Utilities are advancing an intelligent, sustainable energy future. As they act today to move towards a future state, utilities are tapping into emerging technologies, processes and business models to navigate energy sustainability.

KEMA launched the first Utility of the Future Executive Conference in 2008 to explore how we get there from here. This year, with many utilities already advancing toward a future state, the event focused on navigating energy sustainability.

Discussions throughout KEMA’s 2009 Utility of the Future conference explored how to meet ambitious environmental standards, become energy independent, and build in flexibility to adapt to ongoing change. An intelligent grid that enables millions of supply and demand decisions to be made, with absolute reliability and security, in microsecond intervals across a two-way distribution system is a key to this future vision. Understanding how utility customers will respond to and engage with the technology is a question that currently has as many questions as answers, and these will need to be addressed and understood as smart grid projects move forward.

Utilities are being actively disintermediated by companies outside the regulated sphere that see the transition to smart grid and away from carbon-based energy sources as attractive areas for growth. These new entrants, who are able to connect with and engage consumers, could reset customer expectations about their energy suppliers. Communications, collaboration and innovation will be essential to survive and thrive as the market evolves.

A more detailed summary of the executive-level energy and utility industry dialog held at KEMA’s 2^nd annual Utility of the Future conference is available on-line and as a download at www.kema.com/utilityfuture2009.