trial installations started in with smart meters being offered to all households from on a voluntary basis the dutch public and private sectors have established the netherlands water partnership nwp the principal aim of the nwp is to coordinate dutch activities abroad and to promote dutch expertise in the water field worldw ide the netherlands is seeking to be seen as a world leader in sustainable water management as customer interests are not normally taken into account utilities can encounter unexpected opposition and not be able to respond to it therefore rendering policy impotent