The shift to a flexible grid: Debunking the myths around grid edge intelligence

The Shift to a Flexible Grid: Debunking the Myths Around Grind Edge Intelligence

At DTECH® 2026 in San Diego, the joint Landis+Gyr and NET2GRID demo and presentation showcased a proof point: by combining advanced sensing hardware with AI-driven analytics, visibility at the grid edge is no longer aspirational—it’s operational. Integrating Landis+Gyr’s Revelo® platform and

Analytics suite with NET2GRID EnergyAI® on the edge and in the cloud demonstrates how utilities can move beyond raw AMI 1.0 or 2.0 data to actionable intelligence, addressing the most pressing challenges of electrification with clarity and confidence.

The era of "passive" grid management is over. As electrification accelerates, the traditional boundaries between the utility and the consumer are dissolving, replaced by a complex, high-stakes landscape of EVs, rooftop solar, and more. 

Three persistent myths continue to shape grid modernization strategy today and understanding how advanced sensing and AI-driven analytics overturn them is key to unlocking true grid-edge orchestration.

Myth #1: "We need  additional hardware to see what’s behind the meter."

The reality: Many utilities assume that identifying EV charging events, unregistered solar PV generation, HVAC and heat pump activity, or residential batteries require installation of additional devices, customer surveys, or costly fieldwork.

By combining high-resolution sensing from Landis+Gyr’s Revelo® platform with NET2GRID EnergyAI®, utilities can detect and classify DERs directly from advanced metering data—without installing additional hardware behind the meter. This includes:

• Identification of unknown DERs in the network,

• Grid-edge mapping, rendering a clear image of DER location, user behavior, and energy flows, and

• A single and unified view of the grid edge by connecting and visualizing the data from every connected DER.

Our session at  DTECH® 2026 showcased a comprehensive EV detection view that moves beyond simple identification. Specific EV charging load signatures are analyzed, classifying the meters across the network and identifying L1, L2 chargers, or homes with no EV presence. This granular intelligence drills down to the charging event level, not just the installation level, and includes consumption metrics, such as standard deviation, average, and variance of consumption levels.

What was once considered invisible is now measurable. Rather than reacting to interconnection requests or transformer overloads after the fact, utilities can proactively map DER adoption across their service territory and anticipate grid stress before it escalates.

Myth #2: AMI 2.0 is just "Better metering"

The reality: There is a common misconception that Advanced Metering Infrastructure 2.0 is simply about faster data reads and more accurate billing. While those are standard benefits, the demos at DTECH® 2026 proved that AMI 2.0 is actually the foundation for grid-edge intelligence. 

As Marcos Aguirre, Portfolio Manager at Landis+Gyr, explains: “Our partnership with NET2GRID extends the value of next gen AMI—bringing AI‑driven, on‑the‑edge insights directly into how utilities plan, operate, and engage customers. Together, we’re enabling a more flexible and intelligent grid.”

That evolution moves AMI beyond measurement and into operational intelligence. When you pair Landis+Gyr’s Revelo grid sensors with NET2GRID EnergyAI®, raw interval data is transformed into a sophisticated, high-definition map of the grid, enabling:

• Transformer- and feeder-level visibility,

• Early detection of localized grid stress,

• Identification of electrification trends at the household level, and

• Real-time understanding of load composition.

The dashboard below proves that AMI 2.0 is not just about billing—it is a strategic orchestration tool. By turning high-resolution data from Landis+Gyr Revelo® meters into the classified, hierarchical view seen here, utilities gain a "source of truth" for the grid edge. It replaces guesswork with fleet awareness, allowing operators to monitor DERs as dynamic assets that can be managed to ensure long-term reliability.

This operational intelligence directly supports planning intelligence by unlocking:

• Smarter investment decisions, prioritizing infrastructure updates where they are truly needed, 

• Optimal integration, allowing the precise calculation of hosting capacity and timely identification of possible constraints, 

• Enhanced reliability, with early detection of low-voltage hotspots that allow planners to target their investments where it matters most.

AMI 2.0 is not just an upgrade. It’s a strategic shift—from measurement to orchestration, and from reactive planning to data-driven foresight.

Myth #3: Grid flexibility is a utility-only challenge

The reality: During our standing-room-only session, “Unlocking Flexibility through Grid Edge Intelligence,” a recurring theme was that a flexible grid requires bringing the customer along on the journey. True intelligence empowers the end-user. We showcased how this joint capability allows utilities to move from "billing" to "collaborating" by:

• Delivering Personalized Insights: Showing customers exactly how their heat pump or EV affects their monthly spend.

• Enabling Proactive Enrollment: Identifying "solar-ready" homes to offer tailored programs that provide immediate value.

• Building Trust: Turning complex energy data into simple, actionable advice that makes the transition to a greener lifestyle seamless.

From visibility to total flexibility

Visibility is no longer the "final frontier,” it’s the new baseline. The integration of NET2GRID EnergyAI® into the Landis+Gyr Grid Intelligence ecosystem is already helping forward-thinking utilities navigate the complexities of the energy transition with confidence, enabling them to:

• Detect the unknown,

• Map the grid edge with precision,

• Monitor DER fleets as dynamic, manageable assets, and

• Engage customers as active participants in flexibility.

The grid is becoming smarter. The edge is becoming sharper. And the shift to flexibility is no longer theoretical; it’s operational.