Quick take: Five years ago companies were scrambling to show they could collect and manage large data sets from millions of meters. With that largely proven, vendors are switching to a new battlefield -- namely, analyzing all that data. Today, most analytics are achieved through custom programming by high-priced consultants. The fight is to create an analytics platform easy enough that utility staffers can use it by themselves once it's set up properly. Oracle's acquisition of DataRaker gives them an important addition to their arsenal, one that moves them part way down that path. – Jesse Berst

"Big Data created by smart meters and sensors has presented utilities with an enormous opportunity to improve operations and deliver better customer service by acting on the unique insights that can only be found by understanding the massive amounts of data coming from their customers and networks," said Rodger Smith, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Oracle Utilities. "With DataRaker, Oracle can provide customers a complete and integrated set of products to further unlock efficiencies and create data insights that maximize business value."