Gas utilities have long faced challenges stemming from limited visibility and control at the edge of the distribution network. As they work to address this through modernization, many are looking beyond simple meter replacement toward broader goals: improving efficiency, enhancing safety, reducing field visits and enabling more proactive gas operations. However, this process includes far more than a single product decision. It spans people, processes, data and infrastructure.

At Itron Inspire 2026,  from Oct. 16-21, gas utility leaders will come together in Houston to hear practical insights from peers who are navigating these same challenges and opportunities. Here’s a preview of the topics we’ll be exploring. 

Gas modernization is a journey, not a one-time technology replacement. 
No two gas utilities are starting from the same place. Some are replacing aging mechanical meters while others are preparing endpoints for future AMI deployments. That’s why many utilities are pursuing a phased approach, modernizing different parts of the gas network based on their specific operational needs and organizational readiness. 

Whether they're expanding sensing capabilities, introducing cloud-based applications or evaluating AMI strategies, many are looking for approaches that deliver value in the short term and lay the foundation for future investments.

Safety and operational outcomes come first. 
Modernization often begins with meter replacement. The Intelis gas meter brings safety value to the edge of the network. By combining advanced metrology with integrated sensing and actionable meter-level data, Intelis can help utilities identify and respond to abnormal conditions sooner. These critical features enable the utility’s objective of improving safety and operational performance. 

Conference breakout sessions will explore how utilities are using data and analytics to move from reactive investigations toward more proactive safety and operational practices.

Organizational readiness matters just as much as technology. 
Successful modernization depends on much more than deploying new devices in the field. Data quality, operational processes and organizational alignment all influence long-term results.

Utility leaders will share lessons learned from real deployments, including the operational and organizational decisions that can influence success long after installation is complete. Discussions will also explore the role of workforce training, customer communications and regulatory engagement in helping modernization programs gain traction and deliver measurable value.

Flexibility matters when choosing a communications strategy.
Every gas utility needs a communications strategy tailored to their unique service territory. Population density, terrain, existing infrastructure and business objectives all impact deployment decisions.

At Inspire, leaders will explore how utilities are evaluating a range of communications approaches, from mobile AMR and cellular connectivity to battery mesh with the addition of the Solar Battery Access Point (SBAP), and electric mesh, to support operational and deployment requirements. 

Cloud platforms and higher-frequency data need to reach the systems and workflows responsible for acting on them. 
Modern meters and communications networks can generate a wealth of operational data, but that information only delivers value when it reaches the people and systems that turn it into action. 

Sessions will explore how cloud-based platforms such as Temetra® and UtilityIQ® help connect field and back-office operations so that meter and sensor data can support faster decision-making. Attendees will also hear how utilities are beginning to apply analytics and AI-enabled workflows to turn growing volumes of operational data into practical insight.

A connected ecosystem can bring it all together. 
Modern gas operations rely on more than any single technology. Delivering long-term value requires metering, communications, software and analytics to work together rather than exist as separate systems and data silos.

Itron's Gas Edge approach provides a flexible path forward, allowing utilities to modernize at their own pace without requiring a single communications network or deployment model. By bringing together metrology, communications, software and analytics, utilities can build on existing investments while paving the way to more proactive safety and operational intelligence.

Learn More at Itron Inspire 2026
To dive into these topics further, consider attending the following sessions at Itron Inspire:

• Benefits of the Intelis Gas Meter Panel Discussion
• Building the Business Case for Gas Edge
• Ensuring Gas Safety in Your Operations
• The Gas Edge Portfolio Overview 
• Beyond the Meter: Extending AMI Infrastructure into Connected Safety
• From PoC to the Path Forward: SWG SBAP Demo and Hybrid AMI Planning

See you in Houston!