A recent Black & Veatch publication notes that “by not just making a smart grid, but a “smart utility,” currently siloed infrastructure systems, such as electric, water, gas and transportation, can work together seamlessly to create even greater value for a community and each other. In a real and tangible way, we can create Smart Integrated Infrastructure™. http://bv.com/reports/utility-automation
Utilities are looking to expand data collection to include distribution and other assets, such as water treatment plants, pumps and transmission lines. More than 70 percent of all utilities plan to expand the use of sensors and other instrumentation to gather field data within the next three years. — Black & Veatch, “2014 Strategic Directions: Utility Automation and Integration.” http://bv.com/reports/utility-automation