Smart Grid Company Trilliant Scores $106M In Funding – Next Up, An IPO?

Trilliant, a California-based provider of smart grid solutions that enhance energy efficiency, utility operations, and renewable resource integration, this morning announced that it has secured a whopping $106 million in funding from a global syndicate of industry and financial big-names.

The round was led by Investor Growth Capital, VantagePoint Venture Partners, ABB and GE and will reportedly by used to ramp up growth in North America and abroad.

Last time we covered the company was in August 2008, when Trilliant raised $40 million from MissionPoint Capital Partners and zouk ventures, who also participated in this new monster round. Likely, the next step for the company would be to go public.

Trilliant provides hardware, software and real-time Smart Grid communication network solutions around the world, boasting over 200 utility customers today.

Originally founded in 1985, the company now exclusively focuses on providing electric utilities with end-to-end communications networks that span from the head-end operations center to all devices on the grid – not only meters and in-home energy management devices but also substations and grid devices such as transformers and capacitor banks.

The company has just won a contract to build a $200 million smart-meter system for the 610,000 customers of Central Maine Power. It will also expand into Europe via partnerships with Centrica in the UK and ESB in Ireland. With Centrica, Trilliant plans to install 5 million meters in the UK over the next five years.