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Electron, a leader in energy flexibility marketplaces, has agreed to acquire Rhythmos.io, a pioneer in distributed energy resource (DER) detection and grid impact analytics. The acquisition combines Rhythmos’ DER visibility technology with Electron’s flexibility marketplace to help utilities expand grid capacity affordably while managing growing electrification demand from EVs and battery systems. The combined technology aims to save customers billions by deferring costly infrastructure upgrades.
Key Highlights
- The combined company will offer value orchestration technologies to bridge the gap between grid visibility and deployment of DERs.
- New capabilities will enable utilities to identify and measure the impact of DERs on specific transformers and substations.
- The technology provides regulatory-grade data to justify investment decisions, proving when flexibility is more cost-effective than new grid assets.
- Grid-aware optimization of DERs can unlock 10–30% in system-wide savings across the U.S. utility sector, according to research.
The growing number of electric vehicles (EVs), battery storage systems, and rooftop solar across distribution networks makes it difficult for utilities to locate, quantify the impact of, and reliably deploy these resources to defer costly upgrades. The acquisition of Rhythmos.io addresses this by providing advanced DER visibility. Electron’s CEO, Jo-Jo Hubbard, noted that while the supply side (virtual power plants) has aggregated gigawatts of flexibility, the challenge lies in giving utilities better visibility, valuation tools, and market capabilities on the buy side to justify relying on DERs at scale. Electron currently serves over half of the distribution system operators in the U.K. and is expanding its U.S. operations with the Rhythmos technology.
Technology and Innovation
The combined platform delivers value orchestration technologies that allow utilities to identify and measure the impact of DERs on specific transformers and substations across their networks. This granular visibility enables utilities to deploy resources via competitive markets at both local and system-wide levels, maximizing value for the utility and DER providers. Crucially, the system provides regulatory-grade data that utilities can use to justify their infrastructure decisions to regulators, providing evidence for when local flexibility is more cost-effective than building new grid assets. Rhythmos.io’s platform uses AI-powered data analytics and can more than double EV charging capacity on existing assets without expensive upgrades.
Market and Strategy Impact
The integration of Rhythmos’ grid-edge visibility with Electron’s flexibility marketplace gives utilities the situational awareness needed for smarter, data-driven investment decisions. Optimized management of EV charging at the distribution grid level could save utilities between $7 and $9 billion in transformer upgrade costs alone, according to a Rhythmos-commissioned study. By avoiding unnecessary expenses, precision targeting allows utilities to defer specific infrastructure investments that would otherwise be passed on to electricity customers through rate increases. The value orchestration technologies are designed to work with—not replace—existing virtual power plant (VPP) and DERMS platforms.
Leadership Quote
“With Rhythmos, we’re bridging that gap by bringing grid awareness to flexibility markets, which helps both utilities deploy resources more strategically and DER providers capture more value,” said Jo-Jo Hubbard, CEO of Electron.
“By pairing Rhythmos’ grid-edge visibility with Electron’s flexibility marketplace, utilities gain the situational awareness needed to make smarter, data-driven investment decisions,” said Ken Munson, CEO of Rhythmos. “They can now demonstrate, with evidence, when local flexibility is more cost-effective than building new infrastructure—maintaining reliability while keeping power affordable for customers”.
Bottom Line
The acquisition is a major step in combining grid-aware optimization with flexibility market capabilities, allowing utilities to precisely identify and value DERs like EVs and batteries. By making the grid more intelligent and using regulatory-grade data, the combined company will help utilities reliably meet the growing demand of electrification, maintain affordability, and accelerate the transition to a modern grid.
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