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Game-Changing Technology: Next-generation AMI

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Frederik ten Sythoff's picture
Frederik ten Sythoff 5,300
VP Marketing Communications, Greenbird Integration Technology

Utilities worldwide are starting to recognise the need to become a platformed utility that can innovate rapidly and offer new services quickly. At Greenbird, I can fulfil my ambition to help...

  • Member since 2019
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  • Jun 15, 2022
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It’s official. Next-generation AMI is a key technology for the energy transition. But just how much of a game-changer is it for the industry? 

The U.S. Department of Energy may just have summed up today’s energy industry in the title of its new report, ‘A System in Transition: the influence of next generation technologies’.  

The DoE report identifies key technologies for the transition. Next generation AMI tops this list.  Here’s the list: 

⭐Next Generation AMI 

⭐Distribution Controls 

⭐Electric Vehicles  

⭐Data access and governance 

All of these have one thing in common. Data. Data connectivity, unification and provisioning underpin all these technologies. 

But when we work with U.S. utilities such as JEA in Florida, we’ve found they’re often one step ahead of the DoE report. They’re already looking for ways to use energy data to improve service reliability, operations and maintenance as well as provide innovative new products to customers.  

We help them access and leverage data they need to achieve this with a Next-generation iPaaS built for utilities with pre-defined content and connectors, data lake and full Smart Metering Operation Center functionalities.  

And next-generation AMI is an essential component of accessing energy data from an increasingly distributed energy system with an ever more engaged consumer. 

🥇I agree with the DoE. Next-generation AMI is at the top my list of key technologies for the transition.    

Is it top of yours? Let me know in the comments. 

Discussions
Matt Chester's picture
Matt Chester on Jun 15, 2022

Can you share some of the lesser discussed opportunities you think AMI is going to bring utilities, the stuff that the board rooms aren't talking enough about? 

Frederik ten Sythoff's picture
Frederik ten Sythoff on Jun 16, 2022

Hi Matt,
When people talk about the benefits of AMI and smart metering, discussions often end at the billing process. Next generation AMI put utilities firmly on the path to becoming digital first organizations.
 
Next generation AMI data enables utilities to connect energy technology to business outcomes. This could be at an operational (cost optimization) or customer experience (service innovation and new business models) level.
 
For example, AMI data can be used to help balance the grid as more intermittent energy resources from DERS and EV charging enter the mix, improving grid planning, resilience and reliability.
 
For end users who are now used to having information at their fingertips, next-generation AMI will be a driver of enhanced services for utility customers. By harnessing the data from smart meters, consumers, utilities and retailers will actually be able to disaggregate electricity consumption down to the level of individual appliances. Doing so enables utilities to better forecast energy demand to help their customers understand previously inscrutable electric bills and to suggest concrete ways for customers to reduce those bills (and with rising energy costs this is more important than ever).
 
As utilities become digital-first organizations, in order to progress the business, not only are the ‘traditional’ resources of money and people needed, but now data is essential too. This is what Next generation AMI can deliver.
 

Frederik ten Sythoff's picture
Thank Frederik for the Post!
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