Energy generation and distribution grids are expensive to build and maintain, and energy companies are continually striving both to reduce the cost of grid build and operation, and to maximise the benefit gained from the money they invest in the grid.

At the same time, energy companies also need to meet more stringent demands on their grid, because of trends such as distributed generation, tighter regulation and more sophisticated security threats.

By equipping the grid with connected sensors and actuators, operators can detect a wider a range of maintenance and security events immediately, and respond to them in real time.

They can also collect, analyse and act upon data from the grid, to optimise performance on a continuous basis. As well as being used by the energy companies themselves, such data can also be shared with business partners and customers, as appropriate.