Smart electric meters, which use 2-way communications networks to enable frequent readings of electricity consumption, are at the forefront of the utility world’s transition to a smarter electrical grid. According to a new tracking report from Pike Research, utilities’ plans for smart meters are well underway, and the market intelligence firm estimates that a total of 57.9 million smart meters are already planned to be installed by more than 90 utilities in the United States.
Based on Pike Research’s market share analysis, Switzerland-based meter manufacturer Landis+Gyr is the market leader in terms of utility vendor selections, accounting for 26% of total endpoints as of the end of the third quarter. During the past year, Landis+Gyr surpassed Itron as the number one smart meter supplier to utilities in the United States, and Itron now holds a 24% share of the market. Other key players include Sensus with a 21% market share, GE Energy with 20%, Elster with 5%, and Echelon with 3%.
In terms of the communications modules required to support advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), Silver Spring Networks is the market share leader with 29% of utility vendor selections. Itron is in second place with 22%, followed by Sensus with 17% and Landis+Gyr with 16%. Other competitors in this market sector include Elster, Echelon, Aclara, and Trilliant.
Source: Pike Research