Tom Lawton to Speak on Interoperable AMI Architecture at DistribuTECH 2026
Bristol, PA — January 28, 2026 — Tom Lawton, President and CEO of TESCO Metering, will present at DistribuTECH International 2026 in San Diego as part of the Innovative and Emerging Technology Knowledge Hub. His session, titled “Interoperability by Design: Enabling Choice and Flexibility in Utility AMI Networks,” will take place on February 4, 2026, from 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM at Booth #143.
The presentation will address one of the most critical challenges facing electric utilities today: how to modernize advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) while preserving flexibility, avoiding vendor lock-in, and supporting evolving communications networks.
As utilities increasingly adopt utility-owned Private LTE networks to enhance security, control, and operational resilience, they must also continue to support legacy metering assets, integrate new devices, operate within multi-vendor ecosystems, and comply with long-term regulatory requirements. Lawton’s session will explore how interoperability-driven AMI architectures can reconcile these competing demands.
A central theme of the presentation is the role of standards-based connectivity in bridging legacy and next-generation metering systems. By decoupling meters from proprietary communications pathways, utilities can extend the life of existing deployments, mitigate the risks associated with network sunsets, and transition to Private LTE through phased, low-risk strategies.
Lawton will also examine cloud-managed AMI platforms designed to operate without fixed infrastructure dependencies. These architectures enable incremental scaling, hybrid communications models, and seamless integration with head-end and enterprise systems, aligning AMI deployments with broader grid modernization initiatives.
Throughout the session, interoperability will be positioned not merely as a technical feature, but as a strategic capability, preserving choice, reducing risk, and enabling utilities to adapt as communications technologies evolve. Practical deployment scenarios will illustrate how utilities can maintain secure, reliable meter data while transitioning network strategies over time.
The session concludes by framing interoperable AMI as a foundational element of future-ready utility networks, where flexibility, control, and long-term adaptability are engineered into the system from the outset.
To learn more, please click on this link: Interoperability by Design: Enabling Choice and Flexibility in Utility AMI Networks – DTECH 2026