The information and operations systems of utilities are coming under pressure as new smart grid assets (i.e., smart meters, distribution automation devices) converge upon utility territories nationwide. Leading utilities are scrambling to build the supporting information and operation systems in parallel with device deployment, a trend GTM Research expects to drive $8.2 billion in U.S. utility enterprise spending between 2011 and 2015.
According to GTM Research’s latest report, The Smart Utility Enterprise 2011-2015, the total available smart grid enterprise market in the U.S. will be $1.3 billion in 2011, with that figure forecasted to hit $1.8 billion per year in 2015. This scaling activity has attracted a collection of vendors from start-ups, such as Ecologic Analytics, to established conglomerates, such as ABB, IBM, GE, Oracle and Siemens.
“The pace of market activity is quickening as major vendors jockey to provide a complete enterprise value proposition,” said Chet Geschickter, GTM Research Senior Analyst and the report’s author. “M&A activity, such as ABB acquiring Ventyx last year, is now being followed by a round of product rationalization and harmonization, where vendors, and the utilities they serve, are evaluating smart grid requirements.”
The report features analysis on the market’s leading technologies, including service-oriented architecture middleware, enterprise information management and cyber security, as well as application software for customer management and grid optimization. The report also offers competitive profiles of more than 35 companies serving the market.
