Grid20/20

What Grid20/20 does

GRID20/20 is a privately-held Virginia-incorporated industrial IoT vendor (founded approximately 2011, headquartered in Richmond, VA with engineering and manufacturing operations in Markham, Ontario) that builds intra-grid distribution transformer monitoring hardware and software for electric utilities. Its core technology is the OptaNODE platform — patented single-phase (DTM) and poly-phase (PDTM) sensor devices that retrofit onto existing distribution transformers in minutes without de-energizing the asset, converting them into intelligent nodes that report voltage, current, power factor, line frequency, temperature, phase angle, forward/reverse energy flows, and (with the GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY add-on) ambient temperature, humidity, flame, and smoke. The OptaNODE HESS software platform collects data, manages devices, and exposes a web API for third-party integration, with automated exception alerting via the GRID Watchdog feature. The company cites 23 patents across 6 countries and reports 427 million datasets, 29.5 billion data points, and 1.8 million alerts logged on the platform to date.

The business model is a hybrid of hardware sales (OptaNODE DTM/PDTM/GFS devices as one-time capital purchases), recurring software/analytics (HESS platform), and professional services (GRID Audit Monitoring Services). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; deployments are quote-based enterprise sales. GRID20/20 reaches customers through a direct enterprise field-sales motion and through three named US regional channel partners (SAMSCO for SC/NC/TN/KY, 5 Steps LLC for Hawaii, CB Associates for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast), and ships its sensors certified on Itron OpenWay and Landis+Gyr Gridstream AMI networks plus AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile cellular carriers. End customers are exclusively electric utilities — investor-owned (Duke Energy, SDG&E, CenterPoint, Hawaiian Electric), municipal (SMUD, Independence Power & Light, Maui Electric), and cooperative (Connexus, Inland Power, Prince George Electric Cooperative) — plus Ontario Local Distribution Companies and a small number of university research labs. The company's strategic narrative emphasizes wildfire mitigation, DER integration, EV charging impacts, power theft identification, Conservation Voltage Reduction, and SAIDI/SAIFI improvement, and it has secured two Ontario Ministry of Energy Smart Grid Fund grants (~$1.6–1.7M CAD each) and multiple industry awards including 2015 Smart Grid Product of the Year, 2015 Fierce Innovation Awards winner, and 2019/2021 Smart Grid Technology Top-10 rankings.

Name

Grid20/20

Legal name

GRID20/20 Inc.

Website

https://grid2020.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GRID20/20 provides OptaNODE intra-grid sensor solutions that retrofit distribution transformers for electric utilities, enabling real-time monitoring of load, voltage, power theft, DER impacts, and fire/wildfire risk for IOUs, cooperatives, and municipal utilities across 6+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - OptaNODE Sensors: Sale of patented DTM intra-grid sensor devices including OptaNODE DTM, PDTM, and GFS modules. Devices are sold as one-time hardware purchases with embedded software capabilities.
2. Software/Analytics Platform (HESS): Data Collection Engine, monitoring, management, and analytics software provided as part of the comprehensive solution. Includes web-based GUI, API access, and data visualization.
3. GRID Audit Monitoring Services: Services-based model providing grid optimization and audit monitoring services to facilitate accelerated grid optimization achievements by utilities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GRID20/20 designs, manufactures, and sells the OptaNODE distribution transformer monitoring solution, consisting of patented intra-grid sensor devices (OptaNODE DTM and PDTM) that retrofit onto existing distribution transformers to convert them into intelligent nodes without requiring power outage. The hardware sensors capture voltages, currents, power factor, temperature, phase angle, and forward/reverse energy flows, and feed data into the OptaNODE HESS software platform for visualization, analytics, automated alerting, and API-based integration. The solution is sold primarily to electric utilities for grid reliability, DER/EV integration, outage detection, power theft identification, voltage optimization, and fire/wildfire mitigation.

Product overview

GRID20/20 offers Advanced Transformer Infrastructure (ATI), a solution platform consisting of OptaNODE hardware devices and HESS software components designed to solve intra-grid monitoring needs cost-effectively. The core product lineup includes OptaNODE DTM (single-phase Distribution Transformer Monitor) and OptaNODE PDTM (poly-phase Distribution Transformer Monitor) that retrofit onto existing transformers to convert them into intelligent nodes. The GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY add-on module extends the DTM with fire/wildfire detection capabilities. The OptaNODE HESS software platform provides data collection, monitoring/management, and analytics capabilities. Together, these products enable utilities to monitor distribution transformers, detect anomalies, receive automated alerts, and manage the Clean Tech SuperGrid efficiently.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OptaNODE®: Best-in-class distribution transformer monitor product family featuring patented high-accuracy intra-grid sensors with industry fastest deployment capability
• Advanced Transformer Infrastructure (ATI)
• GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY™
• OptaNODE® DTM
• OptaNODE® PDTM
• OptaNODE® HESS
• GRID Audit Monitoring Services™
• Quick Calculator™

Products and services

• OptaNODE DTM (Distribution Transformer Monitor) Single-phase Distribution Transformer Monitor that provides accurate, patented sensing, metrology, and communications components in a compact, self-contained device. Installs in minutes using integrated magnets, converting standard distribution transformers into intelligent nodes that capture voltages, currents, power factor, temperature, phase angle, and forward/reverse energy flows. For electric utility operators seeking intra-grid visibility and transformer monitoring.
• OptaNODE PDTM (Poly-phase Distribution Transformer Monitor) Robust, flexible, rapidly deployable Poly-phase Distribution Transformer Monitor designed for three-wire and four-wire applications. Supports optional external antennas and integrated magnet or pole mounting kit installation, extending GRID20/20's intra-grid sensor capability to poly-phase transformer deployments for electric utilities.
• OptaNODE HESS (Head-End Software System) Versatile software platform consisting of a Data Collection Engine, a Monitoring and Management Tool for device deployment, operation, and maintenance, and a Data Analytics Portal providing timely, accurate information from within the heart of the distribution grid. Includes web-based GUI, web API for third-party integration, automated alerts, and exception reporting. For electric utility operators.
• GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY (GFS) Fire and wildfire prevention and detection sensor module that adds fire/wildfire mitigation capabilities to OptaNODE DTM devices. Monitors temperature, humidity, flames, and smoke for early detection and auto alerting. For electric utilities and grid operators seeking to lessen wildfire and public safety risk from grid assets.
• GRID Audit Monitoring Services Services-based model to facilitate accelerated grid optimization achievements by Local Distribution Companies, anchored by GRID20/20's intra-grid sensor suite to drive grid optimization upsides including Volt/VAR optimization through DVI's technology. For electric utilities and LDCs.
• Advanced Transformer Infrastructure (ATI) Comprehensive solution platform combining OptaNODE hardware and software components to solve intra-grid monitoring needs cost-effectively, enabling operators to manage the Clean Tech SuperGrid evolution. Creates instant smart transformers through retrofit sensors. For electric utilities pursuing grid modernization.

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DVI (Dominion Voltage, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2018Strategic collaboration between GRID20/20 and DVI to address energy efficiency needs. GRID20/20's patented intra-grid sensors combined with DVI's patented EDGE Voltage Optimization software enable comprehensive Volt/VAR optimization. Initial focus on Canadian LDCs with plans for broader market expansion. Both firms have validated technology through Ontario LDC partnerships.
• VerizoncoreTechnology or Integration · 5 April 2017Integration of Verizon LTE cellular communications into OptaNODE sensor suite, enabling near-instantaneous transformer-level outage notifications to electricity operators across the US market.
• Ontario Ministry of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2014Smart Grid Fund grant recipient receiving $1.7 million to demonstrate intra-grid sensor value through a 2014-2015 demonstration project with two Ontario LDCs. Project successfully completed and recognized as a Success Story.
• DVI (Dominion Voltage, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2014Original partnership established to bring grid optimization into new markets using GRID20/20's OptaNODE DTM sensors with DVI's Volt/VAR optimization technology. Enables effective demand response, energy conservation, and Volt/VAR without requiring smart meters.
• ItroncoreTechnology or Integration · 15 July 2014Integration of OptaNODE DTM devices with Itron OpenWay smart grid network, enabling deployment within existing Itron AMI infrastructure. Expands market potential to approximately 4 million additional transformers.
• Landis+GyrcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 July 2014Integration with Landis+Gyr Gridstream network enables seamless deployment of OptaNODE sensors within existing Landis+Gyr AMI infrastructure. Potential for more than 6 million distribution transformers at utilities using Gridstream network.
• AT&TcoreTechnology or IntegrationCompleted integration and certification of AT&T LTE and AT&T GSM cellular communications for OptaNODE sensors, providing solid US and global market coverage.
• SAMSCO (Spartan Armstrong Metering Supply Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS domestic channel partner covering South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Represents GRID20/20 products to regional utilities with sales contact John Kretzschmar.
• 5 Steps LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel partner covering Hawaii, representing GRID20/20 products to Hawaiian utilities with contact Darren Freitas.
• CB AssociatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel partner covering Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania with contact Michael Mayer.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Itron: Itron is a leading global AMI/smart meter and grid analytics provider. It is a direct integration partner of GRID20/20 (OptaNODE runs on Itron OpenWay), and a likely future competitor as Itron expands transformer-level intelligence capabilities within its broader smart infrastructure platform.
• Landis+Gyr: Landis+Gyr is a major AMI/smart meter vendor whose Gridstream network integrates with GRID20/20's DTM sensors. It serves overlapping utility customers and represents both a key channel partner and a potential competitive threat if it bundles native transformer monitoring into its platform.
• Aclara (Hubbell Power Systems): Aclara, a Hubbell company, provides AMI, smart sensors, and distribution intelligence solutions to electric, gas, and water utilities. It competes with GRID20/20 in transformer and distribution monitoring and serves similar IOU and cooperative utility customers.
• Sensus (Xylem): Sensus, part of Xylem, delivers smart utility network infrastructure including AMI and grid edge intelligence. It targets the same utility customers as GRID20/20 and competes in distribution automation and transformer monitoring.
• Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories: SEL is a major provider of protection, automation, and control solutions for electric utilities, with growing presence in distribution automation. It competes with GRID20/20 in providing grid intelligence at the distribution level, although its strength is more in substation-grade equipment.
• S&C Electric Company: S&C Electric manufactures switchgear, reclosers, and distribution automation products for electric utilities. It competes with GRID20/20 in distribution grid intelligence, particularly around fault detection, self-healing grids, and feeder automation.
• Eaton: Eaton is a major power management company producing distribution transformers, switchgear, and increasingly intelligent grid edge devices. As transformers gain native sensing, Eaton represents a structural competitive threat to retrofit DTM players like GRID20/20.
• Siemens Smart Infrastructure: Siemens offers end-to-end smart grid solutions including distribution automation, transformer monitoring, and grid software. It serves the same IOU and large municipal utility customers as GRID20/20 with a much broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Trimark Associates: Trimark provides SCADA, AMI integration, metering, and renewable energy management for electric utilities and water agencies, including intra-grid monitoring solutions. It is comparable to GRID20/20 as a focused systems integrator for utility data and asset monitoring.

Emerging players

• Uplight: Uplight provides a customer engagement and grid intelligence SaaS platform for electric utilities, including DER management and energy efficiency. It overlaps with GRID20/20 in providing grid edge data and analytics to utility customers, though focused more on the customer/retail side.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/grid2020
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grid20-20

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grid20/20