Smart Metering’s True Value

According to a report released last year by market analysis firm MicroMarket Monitor, the North American smart metering market is estimated to grow to a nearly $9 billion industry by 2018. It?s another example of cities reinvesting in infrastructure, as well as a push toward joining the ?smart grid,? the go-to term to describe the growing automation of utility operations streamlined on a digital platform.

It?s no secret that water utilities? use of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and its overall Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) has been a significant part of the shift to smart grid operations. The technology is aimed at measuring water faster and more accurately, reducing non-revenue water, determining leak areas and allowing better decision making about distribution system management. As innovative as it sounds, there are questions.