Smart meters to reach 100-million milestone in 2014

subscribe

Austin, Texas — Counter to the somber mood that many metering manufacturers have been displaying in recent years, worldwide shipments of communication-enabled meters will grow to more than 100 million units annually in 2014, according to IHS Inc., a leading source of global insight and information.

Up from an estimated 82 million units in 2013, annual shipments of the meters will pass the hundred-million mark next year and remain there until at least 2017. By then, these units are expected to account for almost $5 billion in revenue for meter manufacturers, reveals the report entitled “The World Market for Smart Electricity Meters – 2013.”

The projection comes despite a rapidly decreasing North American market given the drying up of government funding, watered-down meter legislation in Latin America and continuing delays to the long-expected smart meter rollouts in the European Union.

“While it is true that growth in many of the traditional markets for advanced metering solutions has been disappointing in recent years, there is quite a bit of good news as well,” said Jacob Pereira, IHS analyst for smart utilities infrastructure. “China’s massive infrastructure-modernization effort includes a continuing countrywide overhaul of old metering systems, and that can make a big difference in a country of well over 400 million metering endpoints. In addition, recent announcements from some of the larger EU economies have added clarity to when their long-anticipated rollouts will begin in earnest, charging up the market.”

Even so, the majority of communicating meters being installed in Chinese homes and businesses do not meet the “smart” criterion for many people, Pereira noted. “These meters are simple one-way communicating devices used for automatic meter reading, not the advanced functions usually associated with the word ‘smart.’ However, the European meter rollouts expected to start up within the next few years will generally incorporate multiple other features,” Pereira added.

The news of future growth is sure to be a relief to many manufacturers who have become used to dismal news in recent years, such as the end to U.S. stimulus funding, BrazilÂ’s disappointing meter mandates and multiple delays to European rollouts.

“The market for communicating meters isn’t stopping, or even slowing for that matter,” Pereira observed. “It’s just changing locations.”

Related News

concrete power poles

Chinese-built electricity poles plant inaugurated in South Sudan

JUBA - The South Sudan government has launched a factory producing concrete poles that will facilitate an ambitious project done by a Chinese company to rehabilitate and expand the Power Distribution System in Juba, its capital.

The Minister of Dams and Electricity, Dhieu Mathok, said that the factory, rented by Power China, will produce some 13,350 poles for the electricity distribution in the capital and other states.

"The main objective of this project is to increase the supply capacity and reliability of the power distribution system in Juba. Access to the grid will replace the use of generators by the population, allow…

READ MORE
montreal ev race

The City of Vancouver is hosting an ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race next year, organizers have announced

READ MORE

australia power reserves

Australian operator warns of reduced power reserves

READ MORE

power tower

Canada's looming power problem is massive but not insurmountable: report

READ MORE

internet cabling

Australia to head huge electricity and internet project in PNG

READ MORE