By Kshitiz Jain, Landis+Gyr

The energy distribution grid is becoming more unpredictable by the day, with a growing number of DERs, such as EVs, home batteries, and solar panels, creating bidirectional power flow and accelerated electrification driving ever greater load demands. This makes it increasingly difficult for utilities to maintain grid reliability. 

To manage this complexity, utilities need better visibility and faster, localized control. At Landis+Gyr, we’re helping utilities solve these problems with next generation AMI, grid edge sensors, and edge-integrated DERMS that bridge the gap between detection and action. 

Next Gen AMI: Beyond Meter Reads

Legacy AMI metering gave us interval billing and outage alerts. It is useful, but not enough anymore. Next Gen AMI requires meters like Landis+Gyr’s Revelo®, capable of high-resolution grid sensing to be able to collect and process waveform-level data, provide real-time voltage monitoring, and manage power quality events at the edge. This isn’t just more data; it’s the right data to provide continuous situational awareness of what’s happening on the utility’s low-voltage network.  

Closing the Loop with Edge DERMS

Traditional DERMS, along with ADMS, are focused on the primary-voltage network and do not have visibility or awareness of the edge. Therefore, the integration between high-resolution AMI and edge-aware DERMS is crucial to better understand what is happening on the low-voltage side. When high-resolution edge data feeds directly into a DERMS platform, utilities can go beyond analysis to action. 

Landis+Gyr, together with OATI®, is making this a reality by seamlessly integrating Revelo edge sensor data over the AMI network with OATI’s webSmartEnergy® DERMS. This enables utilities to monitor, forecast, and control distributed energy resources in real time—orchestrating real-world devices, based on real-time conditions, with data coming straight from the edge. 

Flexibility for Practical Wins

This integrated approach of Next Gen AMI, edge DERMS, and behind-the-meter data coordination is already delivering value for utilities to manage complexity, wherever they are on their grid optimization journey. With a flexible solution, utilities can start small on the feeders or neighborhoods that are feeling the most stress, and scale as they go to address use cases such as: 

1. 1. 1. Voltage optimization using real-time data from Revelo and inverter controls managed through OATI DERMS 
      2. Outage detection and phase-level restoration without having to wait for customer calls or SCADA events 
      3. Dynamic DER management, with localized visibility and fast response built into the network 

What All This Means

The future of the grid isn’t central, it’s everywhere. That’s why Landis+Gyr offers a fully integrated flexibility solution that lets utilities see what’s happening anywhere on the grid, make sense of it, and respond in near-real time. From AMI to DERMS to behind-the-meter data, it all works together, empowering utilities to not just survive the complexity at the edge, but use it to their advantage.