Management Matters: Monthly Digest of Insights Shared by Your Peers in the Energy Central Utility Management Group – August 2, 2022

Welcome to the Utility Management Group roundup, Management Matters. As always, your fellow group members are paying close attention to utility management trends and sharing their insights. This month’s selection includes information about the need for new nuclear plants, business model reform, and more. Be sure to like and comment on your favorite posts. Happy reading!

If You Want To Get Climate Serious, Get Nuclear Serious

Llewellyn King

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/um/if-you-want-get-climate-serious-get-nuclear-serious

In this post, Llewellyn King, Executive Producer and Host at White House Media, LLC notes that an electricity crisis is developing in response to the climate crisis. He points out the need for nuclear to be part of the emerging energy mix and lists some of its advantages, including independence from foreign supply and requiring minimal land. Yet, he observes, many recent nuclear plant projects have failed, and the U.S. should plan to build and support a new generation of them.   

Strategies for Operating Your Co-op or Utility in a High-interest Rate and High Inflation Environment

Russ Hissom

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/um/strategies-operating-your-co-op-or-utility-high-interest-rate-and-high-inflation

In a period of high interest rates and high inflation, how should utilities respond? In this article, Russ Hissom, Owner of Utility Accounting Education Specialists offers strategies for managing the situation with regard to employees, customers, vendors, capital projects, and cost reduction. He points out that such times may be challenging but help utilities learn to manage and plan smarter.

Remain Profitable, Reform!

Nevelyn Black

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/um/remain-profitable-reform

While the shift from fossil-fuel-based to zero-carbon-based energy is undeniably needed, utilities may be risking profitability in the transition. Here, Nevelyn Black, Independent Writer discusses the need to reform the traditional utility business model in response. Utilities should consider doing so in the areas of changing customer expectations, the cost-of-service model, treatment of capital and OPEX, and the creation of new value-added services.

Electrical Utilities Can Look Beyond Their Own Industry for “Innovation Inspiration” and Avoid Being Outrun by Market Changes

Adrian McNulty

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/electrical-utilities-can-look-beyond-their-own-industry-%E2%80%98innovation-inspiration%E2%80%99

Utilities know they need to rethink the traditional network design, yet many are unsure about how to do so. In this piece, new Energy Central member Adrian McNulty, VP Utility Solutions at IQGeo points to other industries, such as telecom, which have undergone similar transformations and can serve as models for innovation. Adrian recommends that, like the telecom industry, utilities should focus on modeling different scenarios, making decisions based on a single source of truth, and focusing on technology innovation.

Thanks again for reading this edition of Management Matters! The authors listed above are eager to hear your thoughts and questions, so don’t hesitate to engage them. And if you want your content to be featured in this spot in future issues, be sure to publish your posts within the Utility Management Community.

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