Itron and Microsoft Collaborate to Enhance Utility Operations with AI

Itron, Inc. is collaborating with Microsoft to enhance utility operations by integrating Microsoft's generative AI Copilot technology into Itron's Intelligent Edge Operating System (IEOS). announced in a press release, this integration will allow utilities to use natural language queries to access data previously available only to data scientists, thereby accelerating decision-making and innovation.

The collaboration will enable utilities to perform advanced analytics on electricity, gas, and water distribution devices, as well as distributed energy resources like wind and solar. Built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, the AI-powered platform will be available globally in the second quarter of 2025. This integration aims to improve data access across multiple systems, enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities.

The platform will support applications such as Itron's IEE Meter Data Management System and Operations Optimizer, allowing for comprehensive data access and cross-departmental queries. By simplifying complex data interactions, the collaboration seeks to boost efficiency and streamline utility operations.