E.ON said that it plans to install 2,500 digital transformer stations in Germany at its four distribution grid operators – Avacon, Bayernwerk, E.DIS and Hansewerk – by the end of 2019. This is just the first slice of its distribution transformation – from now on it will only order digital transformers in Germany. During the course of 2018, a number of digital transformer designs from companies like ABB and Siemens were launched, offering the primary functions of monitoring the smart grid and responding in real time to power fluctuations. E.ON seems to be taking a first mover status here and will likely integrate control of these functions into its grid management software. One reason for this change is to maintain…