December 13, 2012 – Boulder, CO – As gas utilities look for ways to operate more efficiently and provide enhanced applications to customers, the natural gas meter market is shifting from traditional manual-read devices to more intelligent meters with sophisticated capabilities. These smart gas meters are expected to create efficiencies for utilities and open the door to enhanced applications that can benefit both utilities and customers. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, the global installed base of smart gas meters will increase from 10.8 million in 2012 to 71.2 million by 2020.
“Increasingly, utilities will deploy smart gas meters over the coming years as they seek to increase operational efficiencies and improve the reliability of their systems,” says senior research analyst Neil Strother. “The operational savings from a reduction in the number of meter readers in the field are a given, but gas utility managers considering a smart meter rollout must build a business case that includes increased accuracy of meter readings, increased customer satisfaction, and the ability to better manage energy use, especially in the peak months.”
Utilities that have already deployed smart meters – gas, electric, and water – are still trying to get a handle on how best to leverage the huge volume of information now being generated by these advanced metering infrastructure systems. Beyond this enormous volume are the applications that could possibly be enabled by the data, and the question of how those applications will transfer to utilities and customers. For gas utility managers, solving the data dilemma remains a near-term inhibitor to building a strong business case, according to the report.
The report, “Smart Gas Meters”, examines the global market opportunity for smart gas meters, analyzing the drivers and inhibitors shaping the market, along with major technology issues. The report also provides market forecasts through 2020 for smart gas meter shipments and the associated revenue, broken down by meter type and by region. Key vendor profiles, analysis of new market players, and a guide for utilities to build a business case are included as well. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.
Contact: Richard Martin
+1.303.997.7609
* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, “Smart Gas Meters,” is a summary and reflects Pike Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.