The results of a study that compares the cost-benefit numbers of smart meter deployments shows that there are regional differences, but utilities in all regions would see a net benefit. These numbers range from $96 million for a utility in the East to $287 million for a utility in the South over a span of 20 years. The report was prepared for the Edison Foundation’s Institute for Electric Efficiency by The Brattle Group.

These findings are important in an environment where both consumers and regulators are questioning the benefits of utility smart meter deployments programs. In many states, regulators have asked the utilities to take on more of the costs of these deployments. The report highlights the benefits both to the consumers and the utilities, especially as it estimates that the operational benefits that each utility would accrue as it replaces its existing metering infrastructure with smart meters, which allow for two-way communication between the consumer and the utility.