Energy and Utilities (E&U) industries remain heavily reliant on legacy infrastructure but have opened investing significantly in smart grid modernization initiatives. A key objective of these initiatives is to upgrade traditional infrastructure to smart infrastructure. Smart grids, substations, and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) enable remote monitoring and provide health and usage data that support analytics. This helps predict failures in near real-time, improves demand forecasting, facilitates peak load planning, and accelerates outage management.
Simultaneously, utilities are modernizing billing systems, implementing advanced analytics platforms, and enhancing customer experience through new digital channels.
Utilities continue to invest in infrastructure with the aim of realizing returns on investment, improving sustainability, and making energy more affordable for all.
For consumers, cost savings and affordability were primary goals of this modernization. But has this goal been achieved? Utility bills have increased in recent years, partly due to infrastructure and technology investments that are ultimately passed on to end users.
Grid modernization has helped manage outages and improve energy consumption by creating a more reliable and resilient grid. However, consumers may not yet see these benefits reflected in their utility bills.