1

Quick Take: Utilities with an investment in old-school AMR meters now have a new solution for gradually merging those legacy units into a full-scale AMI system. As the name implies, Itron's new CENTRON Bridge Meter is a transitional strategy that bridges the two worlds. - Jesse Berst

 

The

Then, when the utility is ready "...the Bridge Meter can easily migrate from Itron's mobile collection system to its OpenWay smart grid solution that is compatible with Itron and Cisco's IPv6 communication network, offering demand response and distribution automation benefits," according to an Itron news release.

As Mark de Vere White, senior VP for the company's North American Energy Group, put it "It is perfect for utilities  that require advanced metering functionality in a mobile environment today, with complete support for full smart grid functionality in the future."

1

Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.