Utilities

Electric utilities operate in a regulated environment, generally due to natural monopoly market structure, deliver an essential public good, and exist within a high transparency environment.

Challenges

• Planning in current innovation heavy environment
• Competitive pressures on periphery
  –  Distributed generation
• Pressure to balance cost and service
  –  Service is a balance of reliability, safety, environment and similar risks
  –  Quantification
  –  Increasing social demands (e.g., greater environmental constraints)
• Legacy circumstances
  –  Generational workforce turnover
  –  Innovation not easily embraced by incumbent and dominant market player
  –  Interconnection obligations and electrification