Smart meter and smart grid deployments softened in 1Q 2012, with global meter shipments down sequentially by nearly 15%, according to Pike Research’s Smart Grid Deployment Tracker. The decline was particularly noticeable in North America, where a rollout peak was reached last year, as we have noted before. The U.S. government’s stimulus money, which had been an important driver of projects, has nearly run out, and many utilities have either finished projects or are starting to wind them down. Even China, which has been deploying meters at a frantic pace, showed signs of a smart grid slowdown as foreign suppliers noted trouble in the region. Still, China continues to deploy large volumes of devices, albeit at a slower pace.

Despite the slowdown, some noteworthy deployments were announced during the quarter. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said it would begin rolling out 17 million smart meters in Japan through 2019. And in Spain, Iberdrola announced deals with seven meter manufacturers that will supply 1 million smart meters as part of the utility’s initial rollout of devices through 2018.

This Pike Research tracker report, updated quarterly, provides detailed analysis of worldwide utility smart grid and smart meter programs including tracking of customer endpoints, metering vendors, communications vendors, and systems integrators. The tracker includes a tactical examination of technologies, deployment timeframes, and vendor selections for each utility deployment, along with vendor market share analysis.

Key Questions Addressed:

• Which utilities are actively engaged in smart grid and smart meter deployments on a worldwide basis and what are their intended volumes and timeframes?
• Which technologies have various utilities selected for their deployment projects?
• Which meter manufacturers, communications module vendors, systems integrators, and meter data management providers are working with specific utilities?
• What are the market shares of these companies in terms of vendor selections in the United States?

Who needs this report?

• Utilities
• Meter manufacturers
• Smart grid communications vendors
• Consulting firms and systems integrators
• Government agencies
• Investor community

Table of Contents

1.  Executive Summary

1.1   Introduction

1.2   New Market Activity

1.3   Vendor Selection Share Analysis

1.4   Smart Meter and AMI Communications Node Shipments

2.  New Market Activity

2.1   Overview

2.2   DTE Energy

2.3   TEPCO to Deploy 17 Million Smart Meters

2.4   Iberdrola Awards Seven Companies for 1 Million Meters

2.5   Caribbean Utilities Company Chooses Sensus Gear

2.6   Itron Acquires SmartSynch

2.7   Progress Energy Taps Silver Spring Networks

2.8   Hitachi and Silver Spring Networks Form Alliance

2.9   Echelon and Holley Metering Form Joint Venture

2.10   Huawei Partners with Landis+Gyr in United Kingdom

2.11  China Slowdown

2.12   Hydro One Selects IBM for Smart Grid Project

3.  Vendor Selection Share Analysis

3.1   Introduction

3.2   Meter Manufacturer Vendor Selection Share

3.3   Communication Modules Vendor Selection Share

3.4   System Integrators

3.5   Meter Data Management Vendors

4.  Smart Meter and Communications Node Shipments

4.1   Introduction

4.1.1     Definitions

4.2   Global Meter and AMI Communications Node Shipments

4.2.1     China Challenge

4.2.2     Global AMI Communications Nodes by Technology

4.2.3     Global Smart Meters by Meter Type

4.3   North American Meter and AMI Communications Node Shipments

4.4   Europe Meter and AMI Communications Node Shipments

4.5   Latin America, Middle East / Africa, Asia Pacific Markets

5.  Table of Contents
6.  Table of Charts and Figures
7.  Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes

List of Charts and Figures

• Cumulative Meter Manufacturer Vendor Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Region, World Markets: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Region, World Markets Excluding China: 1Q 2012
• Cumulative AMI Communications Vendor Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Cumulative Systems Integrator Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Cumulative Meter Data Management Vendor Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Region, World Markets: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Region, World Markets Excluding China: 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, World Markets: 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, World Markets Excluding China: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, World Markets: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, World Markets Excluding China: 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, North America: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, North America: 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, Europe: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, Europe: 1Q 2012

List of Tables

• New Smart Grid and AMI Deployments Announced, United States: 1Q 2012
• New Smart Grid and AMI Deployments Announced, Latin America: 1Q 2012
• New Smart Grid and AMI Deployments Announced, Europe: 1Q 2012
• New Smart Grid and AMI Deployments Announced, Asia Pacific: 1Q 2012
• AMI and Smart Grid Deployments, North America
• AMI and Smart Grid Deployments, World Markets
• Cumulative Meter Manufacturer Vendor Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Cumulative AMI Communications Vendor Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Cumulative Systems Integrator Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Cumulative Meter Data Management Vendor Selection Share, North America: 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter, AMI Communications, and HAN Node Shipments, World Markets: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter, AMI Communications, and HAN Node Shipments, North America: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter, AMI Communications, and HAN Node Shipments, Latin America: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter, AMI Communications, and HAN Node Shipments, Europe: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter, AMI Communications, and HAN Node Shipments, Asia Pacific: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter, AMI Communications, and HAN Node Shipments, Middle East/Africa: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Region, World Markets: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, World Markets: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, World Markets Excluding China: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, World Markets: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, China: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, World Markets excluding China: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, North America: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, North America: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• AMI Node Shipments by Technology, Europe: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter Shipments by Meter Type, Europe: 1Q 2011 to 1Q 2012
• Smart Meter and AMI Definitions