Dive Brief:
- Utilities are investing in technology that allows them to understand and adjust their delivery systems, though so far the majority of "data analytics" projects have been aimed at arming consumers with more knowledge.
- Utilities have rolled out more than 200 data analytics programs in the last four years, according to data compiled by GTM Research, and that number may be higher after accounting for 2014 projects not yet publicly announced.
- While bigger utilities are tackling more ambitious data projects, the trend towards data analytics investments held across both large and small power providers.
Dive Insight:
GTM Research determined that so-called "soft grid" deployments between 2010 and 2014 were mostly made of investments in consumer analytics (61%), with grid analytics making up another 19%. Enterprise analytics, visualization and data management accounted for the remaining 20% of projects.
The focus on the consumer side is likely the result of political and regulatory pushes for utilities to better share usage and pricing data with consumers, noted Andrew Mulherkar, associate grid analyst for GTM Research.
"It would appear the pressing need is just to get to these consumers and manage demand,” Mulherkar told Greentech Media. The research arm defines "consumer analytics" to include web portals and mobile applications in addition to demand response and dynamic pricing programs.
