Executive summary 

This first blog post examines the results of Forrester Consulting’s Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study on Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure ADMS with embedded DERMS. It highlights the financial, operational, and strategic gains utilities achieve with advanced distribution management and DER orchestration. With a 184% ROI, $40M in net benefits, and significant efficiency improvements across field and control room operations, this report offers utilities a data-driven blueprint for accelerating modernization with confidence. 

Full post 

Utilities worldwide face mounting pressure to modernize their networks, integrate exponentially growing distributed energy resources (DERs). Utilities also strive to operate safely in an increasingly complex environment. To support these decisions with objective, verifiable evidence, Schneider Electric commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact™ Study. This study analyzes EcoStruxure ADMS with embedded DERMS. 

The results speak volumes. 

A remarkable 184% ROI over five years, alongside $40 million in net benefits, clearly demonstrates that advanced digital grid solutions are no longer optional. They’re transformational. The study identifies $61.8 million in total benefits vs. $21.8 million in costs. These costs are driven by operational efficiencies, improved situational awareness, DER integration, and reduced capital expenditure. 

Utilities reported: 

• Dramatic reductions in manual field tasks 
• Faster, more accurate control room operations 
• Better grid visibility enabling safer crew deployment 
• More cost-effective DER integration through intelligent planning and controls 

Beyond numbers, the study serves as a strategic guide for utility leaders preparing for a more decentralized, data-driven energy future. 

If you’d like to learn more about this study and how utilities are adopting similar technologies to solve their most pressing problems, join us at CERAWeek in Houston, TX! Digital Grid CEO, Ruben Llanes, and Forrester Analyst, Abhijit Sunil, will host a roundtable breakfast discussion on Thursday, March 26 at 7am.