Itron Inspire Day One: Powering the Future of Utility Operations with Data and AI

Day One of Itron Inspire 2024 has officially come to a close! The day was packed with thought provoking keynotes, insightful breakout sessions and dynamic networking events-all centered around the challenges and opportunities in the transition to cleaner energy and water management. The overarching focus? Leveraging the collective power of data and artificial intelligence (AI) to help utilities navigate the rapidly evolving landscape, paving the way for a more sustainable, resourceful and better-connected future.

Here are some of the top moments from day one:

Setting the Stage with Opening Keynotes

To kick off Day One of Itron Inspire, attendees heard from Tom Deitrich, Itron's president and CEO, on the crucial role data and AI play as the energy transition accelerates. He emphasized that we will never have fewer digital assets than we do right now, and the insights we extract from them will only continue to expand. Tom also addressed the infrastructure, environmental and societal changes affecting utilities, highlighting how intelligence at the edge forms the foundation needed to navigate these evolving challenges. Now more than ever, it's essential for utilities to have full visibility and control over their network assets. With grid edge intelligence, they gain exactly that-and more.

Tom then welcomed to the stage Todd Inlander, senior vice president and chief information officer of Southern California Edison, who shared the utility's challenges and strategies for modernizing its IT infrastructure, addressing the rising demand driven by advanced technologies like AI and quantum computing. "AI has become a critical tool, not just for optimizing operations but also for creating a self-healing, autonomous grid. It's about being bold and leveraging partnerships to bring these technologies to scale, preparing the grid for a future where disruptions can be predicted and minimized," said Inlander.

He also stressed the importance of infrastructure hardening and customer engagement, along with the critical role of strategic partnerships in rapidly deploying innovations. Todd concluded by underscoring the evolving responsibility of utilities in managing growing demand while ensuring safety and reliability.

In addition, Itron's Marina Donovan, vice president of corporate marketing, ESG and public affairs, shared details from the newly released 2024 Resourcefulness Report, Exploring AI for Utilities: The Promise and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence, which examines current trends and future expectations of AI and machine learning (ML) on utility operations and strategies. According to the survey, 86% of utilities identify AI and ML as crucial for addressing operational challenges amid the energy transition.

Going Deeper with Insightful Breakout Sessions

The day was filled with insightful breakout sessions, including a session with Dr. Pablo Bauleo, senior energy services engineer at Fort Collins Utilities, sharing insights into the utility's ambitious sustainability journey.

"We have a goal of being 100% renewable electricity by 2030. It's extremely ambitious," said Dr. Bauleo. Central to this effort is leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) like smart thermostats, grid-interactive water heaters and electric vehicles (EVs) to provide grid flexibility and support renewable energy integration. A key part of this strategy involves Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), which serve as the "orchestra conductor" that coordinates these diverse DERs, optimizing their performance while minimizing disruptions to customers.

In another Monday afternoon session, David Ganger, senior manager of product management at Itron, and David Kreiss, electric utility consultant, explored how distributed intelligence (DI) applications are enhancing customer safety and reliability.

"Ensuring customer safety and satisfaction through advanced DI solutions, Itron is transforming outage reduction, proactive resolution and public safety," said Ganger. Key applications like high impedance detection, temperature monitoring and meter bypass detection are helping utilities preemptively address issues, reducing unplanned outages and repair costs. These advancements improve customer satisfaction by offering proactive solutions, ultimately contributing to a safer, more reliable utility service.

Big Ideas, Big Data: Day One's Big Picture Session

As utilities navigate the energy transition and manage the influx of DERs, grid edge intelligence plays a crucial role in providing visibility and control at the edge of the grid. In Monday's Big Picture Session, Andrea Nuesser, Grid Modernization Leader at Capgemini, joined Amber Connors, Director of IT Customer and Grid Operations Technology at Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), to discuss SMUD's innovative approach to data ownership and management during this transition. Looking ahead, the utility plans to leverage advanced distribution intelligence applications, such as location awareness and high impedance detection, to modernize grid management, optimize transformer loads and maximize grid assets. As these applications are implemented, SMUD remains focused on safeguarding data integrity, ensuring security and protecting consumer privacy.

Itron Inspire 2024 is off to a great start. Look out for our recap of day two and stay connected with live updates throughout the event by following Itron and joining the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #ItronInspire24.

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