AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A free report by Guidehouse Insights projects utility spending on smart meter analytics to triple over the next decade. AI at the Grid Edge: How Inside-the-Meter Analytics Drive Value at the Grid Edge estimates smart meters currently serve nearly 65% of electric utility customers across the U.S. However, the report states the full value proposition behind smart meter deployments is only starting to be realized.

The newest generations of smart meters, capable of running AI-driven solutions, remove the ceiling on functional and ROI benefits. As a result, Guidehouse Insights projects investments in inside-the-meter analytics to grow at a CAGR of 13.3%. Solutions for demand-side management and energy efficiency are expected to lead global spending across the forecast period, growing from approximately $1.6 billion in 2021 to nearly $5.4 billion in 2030.

Use cases enabled by grid-edge AI include real-time anomaly and fault detection for grid operators and customers, real-time load disaggregation for load shifting and demand side management, as well as tools for detecting and integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) like residential solar and electric vehicles. According to the report, inside-the-meter architectures offer utilities new options for where, when, and how to analyze high-resolution smart meter data.