BIG MONEY IN SMART METERS

Worldwide Smart Meter Shipments to Surpass 140 Million Units Annually, According to IDC Energy Insights' Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker
March 7, 2012 (IDC Energy Insights)

"…IDC Energy Insights' Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker found that worldwide smart meter shipments in the fourth quarter of 2011 (4Q11) grew 11.8% over the previous quarter (3Q11) and were up 23.8% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010…[IDC] expects annual smart meter shipments to surpass 140 million units worldwide by 2016, up from 25.4 million in 2011. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.9% over the 2011 to 2016 forecast period.

"…[D]eveloping markets [are expected] to drive smart meter growth through 2016…[T]he revival of the Canadian market and an uptick in shipments to Central and Eastern Europe were the primary drivers in the closing quarter of 2011. In 2012, smart meter shipments in Europe will accelerate as country-level planning continues to progress and the pathway towards the European Commission's ‘20-20-20’ targets finally begins to materialize…"

"Shipments will also ramp up significantly in the Asia/Pacific region as the massive markets in China and India begin to integrate advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The Japanese market is also gaining momentum with the renewed focus on conservation in the wake of Fukushima, while utilities in Oceana are learning to manage the consumer backlash that emerged from previous deployments.

"…[T]hrough 2016, activity will shift from North America and Europe to the developing world…Smart meter vendors [will develop] a wide array of solutions to fit…a pronounced difference between AMI in mature markets and upcoming emerging market deployments. Utilities in emerging markets tend to focus more on billing and theft deterrence rather than customer engagement or next-generation smart grid applications…[E]merging markets have displayed a greater degree of price sensitivity…[than] more mature AMI markets."