Like many distribution system operators, Elektrizitätsgenossenschaft Großwilfersdorf faces familiar challenges: a distribution grid that has evolved over decades, growing demands driven by the energy transition, and increasing investment needs within limited budgets. To make grid reinforcement and renewal more targeted and data-driven, the utility has been piloting the SMIGHT Grid2 low-voltage monitoring solution since autumn 2025. The objective is to gain a reliable, real-world view of network conditions for the first time.

The selected pilot substations were expected to experience significant reverse power flows due to the high penetration of rooftop photovoltaics. While the previously installed metering equipment primarily measured energy consumption, SMIGHT Grid2 now provides full visibility into reverse power flows and their impact on the low-voltage network.

The resulting data has become a valuable basis for investment planning. Across the service area, overhead service lines are being replaced with underground cables, service connections are being modernized, and aging secondary substations are being renewed. At the same time, the increasing integration of photovoltaic systems and the growing electrification of the low-voltage grid require network operators to reassess where reinforcement measures are actually needed.

For Elektrizitätsgenossenschaft Großwilfersdorf, the greatest benefit of the project is a more reliable basis for decision-making. Grid reinforcement measures can be prioritized more effectively, while investment decisions are supported by objective, measurable data – both for internal stakeholders and external partners.

The monitoring data also serves as an early warning system. Emerging issues become visible long before they develop into critical situations, enabling the utility to assess risks and take action proactively. In the future, these insights will help guide both grid planning and network operation on an increasingly data-driven basis.