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Energy & Utilities · head to head

HOMER Energy vs Oracle Utilities

HOMER Energy logo

HOMER Energy

Energy & Utilities

Microgrid and distributed energy optimization software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oracle Utilities logo

Oracle Utilities

Energy & Utilities

Complete customer care and billing for utilities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HOMER Energy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HOMER Energy now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent; Oracle Utilities oracle Utilities does not appear on Oracle's published price list index, which covers Technology, eBusiness Suite, Fusion Applications, Engineered Systems, Business Intelligence, Siebel, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, MySQL, Java and several cloud lines
  • They diverge on capability: HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Oracle Utilities covers Customer information system.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HOMER Energy and Oracle Utilities actually diverge.

Attributes where HOMER Energy and Oracle Utilities differ
AttributeHOMER EnergyOracle Utilities
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, WebWeb, Mobile, Api
Founded20091977

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy & Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in HOMER Energy

  • Microgrid optimization
  • Techno-economic analysis
  • Component library
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Energy storage sizing
  • Renewable integration
  • Load profile analysis
  • Financial modeling

Only in Oracle Utilities

  • Customer information system
  • Billing and invoicing
  • Meter data management
  • Customer self-service portal
  • Revenue management
  • Credit and collections
  • Field service management
  • Regulatory compliance

Both cover

  • On-premise deployment
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

HOMER Energy

  • Sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systemsnot Oracle Utilities
  • Modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinationsnot Oracle Utilities
  • Electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and EV chargingnot Oracle Utilities
  • Utility-scale storage investment analysisnot Oracle Utilities
  • Comparing least-cost configurations against load and resource datanot Oracle Utilities

Oracle Utilities

  • Customer information and billing systems for electric, gas and water utilitiesnot HOMER Energy
  • Meter data management for utility smart metering programmesnot HOMER Energy
  • Work and asset management for utility field operationsnot HOMER Energy

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

HOMER Energy

  • Now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • Split into three separate products, HOMER Pro for off-grid and microgrids, HOMER Grid for bill optimisation and HOMER Front for utility-scale, so the right one depends on project type
  • Pricing is not shown on the product pages

Oracle Utilities

  • Oracle Utilities does not appear on Oracle's published price list index, which covers Technology, eBusiness Suite, Fusion Applications, Engineered Systems, Business Intelligence, Siebel, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, MySQL, Java and several cloud lines
  • Where Oracle does publish prices they are downloadable PDF price lists rather than an interactive pricing page
  • Oracle publishes separate commercial and US Public Sector price lists, so the commercial rate does not apply to government buyers

Pricing, plan by plan

HOMER Energy

Free
  • HOMER GridFree
    • Grid-connected optimization
    • Basic components
    • Limited simulations
  • HOMER Pro$1500/year
    • Advanced optimization
    • All components
    • Unlimited simulations
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Multi-user licenses
    • API access
    • Custom modules

Oracle Utilities

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Oracle Utilities review.

Which should you pick?

Choose HOMER Energy if

  • You need microgrid optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want techno-economic analysis.
HOMER Energy review

Choose Oracle Utilities if

  • You need customer information system.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want billing and invoicing.
Oracle Utilities review

Questions people ask

Is HOMER Energy or Oracle Utilities better?
Neither clearly leads. HOMER Energy starts at Free and Oracle Utilities at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HOMER Energy or Oracle Utilities?
HOMER Energy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HOMER Energy and On request for Oracle Utilities.
Does HOMER Energy or Oracle Utilities run on more platforms?
HOMER Energy runs on Windows, Web. Oracle Utilities runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use HOMER Energy for free?
Yes. HOMER Energy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Oracle Utilities starts at On request.
What is HOMER Energy best used for?
HOMER Energy is most often used for sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systems, modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinations, electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and ev charging, utility-scale storage investment analysis. Of those, sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systems and modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinations are not what Oracle Utilities is typically brought in for.
What can HOMER Energy do that Oracle Utilities cannot?
HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Techno-economic analysis, Component library, Sensitivity analysis. Oracle Utilities covers Customer information system, Billing and invoicing, Meter data management, Customer self-service portal. Both handle On-premise deployment, Cloud deployment.
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