Accenture and Siemens Team Up for Smart Grid

Accenture and Siemens Infrastructure & Cities have announced that they are working together to provide smart metering solutions to help utility companies improve the automation, planning, monitoring and diagnosis of their electric grid infrastructures.

Accenture and Siemens will specifically collaborate on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Meter Data Management (MDM) solutions, which are designed to provide a utility with more information on its grid’s activity and help increase operational efficiencies such as improving the response time to an outage.

Accenture Smart Grid Services (ASGS) will provide consulting, systems integration and managed services for smart meter and analytics solutions. Siemens will leverage its eMeter EnergyIP Meter Data Management Platform and Analytics Foundation and corresponding professional services.

Accenture and Siemens will help utilities manage the vast amounts of data gathered through smart meters which provide detailed information on the status of their distribution systems as well as customer consumption. The increased use of smart meters, which also provide visibility and control over the distribution grid, is critical as utilities seek ways to drive energy efficiency and integrate growing amounts of renewable power from sources such as solar and wind into the power supply network.

“This collaboration will ultimately lead to customized solutions that can be quickly integrated into a utility’s existing infrastructure,” said Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of the Business Unit Services within the Siemens Smart Grid Division. “These solutions will help utilities operate their systems more efficiently, thus giving them an economic advantage over their competitors.”

“Combining Accenture’s Smart Grid capabilities, which include advanced IT expertise, and deep industry knowledge, with Siemen’s Smart Grid and Smart Metering technology as well as extensive experience in utility operations, will help utilities improve their operations by better capturing and analyzing customer data,” said Jack Azagury, managing director for Accenture Smart Grid Services. “Together, we can help utilities unlock the value of their smart metering capabilities while reducing risk as they adopt these new technologies.”

Siemens and Accenture are currently working with SaskPower, a leading Canadian utility, to help implement an advanced metering infrastructure that will help the company provide more reliable energy and better customer service.