“The true power of edge computing in smart metering is not just faster data – it is local intelligence that makes decisions before the operators even knows there is a grid problem.” – MJ Martin
Edge computing is arriving first in electricity metering. Gas metering will follow closely and eventually water meeting will catch up to the other utilities.
Edge computing is emerging first in electricity metering primarily due to the higher data frequency, immediate operational demands, and greater grid interactivity required in power systems compared to gas and water networks.
Electricity systems operate in near real-time and must balance supply and demand on a second-by-second basis. Smart electric meters generate high-resolution interval data (often every 15 minutes or less) and can support functions such as voltage monitoring, outage detection, load forecasting, and integration with distributed energy resources (e.g., solar, EVs, batteries). These capabilities demand localized processing, making edge computing a natural fit.
In contrast, gas and water utilities typically rely on lower-frequency data (e.g., hourly or daily), and their distribution systems are less dynamic. While edge computing is valuable for leak detection, pressure monitoring, and conservation analytics, the urgency and volume of actionable events are lower. Moreover, electric metering infrastructure is often powered by the grid itself, allowing for continuous processing and communication. Water and gas meters are usually battery-powered, requiring careful energy management that can limit on-device computation.
As edge AI becomes more power-efficient and leak detection, safety, and conservation mandates grow, adoption in gas and water metering will accelerate – but electricity is leading due to its intrinsic need for speed, responsiveness, and complexity.
Tom Deitrich, President and CEO of Itron, has emphasized the transformative role of edge computing in modernizing utility infrastructures. In a recent discussion, he stated:
“We believe solving the problems of today’s utility world is a team sport.”
This perspective highlights the collaborative efforts required to integrate edge computing and AI technologies effectively. Under Deitrich’s leadership, Itron has focused on deploying distributed intelligence (DI) solutions that empower utilities to manage energy and water resources more efficiently. By embedding intelligence at the grid’s edge, utilities can achieve real-time visibility and control, leading to improved operational efficiency and customer engagement.
Itron’s initiatives, such as the IntelliFLEX solution, exemplify this approach in electricity metering by facilitating the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and enhancing grid flexibility. These advancements are pivotal in addressing the challenges of increasing electrification and renewable energy adoption, ensuring a resilient and responsive utility network for the future.
Digital Meters
The shift from analog, mechanical meters to digital smart meters is a cornerstone of the five-year transformation in AMI, enabling the adoption of edge computing and AI across water, gas, and electricity networks.
Unlike mechanical meters, which offer only limited, infrequent data and require manual reading, digital meters provide high-frequency, granular data that can be processed locally. This allows for real-time event detection – such as identifying leaks, pressure drops, or voltage irregularities – and enables immediate action without relying on central systems.
Digital meters also support remote updates and software-defined enhancements, keeping devices adaptive and secure over time, whereas analog meters are static and require physical maintenance. Furthermore, digital meters integrate seamlessly with broader smart infrastructure, acting as intelligent nodes within a responsive, interconnected network.
This meter transformation reduces operational costs, minimizes truck rolls, and shifts utility workforce roles toward analytics and strategic planning. Ultimately, digital meters are not just a replacement for outdated technology – they are the essential enablers of a more intelligent, efficient, and resilient utility future.
AMI Networks
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the convergence of edge computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Over the next five years, this evolution is expected to accelerate, redefining how water, gas, and electricity utilities operate, deliver services, and engage with customers.
Edge Computing: A Paradigm Shift in Data Processing
Traditionally, smart meters have functioned as endpoints that collect consumption data and transmit it to centralized systems for analysis. However, the proliferation of edge computing – processing data closer to the source – now enables these meters and associated devices to perform complex tasks locally. This shift reduces latency, enhances real-time responsiveness, and lowers the bandwidth required for backhaul communication. For utilities, edge-enabled meters can autonomously detect anomalies such as leaks, tampering, or outages and initiate actions without needing immediate central system input.
AI at the Edge: Intelligence Where It Matters Most
Artificial intelligence further amplifies the potential of edge computing. By embedding AI algorithms into field devices, utilities can implement adaptive learning models that evolve with usage patterns and environmental conditions. For example, in water metering, AI at the edge can distinguish between continuous leaks and intermittent high-flow events, alerting customers proactively. In electricity metering, AI can support dynamic load forecasting and fault prediction. For gas, localized AI can enhance safety by detecting pressure abnormalities and initiating localized shutdowns before human intervention is required.
Expectations for the Next Five Years
1. Increased Device Intelligence: Meters will evolve from passive data collectors to active participants in grid and network management, using AI to optimize performance and maintenance schedules.
2. Cybersecurity by Design: With more intelligence at the edge, security architectures will shift from perimeter-based approaches to device-centric, AI-driven threat detection and response mechanisms.
3. Interoperability Standards: Industry adoption of open, interoperable standards (e.g., IEEE 2030.5, Wi-SUN, DLMS/COSEM) will be crucial to integrating diverse edge devices into cohesive AMI networks.
4. Customer Empowerment: Real-time usage feedback, anomaly alerts, and personalized conservation recommendations will become standard, fostering deeper engagement and trust.
5. Resilient Infrastructure: In an era of climate change and grid stress, edge AI will contribute to decentralized decision-making, enabling more resilient and self-healing utility systems.
Conclusion
Edge computing and AI are reshaping the landscape of AMI smart metering, moving utilities toward decentralized intelligence and greater operational agility. In the coming years, expect a wave of innovation that brings greater accuracy, security, and customer value to utility networks. The future of smart metering will be not just about measuring consumption, but about understanding, predicting, and responding – intelligently and instantly – at the edge.
About the Author:
Michael Martin is the Vice President of Technology with Metercor Inc., a Smart Meter, IoT, and Smart City systems integrator based in Canada. He has more than 40 years of experience in systems design for applications that use broadband networks, optical fibre, wireless, and digital communications technologies. He is a business and technology consultant. He was a senior executive consultant for 15 years with IBM, where he worked in the GBS Global Center of Competency for Energy and Utilities and the GTS Global Center of Excellence for Energy and Utilities. He is a founding partner and President of MICAN Communications and before that was President of Comlink Systems Limited and Ensat Broadcast Services, Inc., both divisions of Cygnal Technologies Corporation (CYN: TSX).
Martin served on the Board of Directors for TeraGo Inc (TGO: TSX) and on the Board of Directors for Avante Logixx Inc. (XX: TSX.V). He has served as a Member, SCC ISO-IEC JTC 1/SC-41 – Internet of Things and related technologies, ISO – International Organization for Standardization, and as a member of the NIST SP 500-325 Fog Computing Conceptual Model, National Institute of Standards and Technology. He served on the Board of Governors of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) [now Ontario Tech University] and on the Board of Advisers of five different Colleges in Ontario – Centennial College, Humber College, George Brown College, Durham College, Ryerson Polytechnic University [now Toronto Metropolitan University]. For 16 years he served on the Board of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), Toronto Section.
He holds three master’s degrees, in business (MBA), communication (MA), and education (MEd). As well, he has three undergraduate diplomas and seven certifications in business, computer programming, internetworking, project management, media, photography, and communication technology. He has completed over 50 next generation MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) continuous education in a wide variety of topics, including: Economics, Python Programming, Internet of Things, Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive systems, Blockchain, Agile, Big Data, Design Thinking, Security, Indigenous Canada awareness, and more.