We've been writing about the convergence of utility information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) pretty frequently of late – and a new report from GTM Research reinforces our belief that this is an important trend. As utilities scramble to build supporting information and operations systems in parallel with deployment of smart meters, distribution automation devices and other smart grid technologies, GTM is forecasting it will drive $8.2 billion in utility enterprise spending in the U.S. between now and 2015.

 

According to the report, the total available smart grid enterprise market in the U.S. will be $1.3 billion in 2011, with that figure expected to hit $1.8 billion per year in 2015.

 

And you better believe vendors are paying attention.

 

“The pace of market activity is quickening as major vendors jockey to provide a complete enterprise value proposition,” said Chet Geschickter, GTM Research Senior Analyst and the report’s author. “M&A activity, such as ABB acquiring Ventyx last year, is now being followed by a round of product rationalization and harmonization, where vendors, and the utilities they serve, are evaluating smart grid requirements.”

 

The report, The Smart Utility Enterprise 2011-2015, is available for purchase from GTM Research.

 

More on this topic …

IT-OT help and how-to special issue package

The convergence of IT and OT is perhaps the year's most important trend. And it seems pretty clear that utilities that fail to converge IT and OT over the next few years will get far fewer smart grid benefits. And far more smart grid problems. In this special issue package, experts from Accenture explain how to derive the benefits and avoid the problems. Download the pdf now >>

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