About
Twenty years in AMI. One platform built to change MDM.
DPU was born from Util-Assist — a consulting company that has been helping utilities deploy and manage AMI since 2005. We saw firsthand how legacy meter data systems were holding utilities back. So we built something better.
Our Story
From consulting to product
Util-Assist started as an AMI consulting firm in 2005. Over nearly two decades, we worked with utilities across North America on meter deployments, system integrations, data management, and operational readiness.
Through that work, we saw the same pattern again and again: utilities were investing in modern AMI infrastructure but feeding that data into MDM systems built on twenty-year-old architectures. Batch processing, rigid data models, expensive vendor lock-in, and a growing disconnect between meter data and the analytics teams that needed it.
We knew there was a better way. Modern data warehouses like Snowflake and Databricks had changed how every other industry manages data. It was time to bring that same approach to utilities. That is why we built DPU — a meter data management system designed from scratch to run natively on the warehouse, process data in real time, and give utilities full control of their metering data.
Util-Assist founded as a consulting firm specializing in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployments for utilities across North America.
Worked with dozens of utilities on AMI rollouts, meter data management, system integrations, and operational readiness. Gained deep, hands-on understanding of how utilities use metering data day to day.
Identified a growing gap: legacy MDM systems were not keeping up with the volume, velocity, and variety of data from AMI 2.0. Utilities were struggling with batch processing, data silos, and inflexible architectures.
Began designing DPU — a meter data management system built from scratch to run natively on modern data warehouses. No legacy code, no compromises.
First DPU prototype deployed on Snowflake. Proved that warehouse-native MDM could process data in real time at scale.
DPU in production with utility customers. Support for Snowflake, Databricks, and additional warehouses. Continuous investment in VEE, billing, outage intelligence, and DER/EV capabilities.
What We Believe
These principles come from decades of working alongside utility teams. They guide every product decision we make.
We Know Metering
We have been in the AMI world since 2005. DPU is not built by a generic software company. It is built by people who have deployed meters, configured head-ends, and debugged VEE rules alongside utility teams.
Data Belongs to the Utility
Meter data should never be held hostage by vendor lock-in. DPU runs on your infrastructure, uses your warehouse, and keeps you in full control of your data.
Real-Time by Default
Batch processing was a constraint of old technology, not a requirement. When data arrives, it should be immediately validated, processed, and available to every downstream system.
Open Architecture
No black boxes. DPU works with your existing tools, data models, and workflows through standard APIs and native warehouse integration.
Ready to modernize your meter data?
See how DPU can work with your existing infrastructure. Our team brings twenty years of AMI experience to every conversation.