In this blog, we break down the meaning of some important metrics (commonly referred to via acronym) used by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, along with utilities themselves, when measuring utility service reliability. These metrics are helpful for understanding how regulators and utilities think about measuring and improving the quality of their services for end-users ..read more

“From overwhelmed sewers in Houston to leaking pipes in Chicago to water main breaks in Boston, the scale is national, and the challenge is growing. Local water utilities face billions of dollars in costs to replace pipes, upgrade plants, and address other failures in their systems, all while dealing with increasingly extreme storms and mounting concerns regarding water quality and quantity.” –Brookings Institute Blog ..read more

The cloud can deliver extraordinary flexibility, scalability, and performance, which is why so many utilities are flying to the cloud. But while the cloud may offer dramatically reduced overhead compared to equivalent on-premise capabilities, it is still important to keep up with regular cloud optimization practices are essential for ensuring that your cloud continues to deliver the greatest possible ratio of value to cost ..read more

“While regulators generally allow utilities to recover prudently incurred costs from ratepayers, utilities are always cognizant of the effect rising costs have on customers' bills. As these bills increase, customers find it incrementally more difficult to pay, which often hampers a utility's ability to effectively manage regulatory risk. This predicament is a drawback in many of the financial solutions used to reduce weather-related risks, and if not well managed, may lead to unintended consequences.” –S&P Global Report, “Can U.S. Utilities Weather the Storm ..read more

There is no doubt that utilities have begun adopting process automation solutions at an accelerating rate. Much commentary on this trend, however, suggests that “Robotic Process Automation” is the only type being harnessed today, with “Intelligent Process Automation” still mostly theoretical for the utility industry (we explain the difference below ..read more

Utilities have begun adopting cloud-based capabilities across a cluster of key business functions such as customer experience, asset management, and reliability reporting. For a deeper look at how more and more utilities have overcome initial challenges to begin “flying to the cloud,” please see our blog here ..read more

“ESG-oriented investing has experienced a meteoric rise. Global sustainable investment now tops $30 trillion—up 68 percent since 2014 and tenfold since 2004...the magnitude of investment flow suggests that ESG is much more than a fad or a feel-good exercise.” –McKinsey Quarterly Article on “Five Ways That ESG Creates Value ..read more

Almost every business leader in the utility space and beyond has heard the buzz about “digital transformation.” And for good reason! The right digital capabilities can offer transformative organizational value. But the sheer volume and diversity of different capabilities often discussed under the digital transformation moniker can be overwhelming.  ..read more

Despite unique industry challenges, utility organizations are increasingly adopting cloud-based infrastructure. In this blog, we focus on the specific operational benefits a move to the cloud (or to a hybrid architecture) can achieve. In short, quality cloud infrastructure allows utilities to implement more powerful capabilities than ever while streamlining IT management and enhancing strategic agility ..read more

Hurricane season 2022 is approaching fast, with major implications for utilities across the southern and eastern United States. With strong hurricane seasons appearing set to continue for the foreseeable future, utilities are taking proactive steps to improve their ability to prepare for hurricanes and respond to them in the most effective manner possible ..read more