In the evolving landscape of energy management, smart meters are pivotal tools empowering consumers and utility providers alike. At the forefront of this transformation in France is the Linky smart meter, a flagship project by Enedis, the main French electricity distribution system operator (DSO). These smart meters are more than just digital replacements for their analog predecessors—they are key enablers of a smarter, more connected energy future.
What is Linky?
Linky is a smart electricity meter that remotely measures and transmits electricity usage data using Power Line Communication (PLC) to the DSO. It eliminates the need for manual readings and allows for remote operations such as billing, diagnostics, and connection/disconnection.
By supporting two-way communication between the meter and the grid, Linky empowers real-time consumption monitoring, remote configuration, and faster outage detection. Grid operators gain insights to better manage peak demand, optimize energy distribution, and efficiently integrate renewable sources such as solar and wind. Linky also supports prosumers—users who both consume and generate electricity—by tracking solar output and facilitating seamless grid feed-in and compensation.
“A universal, standardized radio solution for real-time energy metering in homes is a key point to enhance energy management and support the growing electrification of residential usage.” Gilles Nativel, Head of Standardisation, Enedis
Zigbee Integration: Bringing Energy Intelligence Home
The introduction of a Local Radio Transmitter (Emetteur Radio Local in French, ‘ERL’) integration with Zigbee transforms the smart meter into a local data hub that communicates with in-home devices. Zigbee offers a robust, low-power, and secure wireless communication protocol ideal for smart energy and home automation applications, with strengths including mesh networking for extended range, interoperability across certified devices, and real-time responsiveness with minimal energy consumption.
Zigbee enables seamless communication between Linky and a wide array of in-home devices such as:
- In-Home Displays (IHDs)
- Consumer Energy Management Systems (CEMS)
- Heat pumps, smart thermostats, heaters
- Inverters and battery storage
- EV chargers and other smart appliances
The ERL Zigbee 3.0 interface transmits real-time metering data to these systems, using standard Zigbee clusters for Metering, Electrical Measurement, Messaging, and Meter Identification. New attributes were added to the Metering cluster, and a new Daily Schedule cluster was introduced to simplify scheduling and reporting of incoming day profile. Alongside the new and updated cluster specifications and ERL Interface device type specification, test specifications were also expanded to make Zigbee Linky compatible devices certifiable under the Connectivity Standards Alliance (Alliance) certification program.
Chameleon Technology’s new Energy Key device has recently become the first certified product that incorporates features from the new Linky specification. ”We’re thrilled to have taken this big step on the journey towards a full ERL device,” says Doran Ennequin, European Product Manager for Chameleon Technology. “Our aim is always to turn complex energy data into something that is easy to understand and valuable. By sharing real-time energy data over Zigbee, we’re achieving just that. We’d also like to thank the Alliance team, who have supported us brilliantly throughout.”
Developer-Friendly and Market-Ready
A major benefit of ERL Zigbee 3.0 interface is a single globally used and well-known data model, which works across TIC modes (‘Télé-information Client’, the meter’s real-time local data flow interface, is a wired communication port on the meters allowing consumers and third-party systems to read real-time consumption data from the meter), and works wirelessly. This simplifies development, removing the need for device manufacturers to handle Historical and Standard modes differently, and eases deployment across various markets.
By integrating Zigbee, the Linky ecosystem:
- Reduces grid strain during peak periods
- Supports evolutive dynamic tariffs based on market and renewable availability
- Encourages energy-aware consumer behavior
- Facilitates optimization and management of local generation
- Facilitates the creation of universal energy apps and smart home devices
To support the development of Local Zigbee Radio Transmitters interfacing with the TIC (real-time data flow interface) of the Linky smart meter, Enedis published an open-source TIC-to-Zigbee data mapping on its GitHub repository.
Since its rollout began in 2015, France has equipped over 95% of households with Linky meters, surpassing its 2021 goal of 35 million installations. With Zigbee 3.0 ERL integration, Linky now connects millions of homes to a vast, interoperable smart device ecosystem, setting a benchmark for consumer-centric, climate-aligned energy innovation.
Learn More About Zigbee
Zigbee is the full-stack solution from the mesh protocol to the application layer, with billions of products already deployed in smart homes and commercial buildings. Learn more and start building with Zigbee today!