Itron Chief calls on industry to accept ‘sacred obligation’ to society
“Keeping the lights on, keeping clean water flowing, keeping homes warm and cities safer and brighter is what we do as an industry…without our work society would break down. This is something to remember, it’s a sacred obligation,” said Tom Deitrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Itron.
Deitrich opened the Itron Inspire EMEA 2022 virtual event today by emphasising the important work of the water and energy sectors in the face of pressing challenges, referencing the impact of a pandemic, supply chain challenges, and the invasion of Ukraine.
He emphasised the importance of innovation and collaboration to ensure the work the energy sector does truly addresses the need for resilience, reliability and continuity within grids and supply chains, making an impact now and enduring for generations to come.
According to Deitrich, there are three main challenges the world urgently needs to address:
- Infrastructure challenges – ageing, outdated infrastructure which is open to cyber attacks;
- Environmental challenges – caused by more climate disruption;
- Inbalances in social interactions – how customers interact with products and services. More real-time service transparency is needed in a utility context.
To address these challenges, Itron highlights nine key focus areas, of which three will be the core focus throughout the Itron Inspire EMEA event:
Smart cities – this rapidly growing area includes the use of smart street lighting and automation to drive energy efficiency. It also includes smart parking and signage or using the same canopy network for a variety of smart applications. According to Deitrich, there is nearly unlimited innovation potential in this space.
Managing water resources – “Our most precious resource on the planet is water,” said Deitrich, and data collection and analysis allow for greater insights to manage water and prevent leaks.
Data & analytics – One of the driving forces behind business today, asserts Deitrich. Data allows for enhanced operational efficiency, greater customer satisfaction, as well as higher asset visibility and optimisation.
“More intelligence means more possibilities… with technology innovation and collaboration, we can solve problems and better manage energy and water, creating a more resourceful world,” concluded Dietrich.
Visit the Itron Inspire EMEA 2022 website to register and to get more detail on the discussions taking place over the next two days.
