5 smart grid utility insights: Who wants to stay dumb?

Smart grid technology means a lot of things to utilities right now as plans across the U.S. continue to take shape. From advanced distribution management systems (ADMS) and advanced metering systems (AMI) to decisions about integrating renewables, everyone wants efficiency and dependability, but strategies vary.

PennEnergy Research and Zpryme released a new infographic, titled "2013 State of the Smart Grid: How Far Have We Come?," and the full results—based on responses from 104 utility professionals' responses last year—offer a handful of useful insights into where utilities stand on infrastructure improvements.

Here are the five big takeaways that caught our eyes here at Utility Dive:

1. More than half have invested heavily or are already in the process upgrading grid intelligence.

While 25% of respondents said that their company had already made significant investments into smart grid upgrades, another 28% said upgrades were in the works. How quickly those upgrades take place and on what scale are different questions altogether, but intentions and commitments are definitely there.

2. More than half have no plans to integrate renewable energy sources.

Asked about their companies' current renewable energy integration intentions, a substantial 55% said there were no plans to integrate renewables. Compare that to the next most popular answer—that more renewables will be added in two years or more—which only showed up among 21% of respondents.

3. 40% intend to install advanced distribution management systems in the next two years.

ADMS plans, meanwhile, proved to be popular. While 31% claimed to already have systems in place, another 40% said ADMS installations would be underway in the next two years. Only 8% claimed to have no installations plans in place whatsoever.

4. Cost reductions, improved reliability and energy efficiency were top motivators in ADMS selection decisions.

The question of why utilities want ADMS solutions may seem obvious, but this survey's results confirmed that reducing operations and maintenance costs and improving system reliability were factors for 61% of survey takers' companies. Energy efficiency followed right behind with 59%.

5. 40% or more intend to install comprehensive consumer energy management systems or advanced metering infrastructure within the next two years.

Comprehensive consumer energy management system rollouts did not did seem to be quite as as widespread as ADMS, but 20% of respondents had comprehensive CEMSs installed, and another 40% expressed intentions of having them in place in two years. Likewise, 41% expected to have AMI infrastructure in place in two years, and 33% said it was already in place.

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