Smart grids in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Smart metering

Smart meters enable utilities to secure revenue collection through accurate reading and energy billing. As of 2020, more than 100 million smart meters had been installed in the U.S. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is the leading advanced meter supplying utility in the U.S.. The California-based company provided over 5.4 million advanced meters to customers in Northern and Central California by 2020. Southern California Edison Co. followed in a close second, with some 5.3 million meters installed.

Automation in the sector is expected to be dominated by investments in self-healing energy networks that are able to remotely identify and fix faulty areas in the system. These capabilities will allow for a reduction in time spent on restoring services during outages, such as those caused by storms. Integrating distribution automation and the sharing of infrastructure will help to further reduce operating costs in the industry.

Grid battery storage

Electricity storage is set to become a key factor in the success of the energy transition. With renewable consumption in the U.S. expected to nearly double by 2050, storage technologies can guarantee a reliable power supply, even when production from renewable sources is low. In 2021, the U.S. was the world’s largest investor in grid battery storage, with roughly two billion U.S. dollars spent. That same year, battery capacity additions in the U.S. surpassed three gigawatts, with another 10 gigawatts expected to be deployed by 2023.

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