Smart Grids in Latin America
October 13, 2011
According to General Electric Co. sales of equipment to manage electricity consumption in Latin America may reach $1 billion by 2015, up from $100 million in 2011 as governments require utilities to become more energy efficient. The theft of electricity from people illegally tapping into power and energy losses are prompting governments in Latin America to require the use of smart grid systems that could cut power consumption by as much as 20%.
Over the past two years Brazil has been drafting legislation that requires utilities to install 64 million smart meters during the next decade. At about $100 each, that would lead to $6.4 billion in sales through 2021. It is expected 20% of electricity meters in Brazil to be smart meters by 2015, leading to energy savings equivalent to about 300 megawatts of capacity.
