Itron and Snowflake Collaborate to Advance Grid Planning with AI-Powered Data Cloud
Rhea-AI Summary
Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI) and Snowflake are collaborating to deliver an AI-powered Grid Planning solution that enables full system-wide modeling in under 24 hours. The solution uses Snowflake’s managed AI Data Cloud and Itron’s grid edge expertise to run a first-of-its-kind 8,760-hour powerflow analysis with hourly forecasts down to individual buses, aimed at improving DER integration, reliability and cost efficiency.
Two modules (Model Validator and Load Forecasting) are GA today; Power Flow Analyzer and Hosting Capacity Analyzer are in private preview with GA scheduled in 2026. The offering emphasizes scalable performance, usage-based cost transparency, cloud-agnostic deployment and data harmonization for utilities.
Positive
- Enables 8,760-hour system-wide hourly powerflow analysis
- Model Validator and Load Forecasting modules available GA today
- Cloud-agnostic deployment supporting major hyperscalers
- Built on Snowflake’s fully managed AI Data Cloud for scalable performance
Negative
- Power Flow Analyzer and Hosting Capacity Analyzer remain in private preview; GA scheduled in 2026
- Solution uses usage-based pricing; detailed price schedules not provided in announcement
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
ITRI gained 0.73% with several peers also positive (BMI +1.69%, ESE +0.58%, VNT +0.7%, MKSI +0.45%, ST +0.93%), but no broad sector momentum flag from the scanner.
Previous AI Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27 | AI adoption report | Positive | +0.1% | 2025 Resourcefulness Report showing rapid AI adoption across 500 utility executives. |
| Oct 23 | AI grid collaboration | Positive | +1.2% | Collaboration with Gordian Technologies to bring AI/ML to grid edge devices. |
| Mar 20 | GenAI partnership | Positive | -1.2% | Microsoft collaboration to add generative AI Copilot into utility data platforms. |
| Oct 07 | AI insight report | Positive | +0.3% | 2024 Resourcefulness Insight Report on AI/ML’s role in utility challenges. |
| Jun 06 | AI water solution | Positive | -0.1% | Partnership with VODA.ai to predict at-risk water pipes using AI. |
AI-tagged announcements for Itron have generally been received positively, with 3 aligned and 2 divergent price reactions and an average move of 0.59%.
Recent AI-related news for Itron shows a consistent strategic focus on integrating artificial intelligence into utility operations. Since June 2024, the company has highlighted AI collaborations for water pipe failure prediction, grid demand and safety insights, and generative AI for utility data access. Survey-based Resourcefulness Reports in 2024 and 2025 underscored rising AI adoption and grid pressures. The new Snowflake collaboration extends this trajectory by pairing grid edge intelligence with an AI-powered data cloud for advanced grid planning and forecasting.
Historical Comparison
Across 5 prior AI-tagged headlines, ITRI’s average move was 0.59%. Today’s pre-news change of 0.73% sits slightly above that pattern but not as an outlier.
AI-tagged history shows Itron moving from AI-enabled water and grid asset analytics to generative AI for data access and recurring Resourcefulness reports. The Snowflake collaboration fits this progression by embedding AI and high-performance cloud analytics directly into grid planning, reinforcing a multi-year push to make AI central to utility operations.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Itron’s collaboration with Snowflake to deliver AI-powered grid planning, including full grid modeling in under 24 hours and an 8,760-hour Powerflow analysis. It builds on a series of AI-focused initiatives and reports that emphasize grid optimization and reliability. Investors may watch adoption of the four core modules, progression from private preview to GA in 2026, and how these capabilities influence future earnings and utility customer wins.
Key Terms
distributed energy resource technical
ai data cloud technical
predictive maintenance technical
hyperscalers technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Integrated Solution Enables Utilities to Complete Full Grid Modeling in Under 24 Hours, Driving Reliability and Resilience
LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, is collaborating with Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, to advance the future of grid planning and utility analytics. This collaboration, which is part of Snowflake’s Energy Solutions launch, brings together Itron’s expertise in grid edge intelligence and Snowflake’s fully managed, high-performance data platform to empower utilities to solve some of the industry’s most pressing challenges such as distributed energy resource (DER) integration and grid modernization.
The rapid proliferation of DERs—such as solar, electric vehicles and battery storage—has introduced a level of grid complexity that traditional tools were never designed to handle. Conventional models lack the computing power and sophistication required to meet the volatile, hour-by-hour dynamics of a modern electrified grid. To address this challenge, Itron is leveraging Snowflake's high-performance platform to deliver immediate value to customers.
Itron’s advanced Grid Planning solution, powered by Snowflake, simplifies utility planning and operations, providing validated data accuracy and advanced forecasting, and features Powerflow, a first-of-its-kind 8,760-hour system-wide analysis that can conduct load forecasts every hour of the day, years into the future and down to the individual bus level. The advanced Grid Planning solution enables utilities to identify capacity constraints, support DER proliferation and deliver enhanced reliability while realizing substantial cost savings, setting the blueprint for the grid of the future.
Key advantages of the collaboration:
- Scalable Performance: Offers automatic scaling, security and compliance capabilities through Snowflake’s fully managed platform.
- Cost Transparency: Provides clear cost attribution via usage-based pricing and real-time monitoring.
- Operational Flexibility: Supports agnostic deployment across hyperscalers, ensuring adaptability for utilities.
- Data Harmonization: Simplifies integration by eliminating complex data pipelines and aligning models with industry standards.
- Advanced Analytics: Enables predictive maintenance, load forecasting and real-time grid optimization through AI-driven insights.
"This collaboration has unlocked a meaningful solution to today’s grid complexity," says Vivek Raghunathan, Snowflake SVP of Engineering and Support. "The modern grid's electrification and distributed generation demand 8,760 hour power flow analysis to capture dynamics that annual or seasonal snapshots miss. This is computationally prohibitive for most utilities. Itron's power engineering expertise and Snowflake's powerful platform make this essential analysis practical, delivering the computational performance utilities needed to plan infrastructure for an electrified, decentralized energy future."
“Utilities are navigating a rapidly changing industry and speed is critical to ensure grid reliability. By combining Itron’s grid edge intelligence solutions with Snowflake’s AI-powered data platform, together we are enabling utilities to plan smarter, adapt faster and deliver reliable energy for the communities that they serve,” said Don Reeves, Itron’s senior vice president of Outcomes. “Data and AI are transforming every industry, and energy is no exception. This collaboration is about turning complexity into clarity and helping our customers build a resilient grid for the future.”
Availability
Itron’s advanced Grid Planning solution, powered by Snowflake, features four core modules available globally with phased General Availability (GA):
- Model Validator and Load Forecasting are generally available (GA) today.
- Power Flow Analyzer and Hosting Capacity Analyzer is in private preview and scheduled for GA in 2026.
The full solution is accessible directly through Itron and leverages Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud platform for seamless deployment across leading cloud providers, supporting operational flexibility for utilities worldwide.
About Itron
Itron is transforming how the world manages energy, water and city services. Our trusted intelligent infrastructure solutions help utilities and cities improve efficiency, build resilience and deliver safe, reliable and affordable service. With edge intelligence, we connect people, data insights and devices so communities can better manage the essential resources they rely on to live and thrive. Join us as we create a more resourceful world: www.itron.com.
Itron® and the Itron Logo registered trademarks of Itron, Inc in the United States and other countries and regions. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.
For additional information, contact:
Itron, Inc.
Alison Mallahan
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
509-891-3802
PR@Itron.com
Paul Vincent
Vice President, Investor Relations
512-560-1172
Investors@itron.com
Itron, Inc.
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/itroninc
- X: www.x.com/itroninc
- Newsroom: https://itron.com/newsroom
- Blog: https://itron.com/blog
FAQ
What did Itron (ITRI) and Snowflake announce on January 27, 2026 about grid planning?
Which Itron Grid Planning modules are generally available today and which are in preview for 2026?
How does the Itron and Snowflake solution affect modeling speed for utilities?
What pricing model did Itron and Snowflake highlight for the Grid Planning solution (ITRI)?
Can utilities deploy Itron’s Grid Planning solution across multiple cloud providers?
