***This web­cast is open to non-mem­bers. Mem­bers, please log in, and click Reg­is­ter for any mem­ber-only web­cast to reg­is­ter for any or all of the web­casts in the series***

Host­ed by: Util­i­ties

Since their incep­tion, util­i­ties have been oblig­at­ed to deliv­er essen­tial ser­vices safe­ly, reli­ably, and cost effec­tive­ly.  These oblig­a­tions still exist, but today it is hard­er than ever before to meet them.  Rev­enues are declin­ing; infra­struc­ture is more vul­ner­a­ble; new com­peti­tors are gain­ing trac­tion; reg­u­la­to­ry man­dates are chang­ing; and cus­tomers are demand­ing more. 

Util­i­ties every­where are seri­ous­ly re-exam­in­ing their strate­gies.  Are there new busi­ness mod­els that make sense?  Is the asset port­fo­lio right for today’s con­di­tions?  Should there be a change in trad­ing strat­e­gy?  How recep­tive will reg­u­la­tors be to new approach­es?  At the same time, util­i­ties are step­ping up efforts to improve day to day oper­a­tions.  How can we engage our cus­tomers?  Are there ways to stream­line oper­a­tions?  How can we pre­dict and pre­vent dam­ag­ing events?

There is no ques­tion that the speed of change is accel­er­at­ed by dig­i­tal tech­nol­o­gy – social media, stream­ing video, drones and IoT.  Infor­ma­tion tech­nol­o­gy, oper­a­tional tech­nol­o­gy and com­mu­ni­ca­tions are now avail­able to improve how the com­pa­ny oper­ates.  Com­pa­nies that learn how to har­ness dig­i­tal tech­nol­o­gy will trans­form the indus­try in ways we are only begin­ning to imag­ine.  The chal­lenge will be in iden­ti­fy­ing tech­nol­o­gy that will be ​“future proof”.

This ses­sion will pro­vide atten­dees with an analyst’s per­spec­tive on the capa­bil­i­ties util­i­ties will need in the next year and beyond.  Atten­dees will learn about trends that will have a pro­found effect on water, gas and elec­tric util­i­ties in North Amer­i­ca.  The ses­sion will explore how quick­ly action is need­ed; what tech­nolo­gies can be assem­bled to sup­port need­ed capa­bil­i­ties; and how to plan for changes in process­es and people.

Speak­er:

Jill Feblowitz, Pres­i­dent, Feblowitz Ener­gy Consulting