ATLANTA, March 15, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Growth in automated meter reading (AMR) appears to be slowing, but with increased utility interest in more advanced systems, the industry remains healthy, states a new report from utility research leader Chartwell, Inc.
Over the past three years, shipment growth among five of the leading AMR vendors -- Itron Inc., Distribution Control Systems Inc. (DCSI), Cellnet Technology Inc., Hunt Technologies Inc. and Hexagram Inc. -- has decreased annually, going from 14% to 10% to 0.3%, states AMR Shipments 2005, 3rd Ed. Reasons for the change from double-digit to single-digit growth appear to include, among others:
-- maturity of the industry makes maintaining double-digit growth
increasingly difficult;
-- decrease in IT spending; and
-- utilities' increased focus on fixed networks. Fixed networks
require large capital investments, thus projects involving fixed
networks take longer to finalize.
Still, the outlook for the industry remains bright. Vendors say utilities appear to now understand that AMR is more than just about gathering a meter read. Request-for-proposal activity is at "unprecedented" levels, says at least one vendor quoted in the report.
Using data from leading vendors, the report includes graphs and analysis of annual industry shipment growth since 2001 as well as vendor marketshare insights based on Chartwell's exclusive AMR Installations Database of more than 460 deployments.
The report analyzes the current positions of Itron, DCSI, Cellnet, Hunt Technologies and Hexagram, specifically detailing each vendor's current market state, marketshare, current challenges, and outlook. Trends cited by the report include:
-- From 2001-2004, DCSI's shipments grew 145% -- the most among major
vendors that have been targeting electric utilities.
-- Itron still accounts for about 56% of actual modules deployed,
according to Chartwell's AMR database of more than 460
installations. Cellnet still garners about one-quarter of the
installed market, while DCSI has about 10%.
AMR Shipments 2005, 3rd Ed. is part of Chartwell's Metering Research Series. Chartwell's Metering Research Series is the only unbiased and continuous research service devoted exclusively to the AMR industry. Annual series membership can include access to:
-- 30 AMR-related reports;
-- AMR-related reports released during the membership term, most with
at least two utility case studies;
-- monthly intelligence reports on AMR trends and technologies; and
-- past and current annual reports focusing on AMR surveys of 100-
plus utilities.
For more information about AMR Shipments 2005, 3rd Ed. or The Metering Research Series, please contact Bill Grist at (800) 432-5879 or (404) 237-9099, or visit www.energylibrary.com.