating human error, estimated billing, and the need for recalculations.

Consumers pay strictly for the gas they actually use, even if they are away from home for long periods or forget to submit readings on time.

Safety Under Control

The meters also help improve safety. Modern models can be equipped with sensors that detect gas leaks and monitor concentrations of hazardous gases. If readings deviate from safe levels, the system automatically shuts off the gas supply, reducing the risk of accidents. Built-in self-diagnostics make it possible to detect malfunctions in the device itself at an early stage.

Since 2023, the Kurgan region has been among Russia’s pilot areas for deploying intelligent gas metering. Under the STM100 program, hundreds of such devices have already been installed at social facilities, industrial sites, and public-sector organizations. The stated goal of the program is to achieve full telemetric control of gas supplies across the region.

International Experience

Similar devices are also used abroad. In EU countries, particularly Italy and the Netherlands, smart gas meters have become part of national smart grid programs, helping reduce resource losses and improve billing efficiency. In Russia, this path is only beginning, but early results point to its effectiveness.

At the federal level, lawmakers are discussing draft legislation that would introduce a phased mandatory rollout of smart gas meters. This means that in the coming years, such devices could become standard in apartments and private homes, offering greater convenience, accuracy, and an additional layer of protection for consumers.