DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/kbsk2f/utility_smart) has announced the addition of the "Utility Smart Grid Outlook in North America: Technologies, Strategies & Case Studies" report to their offering.

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As smart grid market drivers shift from U.S. stimulus funds to operational efficiencies, utilities are demanding that vendors prove a business case to justify smart grid expenditures to their investors and regulators. While some utilities are still initiating advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and distributed generation projects to meet requirements, the lack of federal mandates in smart grid and renewable energy means that in order to predict where the industry is going and which companies will succeed, it is truly essential to understand how utilities are approaching the smart grid market.

This 219-page report provides insight into the strategies utilities are employing to improve the efficiency and reliability of energy delivery. Smart grid submarkets covered in the report include AMI, distribution automation, data analytics, communications, network management, enterprise software and customer engagement.

The report also includes:

• Utility Trends: With the report's utilities representing roughly one-third of all electric utility customers in the U.S. and Canada, GTM Research has identified trends covering everything from common pain points, deployment strategies, risk tolerance, technology shortfalls, analytics initiatives, customer engagement strategies, and lessons learned.
• Maturity Rankings: Utility maturity rankings provide a roadmap of areas of vendor opportunity, as well a yardstick to help utilities plan, measure and compare the maturity of their smart grid projects against the industry at large. The report identifies the Top 10
• Utilities in Smart Grid Maturity, and includes comparative analysis between the Top 10 and the larger group within the five major components of smart grid plans.
• Utility Profiles: The report details plans for deployment and integration of new smart grid technologies within 40 in-depth and extensive profiles of leading North American utilities, chosen because each represents unique challenges that utilities face due to differences in regulation, geography, population density, or energy sourcing, and has shown ambition in at least part of its overall smart grid strategy.

Key Questions Answered

• What are the top areas of concern for utilities, and what types of solutions are they considering buying?
• Who are the most advanced utilities in smart grid, and where do the greatest opportunities for vendors still exist?
• What smart grid technologies are utilities deploying now that the first wave of AMI is nearing completion?
• How well are utilities implementing enterprise integration and data management and analytics strategies?
• Which utilities are the most mature, and why?

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Utility Trends

3. Maturity Rankings

4. Utility Profiles

Companies Mentioned:

• Alabama Power
• Alliant Energy
• Arizona Public Service
• Black Hills Power
• Braintree Electric Light Department
• Brantford Power
• Burbank Water & Power
• Cps Energy
• Centerpoint Energy
• Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
• Central Maine Power
• Commonwealth Edison
• Consumers Energy
• Duke Energy
• Epb
• Enwin Utilities
• Florida Power & Light
• French Broad Emc
• Green Mountain Power
• Gulf Power
• Horry Electric Cooperative
• Hydro One
• Jacksonville Electric Authority
• Kansas City Board Of Public Utilities
• Lakeland Electric
• Modesto Irrigation District
• National Grid
• Oklahoma Gas & Electric
• Ppl Electric Utilities
• Pacific Gas & Electric (Pg&E)
• Portland General Electric (Pge)
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District (Smud)
• Salt River Project (Srp)
• San Diego Gas & Electric (Sdg&E)
• Seattle City Light
• Silicon Valley Power
• South Central Indiana Rural Electric Member Cooperative
• Southern California Edison (Sce)
• Tacoma Power
• Toronto Hydro

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/kbsk2f/utility_smart

Media Contact: Laura Wood , +353-1-481-1716, press@researchandmarkets.net

SOURCE Research and Markets