The need to digitize grid operations has never been more urgent. Distributed energy resources (DERs) are proliferating, electricity demand is surging, extreme weather events are intensifying and aging infrastructure is driving large-scale, near-term investments. As these pressures mount, no utility is immune to the strain on the physical grid.

Itron is committed to supporting utilities and cities on their digital transformation journey. As such, we’re proud to be named a Sample Vendor in the 2025 Gartner® Hype Cycle^TM for Digital Grid Report, which explores emerging technologies that strengthen the resilience and reliability of the digital grid. Itron is named a Sample Vendor for grid twin, transactive energy, customer gateways, meter data analytics and IoT technologies in power and utilities. 

Investing in the Grid of the Future
Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), digital twins and the Internet of Things (IoT) are foundational to this transformation. Here are five key ways they’re making an impact.

1. Greater Grid Reliability and Resilience
Extreme weather and aging infrastructure continue to challenge grid reliability. AI and ML help utilities navigate these complexities with predictive maintenance, real-time fault detection and automated outage response, supporting faster restoration and improved SAIDI/MAIFI by +10%. An example of this is Itron's distributed intelligence platform, which brings decision-making and control to the grid edge, allowing utilities to respond in real-time to local grid conditions.

2. Seamless DER Integration
The days of one-way power flows are over. With DERs on the rise, utilities need to manage two-way, intermittent power flows while balancing supply and demand. Solutions like Itron’s IntelliFLEX distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) make this possible, enabling smarter dispatch, proactive load shaping and greater grid stability through autonomous customer engagement.

3. Actionable Insights from Real-Time Data
Smart endpoints and sensors generate vast volumes of data, but data alone isn’t enough. When applied with grid edge intelligence, AI and ML transform data into actionable insights that grid edge devices can execute immediately. This helps utilities forecast demand, detect anomalies and model grid behavior with greater precision, when and where it matters most.

4. Improved Operational Efficiency
Automation and AI reduce manual processes and streamline resource allocation. For utilities, this means faster response times, reduced truck rolls and more efficient planning. Leveraging IoT-connected devices and distributed computing, utilities can make real-time decisions locally to lower latency, improve reliability and reduce costs. 

5. Maximized Lifespan of Grid Infrastructure
Digital twins, which are virtual models of physical assets, allow utilities to simulate scenarios, prioritize maintenance and make smarter, data-informed investment decisions. Combined with sensor data and AI, they provide a holistic view of system health and future needs. This approach helps maximize asset performance, potentially gaining 20% more capacity through grid edge optimization, while deferring or reducing long-term capital expenditures.

These are just a few of the many ways advanced technologies, when paired with Itron solutions, can help utilities and cities accelerate their digital transformation. 

Download a complimentary copy of the Gartner report here. 

Gartner, Hype Cycle for Digital Grid, 2025, Lloyd Jones, Jo-Ann Clynch, 7 July 2025.

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