Top Advanced Metering Advisers Helping Utilities Upgrade to Next-Gen Metering Systems
Utilities are under pressure to modernize. Aging infrastructure, rising customer expectations and more renewables on the grid all push in the same direction. Many leaders now see advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) as a foundation for a smarter grid and better customer service.
Getting from concept to a fully working AMI program is challenging. These projects cross IT, operations, customer service and regulatory departments. They also demand major investments. The right advanced metering adviser helps utilities build a solid plan, choose the right technology, and deliver a rollout that stays on budget and provides value.
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The Driving Forces Behind Grid Modernization
Multiple grid modernization shifts are hitting utilities at once, and they rely on better data and more flexible control.
Decarbonization and distributed energy resources (DER) are high on the list. More solar and wind power companies are coming online each year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that global renewable capacity additions reached a record level in 2025 as countries accelerated clean energy deployment.
That growth makes the grid more dynamic. Output changes faster and in more locations, and legacy metering and manual processes do not provide enough visibility or speed to manage this new reality.
Electrification adds another layer. The IEA’s 2025 Global EV Outlook notes that global electric car sales passed 17 million in 2024. Heat pumps and other electric heating options are also gaining share. Those shifts change when and where the load appears on the system. To manage this, utilities need finer-grained usage data and the ability to shape demand more precisely.
In addition, people are getting used to having detailed information about their services in other industries. They expect transparent billing, clear usage data and quick communication during outages. Smart meters and advanced metering platforms provide the raw data to power portals, alerts and specific rates.
Regulators also want proof that investments actually improve performance. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s assessment of demand response and advanced metering reports indicates that advanced options comprised 76.8% of U.S. meters in 2023. These continue to grow as utilities seek more flexible demand and better reliability.
Together, these forces create momentum behind advanced metering and grid modernization. Utilities that have strong advisory support tend to move faster, avoid missteps and get more value out of their investments.
What Does an Advanced Metering Adviser Do?
An advanced metering adviser doesn’t just recommend software or hardware. The most effective companies operate as long-term partners who understand the utility’s goals, constraints and regulatory environment.
They start with planning and business case development, including finding ways to reduce losses, improve outage response and support flexible rates. It also means putting real numbers behind benefits, like reduced billing disputes, lower truck rolls and better reliability. This way, regulators and boards feel confident in the investment.
Advisers also help compare meter vendors, communication channels and meter data management systems versus actual needs. They support request-for-proposal design, scoring and negotiation, while staying focused on long-term fit and the total cost of ownership.
Once decisions are made, system integration and program management become critical. AMI touches current integration, outage management, distribution operations and customer-facing tools. Advisers help coordinate among IT, operations, field teams and vendors, so integration issues do not show up late in the program. They speak with utilities to update processes, train staff and design strategies that set up AMI 2.0, analytics and DER support.
7 Best Advanced Metering Advisers for Utilities
Seven advisers stand out due to their experience and service offerings. The top providers log a deep history in utility work and a clear track record with AMI or related grid modernization programs.
Each company offers services across the project life cycle, from strategy to development to optimization. They also demonstrate awareness of where the industry is heading — AMI 2.0, grid-edge computing, data analytics and cybersecurity.
1. TRC Companies
TRC Companies is a global consulting, engineering and construction management company with a strong presence in the utility sector. For advanced metering programs, it acts as a strategic, vendor-agnostic partner that guides utilities from early planning through long-term operations.
Its AMI services cover strategy, business case development, regulatory support, technology selection, deployment planning and managed services. Its teams bring consulting and engineering experience, which is helpful when utilities need to link business goals with specific technical designs.
TRC Companies works with investor-owned utilities, government and municipal utilities, and cooperatives. It also supports projects in the gas, electric and water sectors. This breadth is relevant for multicommodity entities planning unified meter programs or cross-utility data systems.
Its history with AMI goes back to early deployments, and it understands how AMI 1.0 systems differ from the newer AMI 2.0 platforms and what that means in practice. It positions its team as tested practitioners with firsthand knowledge in what works and what does not in live rollouts.
2. TMG Consulting
TMG Consulting is a utility-focused advisory firm that concentrates on meter-to-cash processes. Advanced metering is a major part of that, but it also looks at how data flows through customer information, billing and revenue systems.
Its AMI services use the TMG VAST framework to structure complex programs. This covers feasibility studies, business cases, technology roadmaps, procurement, contract support and ongoing program oversight. The company views AMI as a cross-functional effort that affects construction, customer operations, IT, finance and regulatory relations.
One of its key features is a dedicated program manager who coordinates vendors, internal resources and timelines. Utilities with limited internal program management capacity often find this support valuable, especially for multiyear rollouts. TMG is a good fit for users seeking a clear structure for their AMI efforts.
3. E-Source
E-Source combines research, data science and consulting to help utilities handle operations better. It offers AMI Planning Through Implementation services, as well as broader data and customer-related support. It brings several benefits to advanced metering work. These include using market research and benchmarking to show how peer utilities approach AMI, customer programs and analytics, and providing hands-on consulting to turn insights into specific plans and use cases.
Its teams help utilities design AMI programs that support digital transformation and customer engagement. These cover planning for data strategy, integrating artificial intelligence and analytics, and building customer experiences that use smart meter data. E-Source is well-suited to utilities looking for a link between advanced metering, data and client-facing programs.
4. Quanta Technology
Quanta Technology is an engineering-focused consulting firm working across the electric power sector. It has a specific practice for public power utilities and cooperatives that covers smart meters and AMI deployment support.
Its AMI services span cost-benefit analysis, technology and communication network strategy, vendor evaluation, testing support and deployment oversight. It emphasizes aligning AMI design with grid modernization and system protection. Quanta Technology lists experience in more than 120 AMI deployments. This scale gives a sizable set of field lessons on timelines, change management and vendor performance.
Its concentration on municipalities and cooperatives is worth noting. Such utilities often have smaller teams and budget constraints, yet still need AMI to manage growth, reliability and client needs. Quanta helps them set realistic scopes, phase distributions and integrate AMI with existing systems without overextending staff.
5. Sure Power Consulting
Sure Power Consulting focuses on utility transformation projects, including AMI. It provides advisory services and project management support for large, multiyear projects. Its AMI practice covers program planning, vendor selection, implementation oversight and integration with water, electricity and gas utilities.
Sure Power has established notable partnerships with major AMI vendors, including Landis+Gyr and Itron. These relationships indicate deep hands-on experience with those platforms and their ecosystems. At the same time, its role is to help utilities define requirements, evaluate choices, and deploy solutions that fit their operational needs and regulatory environment.
6. Util-Assist
Util-Assist is a utility services firm with deep roots in AMI. It has been active in the space since 2005, giving it nearly two decades of experience across regulatory shifts and tech cycles. It helps with next-generation AMI strategy, business case development and stakeholder alignment. Its proprietary assessment process is designed to bring regulators, executives and internal teams onto the same page on timing, scope and vendor options.
During procurement and deployment, Util-Assist offers support with proposals, contract negotiations, testing and rollout planning. It particularly emphasizes the precision testing of meters, communication systems and head-end platforms to reduce issues when the devices are in the field. It also assists with operating model design and post-deployment optimization, ensuring that AMI is fully used across departments.
7. Utility Metering Solutions
Utility Metering Solutions (UMS) is a technical services company focused on metering projects for gas, electric and water utilities. It specializes in the practical field-focused side of metering upgrades.
UMS organizes its work into predeployment, deployment and continuity phases. Predeployment includes system assessments, design and piloting. Deployment covers field installation, logistics, quality checks and customer coordination. Continuity includes maintenance and long-term support to ensure systems perform as expected.
One of UMS’s most notable offerings is netAMP, a metering-as-a-service (MaaS) model that bundles project planning, installation and ongoing services into a subscription-style program. This structure can help reduce up-front capital needs and smooth expenses over time for some utilities. UMS is also vendor-independent, meaning it works with various meter and system vendors, rather than promoting a specific product.
The Best Advanced Metering Advisers at a Glance
Below is an at-a-glance look at the strengths of the top advanced metering advisory firms.
| Company | Core Focus | Key Services | Vendor Independence |
| TRC Companies | Strategic and technical advisory | AMI strategy, business case, engineering, integration, deployment, managed services | Strong vendor-agnostic positioning |
| TMG Consulting | Meter-to-cash program advisory | Feasibility, business case, roadmap, procurement, program governance and oversight | Independent client advocacy |
| E-Source | Data science and consulting | AMI planning, analytics strategy, AI support, customer experience and program design | Advisory is separate from technology sales |
| Quanta Technology | Engineering and deployment support | Cost-benefit analysis, architecture, request for proposals, deployment, and integration for public power and co-ops | Technology-neutral consulting |
| Sure Power Consulting | Transformation and project delivery | AMI strategy, vendor implementation, project management across electric, water and gas | Works with major vendors, advisory-led |
| Util-Assist | Utility-focused AMI services | Next-gen AMI strategy, business case, procurement, testing, rollout management | Independent multivendor experience |
| Utility Metering Solutions | Technical implementation services | Predeployment design, installation, maintenance, metering-as-a-service (netAMP) | Product-independent field services |
The Future of the Advanced Metering Industry
Early advanced metering programs focused on remote reads and billing accuracy, but the next wave will be about grid-edge intelligence, analytics and new service models.
AMI 2.0 meters act as small computing devices at the edge of the network. They can support higher-frequency data, power quality monitoring and more advanced control functions. Those capabilities help manage a decentralized grid with higher levels of DERs and more active demand-side resources.
Data and AI are becoming central to how utilities use AMI data. For example, machine learning can turn standard smart meter data into actionable insights for load forecasting and anomaly detection. These same approaches support demand flexibility programs, theft detection and the more precise planning of grid investments.
Cybersecurity is also now a baseline requirement in advanced metering. A 2025 review highlights the growing attack surface around smart meters and calls for stronger protections through communication networks and back-end systems. As more data and control functions move to the grid edge, security design and ongoing monitoring become even more valuable.
These and more trends point toward an advanced metering landscape where technology, data and service models continue to evolve. Advisers who understand this direction can help utilities avoid short-term decisions that limit long-term options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advanced Metering
Utility leaders often revisit the same key questions as they consider AMI upgrades and partners.
What Is the Main Difference Between AMI 1.0 and AMI 2.0?
AMI 1.0 focused on automated meter reading and billing, replacing manual reads with interval data. This reduced estimated bills and added extra capabilities like remote connect and disconnect. Most of the value came from operational savings and basic customer improvements.
AMI 2.0 treats meters as grid-edge devices, providing more frequent data, stronger two-way communication and support for local analytics. It can feed outage management and distribution systems in near-real time and work more closely with DERs. AMI 2.0 supports a more flexible and responsive grid.
How Does an AMI Deployment Improve Operational Efficiency?
Automated reading removes the need for manual route reading and reduces the number of estimated bills. Remote connect and disconnect reduces truck rolls for move-ins, move-outs and collections. Outage data from smart meters helps locate problems faster and confirm restoration without relying only on customer calls. AMI data can also reveal unusual consumption or power quality issues.
What Are the Biggest Risks in an AMI Project?
Budget and schedule risk are common. Large AMI programs have many moving parts, so if requirements aren’t clear from the beginning, the scope can expand and strain budgets. Weak governance can also lead to confusion and delays.
Another concern is integration risk. AMI must work smoothly with CIS, outage management and other systems. If this isn’t planned and tested carefully, problems appear late in the program, when they become very costly to fix.
How Does AMI Directly Impact Customer Satisfaction?
AMI gives clients clearer information and more options. Detailed usage data can feed line portals, mobile apps, and regular reports on how and when energy is used. Accurate information also reduces billing issues. Fewer estimated reads and more precise interval data reduce disputes. During outages, AMI identifies affected customers faster and provides more precise restoration estimates.
Choosing the Right Partner for Your Modernization Journey
Different utilities will prioritize different strengths. Some need high-level strategy and regulatory support, while others want deep analytics expertise or hands-on field delivery. Choose a partner whose experience, working style and long-term outlook match company goals for a more resilient and client-focused grid built on advanced metering.
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