Case Study: Sogn og Fjordane Energi achieves smart, predictive energy management and demand-response with Microsoft Azure

Powering Norwegian communities with smart energy

Sogn og Fjordane Energi (SFE) is a Norwegian utility that operates 20 hydroelectric plants and a 4,200 km distribution network serving eight municipalities and about 100,000 people. Facing a deregulated market, an aging transmission grid, rapid uptake of electric vehicles and distributed renewables, SFE needed better insight into grid performance and consumer behavior to balance supply and demand, reduce bottlenecks, and develop new retail services.

SFE partnered with eSmart Systems to pilot “Smart Valley,” connecting homes, schools and public buildings to Microsoft Azure and the Azure IoT Suite for real-time and predictive analytics. The platform aggregates sensors, meters and distributed generation data to enable demand response (for example, pausing EV charging during dinner peaks), proactive grid maintenance, and optimized production planning. The project aims to improve reliability, lower costs for customers, and roll out services to about 20,000 users, strengthening SFE’s operational efficiency and competitive position.

Sogn og Fjordane Energi

Ole Gaute Hovstad

Project Manager