AMI Consulting Services
Content
Navigate complex technology decisions and choices with our deep AMI and utility expertise.
At the forefront of AMI since 2005, our consultants can guide you through every step of your AMI journey, from strategic planning and business case through procurement, deployment, and system integration.
- Stay current on next-generation AMI developments with strategic guidance
- Build a solid, defensible business case with a model refined over years of AMI projects
- Drive successful procurement with our proven approach to meet stakeholder needs, solicit quality RFx responses, and choose the best solution
- Secure favorable terms and mitigate risk through expert contract negotiation support
- Ensure seamless integration between AMI and enterprise systems to improve data utilization and workflow efficiency
- Unlock the full value of investments in AMI and upstream and downstream systems (MDM, CIS, ADMS, OMS, web portals)
Trusted by leading utilities across electric, water & gas
Confident Decisions Start Here
Today’s utility landscape is flooded with new technologies—and with high investment stakes, utilities need a clear framework to guide their decisions. We simplify the complex, helping you make smart, strategic choices with confidence.
We help you identify high-impact opportunities and build a clear, actionable strategy for AMI and digital transformation that supports your current and future needs.. To bring clarity and alignment across your organization, we lead a structured process that includes:
- Facilitating collaborative workshops to engage and educate cross-functional teams
- Gathering and analyzing data to uncover opportunities and challenges
- Assessing organizational readiness for change and innovation
- Developing an integrated strategic plan that aligns with your utility’s long-term vision
- Building consensus across stakeholders and preparing for regulatory approval
Every dollar counts. That’s why we build a solid, defensible business case to unlock the full value of investments in AMI and upstream and downstream systems. Our business case model:
- Is grounded in real utility data and financial modeling refined through years of AMI consulting
- Incorporates multi-year capital and operating expenditures, benefits, revenues, and utility financials
- Clearly justifies the benefits, alerts you to any risks, and forecasts the potential gain.
- Addresses the full spectrum of features and capabilities, now and into the future
With a proven, hands-on approach, we help you navigate the procurement process and select the right technology partners with confidence. Our consultants:
- Educate your stakeholders and gain buy-in
- Gather and refine requirements using our extensive spec library
- Draft and issue comprehensive RFx documents
- Guide evaluations using proprietary tools for objective scoring
- Manage vendors throughout the process
- Support contract negotiation to protect your interests
The true value of AMI lies in its integration with your enterprise systems. We ensure your new technologies work seamlessly with MDM, ADMS, CIS, OMS, GIS, data lakes, and financial platforms.
With decades of experience and best practices refined across diverse utilities, we help you:
- Streamline workflows
- Maximize data value
- Reduce risk and disruption
- Deliver a connected, future-ready utility
We bring structure and predictability to AMI deployments with our Successful Transformation Enablement Playbook (STEP)—a field-tested approach used in dozens of meter rollouts. Engage us as your Owner’s Engineer to oversee the entire project, aligning decisions with your strategic goals. Our team will:
- Coordinate meter inventory, scheduling, and network readiness to reduce risk
- Oversee vendor performance and ensure contract compliance
- Manage system testing and validate integration plans
- Monitor network health and data integrity in real time
Utilities are now exploring a new world of possibilities with the advent of next-generation AMI. “AMI 2.0” goes beyond traditional smart metering, offering enhanced capabilities that drive operational efficiency, distribution grid management, customer satisfaction, and sustainability. With so much at stake, it’s critical to stay ahead of the curve. We help you:
- Understand and harness the latest capabilities and technology trends
- Evaluate upgrade paths and system readiness
- Align investments with current and future strategic goals and regulatory expectations
Your AMI Journey:
With You Every Step of the Way
With our flexible “à la carte” services, you can choose the help you need, when you need it.
-
Assess (Current State)
Assess the condition and value of your AMI assets, identify required capabilities through targeted workshops, gain market insights on the latest solutions, and develop an actionable roadmap to determine if your current system can support your future vision.
-
Analyze (Business Case)
Build a robust, defensible business case that quantifies costs, benefits, and risks to guide confident investment decisions. Evaluate financial and non-financial value drivers, model payback and ROI timelines, and identify key enablers for success.
-
Procure (RFx)
Tailor stakeholder requirements through AMI education and discovery, develop robust RFx documents with our industry-leading specs, evaluate solutions with our proprietary process that builds stakeholder consensus, and maximize outcomes with strategic vendor negotiations and contract support.
-
Deploy (Rollout)
Ensure a smooth rollout with expert deployment management, coordinated systems integration, and risk-reducing precision testing. Support field operations, vendor coordination, and communications to achieve a seamless transition from to your new AMI environment.
-
Optimize (Performance)
Build a strong data foundation for analytics, transform business processes to maximize the benefits of AMI data and advanced capabilities, and drive adoption with structured change management. Continuously refine performance to sustain long-term value.
Case Study
“Util-Assist stood out as a strategic partner with key industry experience and knowledge to help us navigate the complexity of the procurement process.”
175,000+ meters
Upgraded to advanced AMI
3 RFPs
Managed end-to-end (AMI, MDM, Meter Installation)
Frequently Asked Questions
AMI 2.0 meters deliver high-resolution, low-latency data to surpass first-generation AMI capabilities. These advanced meters deliver granular insights into energy consumption patterns, voltage levels, and power quality, and can accurately detect anomalies, such as energy theft or equipment malfunction. AMI 2.0 meters also bring a new dimension to utility management with their ability to run apps at the edge. The meters have the capability to process data locally, allowing for immediate action and real-time analytics beyond just monitoring consumption and demand.
Use cases fall into two broad categories. Customer-side use cases provide better customer service or give customers insights into their consumption. Use cases include high bill alerts, EV charging, and appliance load disaggregation. Operational-side use cases are related to the operation and management of the distribution system, such as volt/VAR optimization and distribution automation, or meter monitoring, such as theft detection and high temperature alerts. Next-generation communications networks can also form the cornerstone for the development of smart cities, enabling use cases like dynamic lighting, smart parking, and traffic management.
The most successful AMI projects begin with full organizational alignment—from regulators and executives to front-line staff. A strong business case is essential, clearly defining the opportunity, assessing risks, and presenting a solid financial model that accounts for all operational costs, including integration, training, communications, and ongoing support. It should outline the deployment strategy, timelines, and rate impact in line with the utility’s capital plan, while also highlighting the advanced capabilities that will benefit both the organization and its customers. Keeping the business case active and revisiting it regularly ensures continued alignment and value realization.
Equally important is early engagement with your employees—the ones who will ultimately adopt and support the new systems. Begin conversations early, communicate a compelling vision, and ensure project sponsors are both informed and invested. A well-executed education and communication plan is the foundation for driving buy-in, managing change, and ensuring long-term success.
Content
Thinking about AMI 2.0?
Book a free one-hour session to explore key features, benefits, and how your utility can prepare for the next generation of advanced metering.