The Alliance Turning Smart Meters Into Grid Intelligence

EDMI and PLUS ES extend partnership as utilities seek better data to manage solar, electric vehicles and rising demand

19 Dec 2025

Australia’s electricity networks are turning to deeper digital partnerships as rising rooftop solar, electric vehicles and higher power demand place new strain on the grid.

In December 2025, smart metering group EDMI and energy services provider PLUS ES agreed to extend their long-term collaboration, expanding grid intelligence and deployment capabilities across existing metering networks. The arrangement builds on infrastructure that already supports more than 1.7mn meters nationwide.

The deal reflects a broader shift in how utilities view smart meters. Once used mainly for billing, they are increasingly treated as core operational tools that provide real-time insight into network conditions. With more detailed data, operators can identify outages faster, improve situational awareness and manage the growing volume of distributed energy resources connected to the grid.

Under the expanded partnership, data from meters will feed into EDMI’s Storm cloud intelligence platform through its Neos operating layer. The aim is to give network operators a clearer, more timely picture of how their systems are performing, allowing them to respond more quickly to changes in demand or supply.

This capability is becoming more important as households add solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles. These technologies make distribution networks more complex and require operators to manage flows of electricity in near real time, rather than relying on slower, centralised control.

For the wider market, the agreement highlights a preference among utilities for long-term digital platforms over short-term technology fixes. Many are looking to extract more value from existing infrastructure, limit costly physical upgrades and adopt systems that can scale as the energy transition accelerates.

The approach brings new challenges. Greater connectivity raises concerns over cybersecurity, data governance and the skills required to manage more sophisticated systems. Network operators and suppliers argue, however, that these risks can be addressed and are outweighed by the costs of failing to modernise.

As Australia pushes ahead with its energy transition, such partnerships are becoming a central feature of grid planning, illustrating how data and digital tools are reshaping the way electricity systems are run.