Hera Group presents at Enlit a new, even smarter, smart meter

Transforming the daily operational challenges of energy distribution into industrial solutions and strategic assets for the entire market. With this vision, the Hera Group participated in the 2026 edition of Enlit Europe in Vienna, the leading international trade fair dedicated to the energy transition, unveiling the world premiere of the new NexMeter Pro and outlining the evolution of the integrated NexSuite ecosystem.

From field experience to HeraVenture: innovation born from operations

Unlike traditional models driven by startups or external suppliers, Hera’s innovation is born directly in the field, responding to the concrete management needs of gas distribution networks: safety, resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.

“We will always believe that innovation only has value when it generates concrete results,” explained Alessandro Baroncini, Chief Network Officer of the Hera Group. “Our strength lies in understanding critical issues and needs even before they become regulatory obligations. With HeraVenture, our internal incubator, we transform the ideas and trials born on the Group’s networks into technological assets and business models ready for the entire market.”
This approach has led the multi-utility to frequently anticipate industry requirements, as demonstrated by the trial conducted in Castelfranco Emilia (Modena), a pioneer in the direct injection of hydrogen and natural gas blends into an active urban network.

NexSuite: the integrated ecosystem for energy infrastructures

During the discussion, Federico Bronzini, CEO of INRETE Distribuzione Energia, illustrated the philosophy behind NexSuite, an integrated technological suite designed to shift network management from reactive to predictive:

NexAction: a patented system for the remote actuation of network valves, energy-autonomous and essential for accelerating response times in the event of an emergency.

Sentinel: a continuous monitoring solution for pipelines located in areas at hydrogeological risk, capable of providing 3D mapping of ground stresses.

NexMethane: a platform for detecting and quantifying gas leaks, combining advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms to prioritize high-impact interventions.

NexMeterCore: the advanced intelligence and metering module positioned at the endpoint of the infrastructure.

“The value of NexSuite does not lie in the single device, but in the integration of monitoring, prevention, and coordinated intervention,” Bronzini emphasized. “Behind it is a single idea—he continued—of a digitalization strategy for our network, which is what we need to put data analysis at the center of our daily operations. As operators, we are working with an ever-increasing amount of data, the analysis of which allows us to manage costs efficiently and, consequently, investments as well. The idea is to predict where faults will occur, so we can invest in advance.”

Unveiling the NexMeter Pro

The central moment of the presentation was the official unveiling of NexMeter Pro, the new generation of the 4.0 gas smart meter launched by Hera in 2019 and already installed in over 300,000 units.

Explained in detail by Marcello Bondesan, Head of Metering and Distribution Commercial Processes at the Hera Group, the new device takes safety and operational flexibility to the next level:

• Remote capacity upgrade: the true structural innovation lies in the ability to increase the meter’s contractual capacity from class G4 to class G6 via software, without any need to physically replace the device. This eliminates inconvenience for the user and slashes intervention costs.
• Advanced and seismic safety: it integrates self-locking seismic sensors, micro-leak detection with automatic supply shut-off in the presence of anomalies, and self-checking of the domestic system’s integrity.
• Hydrogen Ready: it ensures full metering compatibility with natural gas and hydrogen blends of up to 20%.
• “NexMeter Pro is the natural evolution of a cutting-edge project,” commented Alessandro Baroncini. “We are providing the energy system with an even more advanced tool to tackle the challenges of transition and resilience.”

Field results and 2027–2029 roll-out plan

The effectiveness of NexMeter technologies is confirmed by the numbers: to date, 70 alert cases have been recorded, 30 of which were directly associated with high-risk accident situations, averted thanks to automatic flow shut-off and the prompt intervention of emergency teams.

The business plan for the new NexMeter Pro provides for the supply of 300,000 units in the three-year period 2027–2029 (approximately 100,000 installations per year), produced by MeteRSit (a SIT Group company) which won the tender. Starting in 2027, the company will begin the progressive replacement of the entire fleet of G4 and G6 meters served by the Group, totaling approximately 1 million users.

Hera Group and MeteRSit

“The collaboration with the Hera Group has allowed us to pool technological expertise and knowledge of the operational needs of gas networks,” commented Federico de Stefani, Executive Chairman of SIT and CEO of MeteRSit. “NexMeter Pro represents a significant evolution in gas smart meters, because it introduces new features that simplify management, generating concrete benefits for operators and end-users. With MeteRSit, we are proud to contribute to a project that confirms Italy’s leading role among the most advanced countries in smart meter innovation.”

Financial planning with an eye on regulation

But how can innovation and the structure of technological innovation be made financially viable? Valentina Frigento, Head of Planning and Control, Central Networks Directorate at Hera S.p.A., clarifies the Hera S.p.A. model: “Every initiative is evaluated not only from a technical standpoint, but also from an economic, financial, and regulatory perspective. The goal is to direct investments toward innovative solutions that are simultaneously industrially effective, economically sustainable, and consistent with the regulatory framework.”