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Fri, Aug 22

Integration: The Hidden Factor That Will Define the Future Utility

Utilities are chasing big goals: decarbonization, grid modernization, AI in control rooms, open data, and cloud migration. But here’s the truth: none of these initiatives succeed without the critical layer of integration

Why it matters: 

  • AI in control rooms – by 2027, 40% of utilities will deploy AI-driven operations, but those models are only as good as the data they ingest. 

  • Open data ecosystems – can cut cost-to-serve by 10%, but only if the data is trusted and consistent. 

  • Cloud adoption – by 2028, 60% of utilities will be in enterprise or industry clouds, yet hybrid environments collapse without robust integration. 

  • Grid resilience & wildfire modeling – relying on synchronized GIS, asset, and network data to be actionable. 

Integration isn’t plumbing. It’s the infrastructure beneath the infrastructure. When it’s persistent, traceable, and domain-aware, every other investment — from AI to DER orchestration — compounds in value. 

The utilities that treat integration as a strategic asset will lead the next decade. Those that don’t will find their digital estate fragmented and fragile. 

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