Live from Metering Billing/CRM-fair in Amsterdam.

Posted 4 October, 2011

At the Metering Billing/CRM Europe 2011 in Amsterdam many of the utility and ICT industries brightest brains are gathered to discuss where the utility industry in Europe is heading. Smart grids and smart meters are in focus of all discussions.

Coming from the ICT side, and especially IT, it's very interesting to see the internal battles; business vs regulation, National vs European regulation, pilot projects vs standards. The list could go on for long. Everyone is talking cooperation, but at the same time looking at each other with a bit of distrust.

For me this is exactly what a market or industry in change is all about. This is a market with a fantastic future and great opprtunities if you are part of it. This is where you want to be when it happens - because that is what everyone here in Amsterdam do agree upon; It will happen.

In-home displays or no in-home displays - that's clearly a debate.

Consumer research is cathing up on utility consumers. One niched, but important question, is if consumers want to have dedicated in-home displays for energy visualization. It's very much dependant on age, status, culture etc. But the big consultancy firms, like Ernst & Young and Accenture, are debating it here in Amsterdam with different findings to bring to the table.

But one thing is for sure, Energy Visualization as a web service with app access is for real, maybe with a dedicated in-home display as an aptional device.