Itron to Integrate Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to Empower Utility Decision-Making

By Business Wire On Feb 16, 2024

Offering utility customers a seamless and intuitive user experience using natural language requests, facilitating secure data access, and transforming decision-making processes

Itron, Inc., which is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, is integrating Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, a generative AI solution, into Itron’s portfolio of data-driven Outcomes solutions. Through this integration, business users within utility enterprises can effortlessly harness their data, utilizing natural language requests to tap into the most strategic datasets, thereby enriching decision-making processes.

“what was the peak energy usage last month?”

Azure OpenAI Service will initially integrate with Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) Meter Data Management (MDM) system, distributed intelligence (DI) applications, and Itron’s DataHub platform. Itron’s DataHub platform will serve as the common access point for all data, including structured and unstructured data from Itron’s portfolio. This will enable various utility departments to browse, learn about and subscribe to raw and enriched metering data, grid data, distributed energy resource (DER) data and more—in a secure user-friendly environment.

This integration will also tap into a wealth of previously unavailable data created by Itron and third-party DI applications, such as load disaggregation, transformer connectivity and loading data, resulting in faster time to development and deployment, lower operational costs and faster decision-making for mission critical operations.

By integrating Itron’s DataHub with Azure OpenAI Service, Itron aims to provide its customers with a seamless and intuitive user experience. It will enable authorized utility users across the enterprise to access data and sophisticated AI analytics that span from DER data to transformer and feeder loading data. Utility users will be able to:

Get answers to questions, perform tasks and access data across IEE MDM, DI applications and other data available on the Itron DataHub.
Ask a question or create a chart that requires data from across several departments (e.g., DER holdings, b****** data, grid topology data).
Use natural language prompts to generate reports, charts, graphs and other content from IEE MDM data. For example, a user can ask “show me load anomalies over the past seven days for these addresses” or “what was the peak energy usage last month?” and receive a comprehensive, accurate response.
Receive suggestions and feedback to improve data quality, accuracy and analysis.

“We are excited to collaborate with Microsoft to bring Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to our utility data platform,” said Don Reeves, Senior Vice President of Outcomes at Itron. “Through this collaboration, we will enable utilities and cities to leverage the power of generative AI to boost efficiency, unlock creativity, and enhance data management. Customers who are upgrading to IEE Cloud will have the added bonus of Azure OpenAI Service. We believe that Azure OpenAI Service will enhance the value and functionality of our solutions and help our customers achieve their goals of energy and water management, sustainability and innovation.”

“Our collaboration with Itron in this Generative AI integration is a robust innovation for the utilities industry,” said Bilal Khursheed, Worldwide Power & Utilities Leader at Microsoft. “By seamlessly blending Itron’s technology with Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, we’re set to transform user experiences, boost workforce productivity, and eliminate the drudgery from everyday operations. This integration with Itron underscores our joint vision to lead the industry towards a more efficient and innovative future.”

[To share your insights with us as part of editorial or sponsored content, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]