Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has moved well beyond its early role as a digital replacement for electromechanical meters. Today, it sits at the center of grid modernization strategies, enabling utilities to manage two-way energy flows, integrate distributed energy resources (DERs), improve outage response, meet regulatory requirements and unlock data-driven operational intelligence at scale.
For utilities and grid operators navigating electrification, decarbonization and rising customer expectations, AMI is a foundational platform that connects meters, communications networks, head-end systems, meter data management (MDM), analytics and enterprise applications into a unified operational ecosystem. As a result, the AMI vendor landscape has matured rapidly, with a growing ecosystem of AMI implementers offering differentiated capabilities across hardware, software, systems integration and life cycle services. Below are some of the leading companies in AMI solutions.
1.  TRC
TRC brings more than five decades of multidisciplinary expertise to the evolving AMI landscape, positioning it as a trusted partner for utilities navigating grid modernization under accelerating climate, regulatory and operational pressures. Since its founding in 1969, it has grown from a technical research firm into a global organization supporting complex power and infrastructure initiatives across the full project life cycle.
Within AMI programs, it applies an integrated delivery model that aligns advisory, engineering, construction and program management capabilities. This approach supports utilities from early strategy and regulatory planning through deployment, systems integration and long-term operational optimization. Its work reflects a deep understanding of how AMI functions as a core enabler of reliability, resilience and data-driven grid operations.
It operates at the intersection of technology, infrastructure and environmental stewardship, helping utilities implement AMI in ways that support broader decarbonization, electrification and customer engagement goals. Its experience across power and utilities, energy, water, transportation, and government markets allows it to address AMI challenges that span organizational silos from cybersecurity and data governance to workforce readiness and change management.
A strong safety culture, enterprise-wide quality accountability and an entrepreneurial mindset underpin its project execution. These principles support consistent outcomes across geographically distributed programs, including large-scale deployments that require coordination among utilities, regulators, vendors and local communities.
As one of the established AMI implementers, TRC combines technical depth with strategic perspective, enabling utilities to adapt AMI investments to a rapidly shifting energy landscape. Its emphasis on long-term value, community impact and operational confidence reinforces its role in delivering metering systems designed to perform well beyond initial rollout and into the future grid.
2.  Aclara
Aclara delivers integrated smart infrastructure solutions that support electric, water and gas utilities as they modernize distribution networks under growing operational and regulatory complexity. With decades of experience serving utilities worldwide, it focuses on enabling more efficient, responsive and resilient systems through the strategic use of AMI, edge intelligence and secure communications.
Across electric networks, AMI supports load monitoring, distributed generation visibility, fault detection, outage management and distribution automation. These capabilities help utilities extend the value of existing metering investments while improving situational awareness across the grid. In water and gas systems, it provides comparable visibility and control, enabling municipalities and operators to manage assets better, reduce losses and improve service reliability.
It delivers end-to-end smart infrastructure programs that combine meters and edge devices, communications networks, head-end and customer-facing software, analytics platforms, and implementation services. This integrated approach allows utilities to plan, deploy and operate AMI systems with a single point of accountability, supporting consistency from initial design through long-term operation and support.
Real-time data and actionable insights remain central to its approach. By integrating secure hardware with robust software platforms, utilities can predict, plan for and respond to network conditions more effectively. These capabilities extend beyond metering, supporting broader operational objectives such as efficiency optimization, customer engagement and conservation initiatives.
As one of the established AMI implementers, Aclara works alongside utilities navigating aging infrastructure, evolving market demands and increasing expectations for network visibility. Its focus on long-term partnership, adaptable solutions and data-driven decision-making positions it as a key contributor to the development of modern, intelligent distribution systems across energy and water networks.
3.  Badger Meter
Badger Meter applies more than a century of water technology expertise to modern AMI programs, with a strong focus on cellular-based AMI and network-as-a-service delivery models. Its approach supports utilities seeking to modernize water systems without the operational burden of building, owning or maintaining communications infrastructure.
Within AMI deployments, it leverages carrier-owned cellular networks that are continuously monitored and maintained, enabling resilient and secure data transmission. This model allows utilities to avoid the costs of radio tower construction, gateway management and long-term network maintenance, while benefiting from the reliability and disaster preparedness of large-scale cellular systems. Predictable cost structures further support long-term planning and financial transparency.
Its AMI ecosystem combines intelligent endpoints with cloud-based software platforms to deliver frequent interval data and near-real-time visibility into system performance. High-resolution data supports proactive utility management — including leak detection, usage analysis and operational optimization — while over-the-air firmware updates help future-proof deployments as metering capabilities evolve.
As a single-source provider, it delivers cellular AMI systems with unified accountability across devices, communications and software. This simplifies deployment timelines and reduces coordination complexity for utilities, allowing internal teams to focus on service delivery and asset management rather than network operations. Built-in security measures ensure data remains protected through private network transmission rather than public internet pathways.
Recognized as one of the established AMI implementers, Badger Meter aligns AMI technology with broader sustainability and water stewardship goals. Its integrated hardware, software, analytics and support services enable utilities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and strengthen resilience while contributing to the long-term protection of critical water resources.
4.  Capgemini
Capgemini supports utilities as they transition from first-generation AMI to modern, digitally enabled AMI platforms designed for long-term grid transformation. As many early deployments reach end of life, it focuses on helping utilities refresh aging architectures while unlocking capabilities that earlier systems were not designed to support, including cloud-native applications, artificial intelligence (AI), edge computing and advanced connectivity.
Its Next-Gen AMI framework delivers an integrated system of smart meters, communications services, modern applications and data management technologies that form a resilient foundation for energy transition initiatives. This approach addresses both greenfield and brownfield environments, enabling utilities to modernize existing AMI deployments while minimizing operational disruption and preserving prior investments.
Operational performance remains central to its AMI programs. By combining smart metering, analytics and smart grid capabilities, it helps improve availability, power quality and outage response while enabling demand response, distributed energy resources and electric vehicle charging programs. Distributed intelligence at the edge supports faster decision-making by aggregating and processing data closer to the point of use.
Capgemini brings extensive global experience to AMI delivery, having designed and delivered programs encompassing more than 170 million smart meters worldwide and managing millions of active endpoints. Its Next-Gen Energy Services Platform provides an end-to-end solution that spans program planning, large-scale rollout, asset tracking and ongoing meter operations across the full life cycle.
As one of the leading AMI implementers, Capgemini combines systems integration expertise with deep capabilities in cloud, data, cybersecurity and business transformation. Its partner-driven ecosystem and focus on scalable, flexible architectures enable utilities to align AMI investments with regulatory requirements, sustainability objectives and the evolving demands of a digitized energy system.
Understanding the AMI Ecosystem Beyond the Meter
While AMI deployments are often framed around meter rollouts, experienced utilities recognize that these represent only one component of a much broader system architecture. Modern AMI ecosystems typically span multiple layers, each with distinct vendor roles and integration requirements. At the field level, smart meters, sensors and edge devices capture granular consumption, voltage and power quality data.
Communications networks — radio frequency mesh, cellular, programmable logic controller, fiber or hybrid models — provide secure, reliable data transport. Head-end systems manage device communications, while MDM platforms validate, store and distribute data to downstream applications such as outage management systems, distribution management systems (DMS), billing and analytics platforms. AMI implementers increasingly differentiate themselves by meter performance and their ability to integrate these layers into a cohesive, interoperable system aligned with a utility’s long-term grid strategy.
Common AMI Implementation Models Used by Utilities
Utilities rarely approach AMI deployments in the same way, even within the same regulatory jurisdiction. Implementation models vary based on utility size, ownership structure, internal capabilities and risk tolerance:
- Utility-led deployment models: In this model, the utility retains primary responsibility for system design, vendor coordination and ongoing operations. AMI vendors supply components, while system integrators support configuration and deployment. This approach offers maximum control but requires strong internal technical resources.
- Turnkey or prime contractor models: Here, a single AMI implementer assumes responsibility for end-to-end delivery, including meters, communications, software, integration and deployment services. This model reduces coordination complexity but concentrates vendor risk.
- Hybrid or modular deployment models: Utilities select best-of-breed vendors for meters, communications and software while relying on an experienced AMI integrator to manage interoperability. This model is increasingly popular among utilities seeking flexibility and future-proofing.
- Managed services and AMI-as-a-service: Some utilities outsource portions of AMI operations — such as network management, data hosting or analytics — to third parties. This model can accelerate deployment and reduce internal staffing demands, though it raises long-term governance considerations.
Key Drivers Shaping AMI Investment Decisions
AMI investment rationales have evolved significantly over the past decade. Early deployments focused heavily on labor savings from automated meter reading. Today’s business cases are broader, more complex and more strategic.
Regulatory compliance remains a major driver, particularly where time-of-use rates, demand response programs or carbon reporting requirements are mandated. Grid reliability and resilience objectives — including faster outage detection and restoration — are equally critical.
Customer engagement has also become a prominent factor. AMI enables near-real-time usage data, proactive notifications and personalized energy insights, aligning with rising expectations for digital utility services. Finally, it plays a central role in enabling DER integration, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and flexible load management — all essential components of modern distribution systems.
Cybersecurity and Data Governance Considerations
As AMI systems expand, so do their cybersecurity and data governance implications. AMI networks represent a vast, distributed attack surface, connecting millions of endpoints to critical infrastructure systems. Utilities increasingly require AMI implementers to demonstrate compliance with industry standards such as NERC CIP, ISO/IEC 27001 and regional data protection regulations.
Encryption, authentication, key management and secure firmware updates are now baseline expectations, not differentiators. Equally important is data governance. AMI generates high-volume, high-velocity data streams that must be managed responsibly. Clear policies around data ownership, access controls, retention and third-party usage are essential, particularly as utilities explore advanced analytics and AI-driven use cases.
The Role of AMI in Grid Modernization and DER Integration
AMI is a critical enabler of grid modernization initiatives, particularly as distribution systems become more dynamic and bidirectional. High-resolution consumption and voltage data support advanced distribution planning, hosting capacity analysis and real-time operational decision-making.
For DER integration, AMI provides visibility into behind-the-meter generation and flexible loads, supporting more accurate forecasting and control strategies. When integrated with DMS and DERMS platforms, the data enables utilities to manage voltage, congestion and reliability at unprecedented levels of granularity. AMI implementers that understand these grid-level interactions are increasingly valued as strategic partners rather than commodity suppliers.
Procurement and Vendor Evaluation Best Practices
Selecting partners for AMI programs is a strategic decision that can shape utility operations, customer engagement and grid capabilities for decades. As AMI becomes increasingly integrated with core operational and enterprise systems, leading utilities approach procurement as a structured, multi-phase process that evaluates long-term value rather than short-term cost or narrow technical compliance.
To support informed decision-making, utilities commonly assess potential AMI partners against a broad set of criteria, including:
- Scalability and future readiness: Ability to support system growth, higher data volumes and evolving use cases such as DER integration, EV charging and advanced analytics
- Interoperability and standards alignment: Compatibility with existing utility systems and adherence to open architectures to reduce vendor lock-in
- Financial stability and longevity: Demonstrated strength to support long deployment timelines and extended operational life cycle
- Proven deployment experience: Evidence of successful AMI implementations at a comparable scale, including lessons learned from prior programs
- Life cycle support and roadmap clarity: Defined approaches for firmware updates, hardware refresh cycles, cybersecurity enhancements and long-term product evolution
Beyond technology and delivery, utilities are placing increasing weight on organizational readiness and execution support. AMI deployments often require changes to field operations, billing processes, customer engagement strategies and data governance frameworks. As a result, evaluation processes now routinely include assessments of:
- Change management and workforce training capabilities
- Customer communication and engagement support
- Ability to guide operational process redesign
Experienced implementers that address both technical and organizational dimensions help utilities reduce program risk and accelerate the realization of AMI benefits.
Building the Future Grid with the Right AMI Partners
AMI has become a cornerstone of modern power systems, shaping how utilities operate, engage customers and plan for an increasingly complex energy future. While technology remains critical, successful AMI programs depend just as much on implementation expertise, strategic alignment and long-term partnership models.
For utilities evaluating AMI implementers, the challenge is not simply identifying capable vendors but selecting partners that understand regulatory environments, grid transformation goals and the operational realities of utilities. As AMI continues to evolve from a metering solution into a grid intelligence platform, the companies leading this space will play a defining role in the next generation of energy infrastructure.