At the National Town Hall Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid, several industry experts were asked to predict the state of the utility industry in 10 years time.
Among those who gave their professional opinions on the matter were utility executives, smart grid technology providers, network operators and state and federal regulators.
Many expressed the idea that the utility industry will be very different in ten years time. Some of these big changes could include utilities looking much more like system operators, more utilities being placed under performance-based regulation, and the possible tremendous consolidation of the industry.
Steve Kidwell of Ameren Corporation expresses his belief that, "the grid will still be at the center of significant value creation in the same model we've had for 100 years."
In ten years, we could see utilities taking on more of an enabler role, becoming integrators of a full range of technologies; it could develop attributes of the telecommunications industry; and it could become involved in partnerships with those who have not traditionally been involved in the utility industry.
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