The number of smart electricity meters in the field are set to explode in the next 5 years, according to ABI Research. Smart electricity meters allow for two-way communication between the meter and the utility.
In many respects, these meters are on the front lines of developing the so-called smart grid, which can adapt to power demand and manage spikes in real-time.
According to ABI, the worldwide deployment of smart electric meters is expected to rise from 76 million in 2009 to 212 million in 2014.
Why the big jump?
ABI cites a few factors:
- $3.4 billion in U.S. government spending was funneled into smart grid development in November;
- States are encouraging smart grid development;
- And infrastructure is being upgraded.
In addition, the EU and China are also pushing, or are about to push, smart grid development. Needless to say, technology vendors are more than happy to get a piece of the smart grid pie.
We have a bevy of reading on the smart grid topic:
- Who will manage the smart grid?
- Do we need smart meters?
- GridWeek puts spotlight on the smart grid and its challenges
- How smart, really, are smart grid investments?
- Boulder, Colorado: World’s first ’smart grid city’ now online
As well as some video:
