US demand to reach $20.6 billion in 2011 US demand for electric transmission and distribution equipment is forecast to increase 3.7 percent annually (including price increases) to $20.6 billion in 2011. Gains will be supported by an improved outlook for nonresidential fixed investment and a rebound in electric utility capital spending. In addition, continued increases in electric generation, by electric utilities and especially by independent power producers, will support demand for transmission and distribution equipment to more efficiently transport that power to the customer. Preventing even faster increases will be the slowdown in construction spending, particularly in the residential segment. Electric meters to be fastest growing products Among product types, the best opportunities will be in meters, driven by the continued expansion of distributed power generation and net metering. Net metering requires more advanced meter products that can measure electricity flow both from the grid and back to the grid when local generation (e.g. by solar panels on a home' s roof) exceeds power consumption.