Survey results show 55% of utilities occasionally or never depend on regulatory directions for key decision-making.
“For the vast majority, there is agreement that there is a clear vision for the organization and that the vision is being executed,” said Hugo van Nispen, CEO, BRIDGE. “However, most do not view their utility as leading the industry in operational transformation. Utilities should ensure their vision includes out-of-the box thinking about what is truly needed to address the changes in customer expectations, business models, and workforce technology.”
“The integration of transmission and distribution business operations is expected to increase significantly in the next three years,” said Michelle Fay, vice president, Success Enablement, BRIDGE. “Ultimately, the successful merger of what have been siloed operations will hinge upon industry lessons learned, effective change management, and a more holistic approach to security planning.”
The 2019 BRIDGE Index Utility Industry survey also throws a caution flag. Only 43% of survey respondents felt that grid modernization is viewed as a transformational initiative sponsored at the highest levels of the organization.
“For a significant number of utilities, grid modernization efforts are still siloed in a particular portion of the organization and, as such, are not as transformational as they could be. To achieve the maximum business value envisioned in many of these projects, greater cross‐functional buy‐in to a more robust grid modernization strategy is needed,” Fay added.
Now in its eighth consecutive year, the BRIDGE Index survey provides objective, research-driven insights into current and future priorities across a broad cross-section of North American utility decision-makers.
Download the results of the 2019 BRIDGE Index An Industry in Transformation – Business and Compliance here.
