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Smart Grid

(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 04 30 09

Top Ten Smart Grid

What companies are leading the charge toward a smart grid of the future? And, who are the utilities that are taking the lead in giving them a market? We’ve broken down the smart grid sector into a number of broad components areas – smart meter manufacturing, neighborhood-area meter networking and communication, in-home energy management, demand response, meter data management, other smart grid software and services, and the broader role of integrating these areas. 

1. Top Smart Meter Maker: Itron

When it comes to smart meters, Itron Inc. (NSDQ: ITRI) is top dog.  The Spokane, Wash.-based smart meter manufacturer holds the top spot for market share in North America and worldwide, according to the company's most recent data. It got its early lead with so-called AMR (automatic meter reading) meters, which broadcast but do not receive data, and has leapt out to a lead with two-way communicating meters in the so-called AMI (advanced meter infrastructure) market as well.

Big AMI contracts include Southern California Edison (about $480 million and 5.3 million meters), CenterPoint Energy (about $350 million and 3 million meters), DTE Energy (about $350 million and 3.3 million meters) and San Diego Gas & Electric (about $260 million and 2.3 meters).

Itron is also noteworthy for having pioneered the radio mesh technology that has emerged as the preferred way for smart meters to "talk to" one another in neighborhood area networks – though Itron's "OpenWay" RF mesh system isn't part of every deployment (Silver Spring Networks has been the chosen vendor for that function for many projects).

That's not to say that competitors aren't eager to take the top spot. Swiss-based Landis+Gyr and Silicon Valley-based Echelon are particularly strong in Europe, and fellow smart meter makers Sensus, Elster and General Electric are all competitors worldwide.

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7 Comments

  • John 06/23/09 5:23 PM

    There’s no doubt in my mind that Itron Inc is the industry leader in smart meters. They have an amazing product line and the best management in the industry. Their latest CEO has done a great job with the company.
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     Reply
  • Vince 07/7/09 12:38 AM

    Hey Jeff, this is an excellent top ten list.  I learned a lot about smart grids from this list, it is very interesting and I hope the future brings about more advancements. You can cross-post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site.  The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

     Reply
      • Look2Future 12/3/09 3:21 PM

        I enjoyed reading (and generally agree with) both your and Jeff’s Top 10 Lists.  For 2009, you both should also consider including the ACLARA (http://www.aclara.com) family of companies (aka Utility Solutions Group segment of ESCO Technologies, NYSE: ESE, http://www.escotechnologies.com), who provide special purpose utility solutions for electric, gas and water utilities, including hardware and software to support advanced metering applications and fully automated intelligent instrumentation.  ACLARA product offerings include a synergistic combination of well-known, proven at scale, industry-leading solutions from the former DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS INC. (TWACS, PLC), HEXAGRAM (STAR, RF), and NEXUS SOFTWARE (MDMS, Energy Prism, Energy Vision, Customer Web Presentment, Meter Asset Management).
  • 4smartgrid 07/9/09 4:26 PM

    who do you see are potential acquirers of pure monitoring plays like eMeter?  thanks

     Reply
  • Jerry Liu 11/4/09 11:06 PM

    Why Current Communication not mentioned?

     Reply
  • Joseph 01/28/10 10:15 PM

    People should take a look at relative new-comers like Intelagrid (http://www.intelagrid.com).  They have experienced management in the industry with a fresh focus on smart grid and true standards-based approach to network communications.  Their focus on management software at both the utility and consumer level should make them a player in the future.  They should be a real up and coming player in the industry.

     Reply
  • Vince MArshall 02/2/10 10:43 AM

    Jeff, Would like to reference this article for a Department of Defense blog on energy. thanks

     Reply

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