Utility Management Group
Senior decision-makers come together to connect around strategies and business trends affecting utilities.
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Utility of Friday and not the Future
When I introduce myself as the utility of the future manager, I often get asked which future? The answer I usually give, which we all hate, is “it depends”; honestly, it depends on the utility, i.e. the future can be tomorrow, next week, year, 5-10 years from now, or the year the 100% clean or renewable energy systems become effective (2050 or sooner; one of the primary reason the utility of the future group was created).
When I wrote the “Utility of the Future or Fiction A Dialogue between the Future & the Past” book, I addressed one of the biggest challenges facing utility of the future groups, which is the need to be laser-focused on the future and not on current issues, which is mainly the case due to the limited resources to address current challenges, yet alone think about the future; however, innovative and successful companies are always focused on the future. Imagine Apple announcing in September 2023 that due to how busy they were and their limited resources, they decided to skip building iPhones 16 thru 23 (see you in 10 years) or Google not releasing AI Bard, etc. à great news for the competition.
There is no harm in providing valuable insight, guidance, mentorship, and consulting for ongoing matters; the future is built on the past and present, just don’t get stuck at the moment.
Utility of the Future or Fiction A Dialogue between the Future & the Past
Many industries, especially utilities are experiencing massive employee exodus due to retirement, difficulty attracting the appropriate talents, and difficulty retaining employees (especially as many companies are forcing their employees to transition back to the office); as a result, it is getting more difficult for the utility of the future groups to get support from other groups about future plans and strategies (they can hardly manage the current workload), nevertheless, we must continue to think differently, innovate, and design the system for the future. It is a major obstacle, yet, it is very rewarding when you construct a healthier future for the planet and empower the customers.
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