Utility data investments are supporting more applications than originally planned, but utilities still face a gap between collecting information and embedding it in everyday decisions. In a study released by Itron on October 19, 2026, 93% of surveyed utilities said major data and intelligence investments had enabled at least two additional uses beyond their original purpose.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly half of surveyed utilities reported four or more additional uses for major data investments.
- While 86% use advanced metering infrastructure data, only 41% say it is fully embedded and scalable across daily workflows.
- Technical integration is the leading obstacle, while enterprise integration tops utilities’ three-year priorities.
Table of Contents
- Utility data investments extend beyond their original purpose
- Daily workflows remain the missing connection
- Load growth puts integration on the agenda
- Conclusion
Utility data investments extend beyond their original purpose
Itron’s 2026 Resourcefulness Report announcement describes a survey of 700 electric utility executives conducted in June 2026 in partnership with Blackstone Group. Respondents were mid-level managers or higher with input into operational decisions across seven countries.
Alongside the 93% reporting at least two additional applications, 47% reported four or more. The findings suggest utilities are reusing existing technology across operational needs rather than limiting it to a single task. Some 58% said they deliberately select data and intelligence investments for their ability to support multiple current and future uses.
These are respondents’ assessments of how technology is being used, not measurements of financial returns. The results do not quantify cost savings or investment payback.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Technical integration | 53% cited it as an obstacle to using data for decisions. |
| Lack of automation | 47% cited it as an obstacle. |
| Data quality | 44% cited it as an obstacle. |
| Enterprise integration | 28% identified it as a three-year priority. |
| Executive decision support | 23% identified it as a three-year priority. |
| Workflow automation | 20% identified it as a three-year priority. |
Daily workflows remain the missing connection
The survey found broad adoption of advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, data: 86% of utilities use it across the enterprise or in specific workflows. Yet only 41% said it was fully embedded and scalable across daily workflows, a 45-percentage-point gap.
A similar divide appeared in how utilities assess the effect of their data. While 93% were confident that insights were changing decisions, 54% reported strong feedback loops confirming that impact. Confidence in the technology’s usefulness therefore exceeds the reported ability to verify its influence.
Near-real-time edge intelligence was fully operational at 59% of surveyed utilities. Applications included wildfire and vegetation risk, outage detection and restoration, load management, and fault location. Outage management and restoration and predictive maintenance tied as the areas where operationalized analytics delivered the greatest value, at 33% each.
Load growth puts integration on the agenda
Load growth was the most frequently cited grid stressor, at 43%, followed by rising customer expectations at 36%. Against those pressures, utilities identified connecting systems and automating work as important gaps to address.
Marina Donovan, Itron’s vice president of global marketing, ESG and public affairs, said utilities could build on infrastructure and data already in place as their needs evolve. The survey’s three-year priorities emphasize making those existing capabilities more usable across organizations.
The sample included 400 respondents in the United States, 100 in Canada, 100 across Australia and New Zealand, and 100 across Sweden, Norway and Finland. Its findings reflect that respondent mix rather than a census of the global utility industry.
Conclusion
The survey points to a practical next phase: connecting existing data capabilities to routine decisions. Utilities’ stated three-year priorities put enterprise integration first, ahead of executive decision support and workflow automation.
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