Utilities’ Role in Connecting Consumers and the Grid

Read the full blog on Itron's website here.

In today’s evolving energy landscape, the utility-consumer relationship is indispensable—providing the right information at the right time is critical to ensuring satisfied customers and optimized grid management. At J.D. Power’s 2024 Utility Client Conference, Sept. 25-26 in Tampa, FL, we look forward to exploring how utilities can drive consumer engagement that enhances operational efficiency, boosts energy conservation and ensures grid reliability.?

As a gold sponsor, Itron is thrilled to connect with new and familiar faces at the show. Experts, peers and strategic leaders will gather to empower and educate attendees on the latest trends, innovations and best practices driving the utility industry forward, with consumer engagement at the forefront. ?

At Itron, we recognize the important role of consumer engagement in the utility industry. Our comprehensive solutions—including the Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio, Data Hub, Distributed Energy Resource System (DERMS) platform and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Optimizer—combined with offerings from our technology partners, enable utilities to enhance consumer engagement and improve service delivery.?

Empowered Consumer Engagement in Energy Management?

Consumer engagement is key to helping utilities manage a distributed grid. Creating engaging consumer experiences is foundational to effectively plan, operate and optimize the grid of the future. With Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio, DER capabilities, DataHub data access platform and a variety of solutions from our partner ecosystem, utilities can deliver the right data at the right time, driving consumer engagement to optimally operate the grid of the future.?

Enabling Real-Time Analytics and Insights?

Grid edge data empowers consumers by providing them with visibility into their energy usage, costs and environmental impact. By offering personalized insights and recommendations through Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio, utilities can encourage energy conservation, promote peak load demand reduction and foster greater consumer engagement.?

Using Itron’s DataHub solution, for example, utilities can feed real-time information about grid-edge events and consumption to consumer portals or smart home platforms. Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio also enables more direct consumer engagement. For instance, by analyzing electric vehicle (EV) load profiles, the impact of charging on transformer efficiency and transformer-overload scenarios, utilities can create effective time of use rates and proper incentives to influence consumer behavior. Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio can allow 100-amp service customers to install level 2 EV chargers without an expensive service upgrade to the home and without having to reconductor and replace the serving transformer. Solutions like this create customer good-will, utility savings and regulatory confidence in grid modernization capabilities.?

Bringing it All Together with Optimization and Control?

EVs and DERs bring an unprecedented level of complexity to grid operations with their dynamic and mobile loads. With Itron’s DERMS platform, utilities can seamlessly integrate DERs onto the grid while maintaining positive consumer engagement. By providing real-time visibility and control over DERs, the platform enables utilities to balance grid demand and supply efficiently. It also allows consumers to actively participate in energy programs, offering incentives for reducing consumption during peak periods or exporting excess energy back to the grid. By understanding the value of time shifting their consumption, these consumers can lower their bills and help reduce the utilities’ needs for additional infrastructure.?

In addition to DERMS, Itron’s DER Optimizer is pivotal for utilities striving to keep their consumers engaged while navigating the integration of DERs onto the grid. This solution brings together the industry’s broadest ecosystem of flexible loads—from load control switches and smart thermostats to batteries and EVs—and integrates grid edge intelligence to deliver a wide range of DER-based grid services, including economic dispatch, non-wires alternatives, local grid balancing and decarbonization. For a look into Itron’s DER Optimizer in action and the outcomes it enables, read Itron’s newest case study with Duke Energy Florida.?

A Robust Partner Ecosystem?

Itron’s Solution Marketplace includes a variety of solutions that drive substantial value for utilities and their customers. Through this marketplace, utilities gain access to a wide range of innovative products and services from our trusted partners, including advanced communication platforms, energy management tools and behavioral insights programs. By integrating these solutions, utilities can provide their consumers with personalized, real-time information and interactive experiences that foster greater participation in energy-savings initiatives. ?

Connect with Itron and J.D. Power at Itron Inspire 2024?

We are thrilled to share that J.D. Power will be in attendance at Itron Inspire, our premier, customer-focused event, and will participate in a Big Picture Session on Navigating the Journey Toward Sustainability. During this session, attendees will learn how utilities are overcoming challenges presented by decarbonization leveraging technology, policy frameworks and stakeholder collaboration to create impactful change and a carbon-neutral future. ?

Held in Palm Desert, CA from Oct. 6-8, the event will gather industry leaders to address pressing utilities challenges and discuss the latest innovations in energy and water. Register today to join us as we explore how more intelligence leads to more possibilities.?