Utility readings using Ignition - local and cloud

Hi all,

I have a generic question on what could be the configuration for a system collecting data from the Utility meters.

I have an Ignition server installed which reads already data from several PLCs, so my first idea was adding a new PLC to collect data from the meters and load it into Ignition.
This would work well for real time monitoring etc, but ideally I would like to have the data stored into my Azure cloud so I can get PowerBI reports as well.

I know that there are infinite ways to do this, what would you suggest or what is your direct experience?
Buy an Ignition Edge license? Get IOT devices with their edge modules to populate the cloud db?
All the meters are over the site, but I don’t think I need GSM modules, everything could be possibly be hard wired.

Thank you