Energy Acuity’s research and technology analysis focuses on planned technology investments through interviews with utilities of all sizes. This information contains pre-RFP details that help our customers identify opportunities early in the development process. We’ve exported and analyzed the research in order to offer insight into utility technology investments in 2019 and beyond.
Source: Energy Acuity Grid Platform
Top 10 Utility Technology Types:
*Value indicates the number of utilities looking to invest in that technology
1.) Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
Utilities Actively Investing in AMI: 60
Synonymous with “Smart Meters”. Advanced electric meter technology that enables two-way communication with the meter and the utility.
Top AMI Companies:
Landis+Gyr — Contracts: 176
Itron — Contracts: 151
Aclara — Contracts: 119
Honeywell (Elster Group) — Contracts: 110
Sensus Metering Systems — Contracts: 106
Top Utilities Actively Investing In AMI:
Kansas City Power & Light Company
South Central Power Company
Tucson Electric Power (TEP)
Atlantic City Electric
Ohio Edison
2.) Energy Efficiency
Utilities Actively Investing in Energy Efficiency: 56
Using less energy through more efficient means (eg. LED light bulbs, HVAC replacement, efficient appliances).
Top Energy Efficiency Companies:
Eaton Corporation — Contracts: 68
Honeywell — Contracts: 40
Oracle (FKA Opower) — Contracts: 25
Enel X — Contracts: 14
Apogee Interactive Inc. — Contracts: 14
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Energy Efficiency:
Niagara Mohawk Power
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Riverside Public Utilities
Consumers Energy
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Portland General Electric Company
3.) Demand Response
Utilities Actively Investing in Demand Response: 50
Technology-enabled reduction in power consumption during peak energy periods. This can be accomplished through price incentives (charging more during peak times), direct load control switches, programmable smart thermostats, and other programs.
Top Demand Response Companies:
Enel X — Contracts: 63
Itron (FKA Comverge) — Contracts: 58
Honeywell — Contracts: 52
Eaton— Contracts: 51
Oracle (FKA Opower) — Contracts: 47
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Demand Response:
Niagara Mohawk Power
Con Edison
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
San Diego Gas & Electric
Arizona Public Service (APS)
4.) Meter Data Management
Utilities Actively Investing in Meter Data Management: 50
A meter data management system (MDMS) performs long term data storage and management for the vast amounts of data delivered by smart metering systems.
Top Meter Data Management Companies:
Itron — Contracts: 87
Landis+Gyr — Contracts: 60
National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) — Contracts: 59
Aclara — Contracts: 37
Oracle — Contracts: 32
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Meter Data Management:
Modesto Irrigation District
Ameren Illinois
Arizona Public Service (APS)
Cleco Power LLC
ComEd
5.) Analytics
Utilities Actively Investing in Analytics: 41
Smart Grid technologies provide utilities with overwhelming amounts of data. Analytics software can help utilities turn this data into actionable insights.
Top Analytics Companies:
Itron — Contracts: 53
Landis+Gyr — Contracts: 51
Aclara — Contracts: 29
Honeywell (FKA Elster Group) — Contracts: 28
Sensus Metering Systems — Contracts: 18
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Analytics:
NV Energy (Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power)
Arizona Public Service (APS)
Baltimore Gas & Electric
City Utilities of Springfield, MO
Cleco Power LLC
6.) Feeder Automation
Utilities Actively Investing in Feeder Automation: 40
Software and hardware placed on feeders (electric lines) that have advanced capabilities which help improve system reliability. Key technologies: Reclosers, sectionalizers, automated switches. Feeder Automation is a part of ‘Distribution Automation’.
Top Feeder Automation Companies:
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) — Contracts: 182
Eaton (FKA Cooper Power Systems) — Contracts: 137
Survalent Technology — Contracts: 135
Open System International (OSI) — Contracts: 117
S&C Electric Company — Contracts: 114
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Feeder Automation:
Ameren Illinois
Arizona Public Service (APS)
Atlantic City Electric
Avista Corp.
Baltimore Gas & Electric
7.) Geographic Information System (GIS)
Utilities Actively Investing in GIS: 40
A GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present geographical data within a utility’s service territory.
Top GIS Companies:
ESRI — Contracts: 245
Autodesk — Contracts: 70
Milsoft Utility Solutions — Contracts: 59
Trimble — Contracts: 50
National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) — Contracts: 49
Top Utilities Actively Investing in GIS:
Ameren
Austin Energy
Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc, FL
Colorado Springs Utilities
CPS Energy
8.) Distributed Energy Resource (DER)
Utilities Actively Investing in Distributed Energy Resource (DER): 38
Distributed energy resources (DER) are smaller power sources that can be aggregated to provide power necessary to meet regular demand.
Top Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Companies:
ABB — Contracts: 40
Siemens — Contracts: 27
GE Power (FKA Alstom Grid) — Contracts: 10
Open Access Technology International Inc. (OATI) — Contracts: 6
Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) — Contracts: 5
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Distributed Energy Resource (DER):
San Diego Gas & Electric
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Arizona Public Service (APS)
Portland General Electric Company
Ameren
Entergy Texas, Inc.
9.) Voltage Optimization
Utilities Actively Investing in Voltage Optimization: 37
The systematic controlled reduction in the voltages received by an energy consumer to reduce energy use, power demand and reactive power demand. Key technologies: Volt/Var Optimization (VVO) and Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR)
Top Voltage Optimization Companies:
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) — Contracts: 71
Eaton (FKA Cooper Power systems) — Contracts: 63
Siemens — Contracts: 36
GE Energy — Contracts: 34
ABB — Contracts: 30
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Voltage Optimization:
NV Energy (Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power)
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company
Austin Energy
Avista Corp.
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
ComEd
10.) Communications Networks
Utilities Actively Investing in Energy Efficiency: 36
The network infrastructure that smart grid devices send data over. These networks can consist of many communication types and combinations of various types, but most commonly are RF (radio frequency), WiFi, PLC (power line carrier), LTE, and fiber optic.
Top Communications Networks Companies:
Verizon — Contracts: 157
Landis+Gyr — Contracts: 113
AT&T — Contracts: 89
Aclara — Contracts: 89
Itron — Contracts: 78
Top Utilities Actively Investing in Communications Networks:
Kansas City Power & Light Company
Portland General Electric Company
Consumers Energy
CPS Energy
Dominion Virginia Power
Source: Energy Acuity Grid Platform
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