PLC revenue to surpasses $418 million annually by 2020
According to a recent report from Pike Research, entitled, “Power Line Communications for Smart Grids”, annual revenue from PLC systems for smart grid applications will grow from $283 million in 2012 to more than $418 million by 2020.
“Shipments of PLC nodes will grow steadily over the remainder of the decade, as utilities complete advanced metering initiatives to comply with various mandates and deadlines,” says senior research analyst Neil Strother. “PLC systems offer economic advantages that include lower capital costs compared with other communications systems, as well as the advantage of owning the communications system outright, instead of leasing it from a cellular provider or other third-party entity.”
Earlier PLC systems supported one-way communication, where meter readings would be sent from end devices, such as meters, directly to a master receiver. The modern two-way system, however, allows bi-directional communications between the meter and the utility. Commands can be transmitted out from the utility to the end devices, which allows for a number of more advanced functions.
Related News

Coronavirus and the U.S. grid: What to know
WASHINGTON - Operators of the nation's electric grid and energy companies are bracing for the spread of a virus that is undercutting power demand in countries across Asia and Europe as daily activities grind to a halt.
Owners of U.S. utilities and nuclear plants are canceling events, halting travel, pushing remote work and testing ill workers to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
So far, grid operators in the United States say no substantial effect on the electricity demand has emerged, but that could change. Texas' main grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), expressed uncertainty when asked whether…