Xcel Energy to partner with Itron to deploy smart meters

Xcel Energy and Itron, Inc. recently entered into an agreement to deploy smart meters across Xcel Energy’s service territory, which will enable collaboration to improve customer experience and utility operations.

Xcel Energy plans to deploy distributed intelligence-enabled smart meters across its territory over the next five years. Xcel and Itron plan to offer new services and enhanced customer control by utilizing innovative distributed intelligence applications running on meters.

“This collaboration is exciting because we’re not just developing the next generation of smart meters,” Brett Carter, Xcel Energy’s chief customer and innovation officer and executive vice president, said. “Combining forces with Itron allows us to work together on new applications to benefit our customers and build the advanced electrical grid of the future.”

Xcel Energy will use Itron’s existing standards-based, interoperable network, and distributed intelligence platform to manage edge applications from an open ecosystem of solution providers.

The companies will also deploy a distribution automation solution to improve grid reliability and reduce operating costs by extending monitoring and control capabilities to various distribution devices on Xcel Energy’s electric system. The utility is aiming to gain enhanced visibility into the performance of its grid to improve outage management and restoration responsiveness.

Itron’s proven solution connects millions of devices to deliver real-time solutions to today’s challenges,” Sharelynn Moore, senior vice president of Networked Solutions at Itron, said. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Xcel Energy to improve customer experience by harnessing the connectivity and intelligence of the Industrial IoT to deliver smarter solutions.”