Utilities expect smart-grid budgets to increase

The number of utilities moving past smart-grid planning and into implementation has increased modestly, by 8 per cent, according to Microsoft’s Worldwide Utility Industry Survey 2011. The survey also shows a general industry expectation (73 per cent) that budgets to support these efforts are on the rise.

The survey, which polled more than 210 professionals within electric, gas and related companies around the world, also highlights the challenges utilities face — from financial and regulatory to technology and return on investment — as they move from planning to actual smart grid implementation. One of the survey’s key findings is that utilities need architectural and implementation guidance to be certain that future smart grid technology advances will integrate with and help protect their existing technology investments.

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