If you are a regular reader of Smart Grid Observer , you have seen the accelerating pace of news about IoT technology and implementations in the utilities industry. The most common headlines on this topic have been about one particular application of IoT in the electrical utility world: residential use of smart meters and smart devices. That IoT use case has a bright spotlight for very good reasons: the impact on energy conservation is significant, it enables utilities to better manage peak load situations, it provides a foundation for exciting smart grid applications in the future, and much more. But this residential application is actually only one of several use cases for utilities – most of which are largely under the radar.

IoT is making its way into nearly every aspect of how utilities deliver power to customers. In generation plants, for example, industrial IoT networks are being deployed with large numbers of wireless sensors that enable organizations to better monitor equipment, predict maintenance needs, monitor environmental metrics, and more – delivering real-time information that was previously unavailable or only monitored through manual processes. Another example is the rollout of sensors on Transmission and Distribution (T&D) towers, poles and other equipment, allowing utilities to proactively monitor networks in ways that were previously far more reactive to issues rather than proactive before they potentially interrupt service. IoT devices are […]