Utilities

Increasing global electricity consumption is putting a strain on current grid infrastructure creating competition to improve the service.

What is the current position of the utilities industry?

Demand growth is the defining feature of the industry in 2026. Worldwide electricity demand continued to grow in 2025, with some forecasts estimate growth averaging over 3% a year over the 2026 – 2030 period. In the US, around half of the total increase in demand to 2030 is attributed to the rapid expansion of data centers. Data centers consumed about 1.5% of global consumption in 2024, and that is expected to more than double by 2030, with AI the most important driver. 
Grid infrastructure is now considered a primary challenge, and annual grid investment must rise by roughly 50% by 2030 to meet demand. Concerningly, planning, permitting, and completing new grid infrastructure takes five to fifteen years, compared to one to three years for a data center, this illustrates the challenge the industry is facing balancing supply against growing demand. 
Sustainability and decarbonization remain key topics, and the competitive landscape continues to consolidate, particularly in renewable energy, as companies, utilities, and governments prepare to meet ambitious climate targets. As well as consolidation at the generation level, there is also consolidation in retailing in response to demand and price fluctuations. 

Utilities Industry Trends & Challenges

Utilities companies face a number of opportunities and threats to their businesses. The companies best placed to deal with a challenge will consider it as an opportunity, whilst those poorly prepared will face the challenge as a threat.

While the utilities industry is often thought of as slow moving when it comes to adopting new technologies and business models, there are still some prominent trends emerging in the industry that are increasing the speed of change: 

  • digitization 
  • mergers & acquisitions 
  • new business models 
  • new entrants 
  • onshoring 
  • renewables 

Alongside these, the industry continues to respond to a set of persistent challenges: 

  • artificial intelligence and data centre load growth 
  • geopolitical tension 
  • grid connection and transmission bottlenecks 
  • increased competition 
  • matching supply & demand 
  • sustainability 
  • skilled worker shortage

For more in-depth information about the Utilities industry, check out our e-learning course and Industry Insights platform.

E-learning course & Insights Platform

E-learning course

  • Self-paced e-learning
  • CPE-approved
  • Designed for customer-facing professionals

Objectives

  • Identify the industry terminology
  • Identify the relationships between typical companies in the industry supply chain and understand the structure of a typical business
  • Pick out some of the major issues faced by utility companies in today’s industry
  • Differentiate between the initiatives they take to respond to business issues

Cambashi Ltd is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE sponsors through its website: http://www.nasbaregistry.org

Industry Insights Platform

  • Tactical industry intelligence updated in real-time by industry experts.
  • The latest trends & challenges, business drivers, products & services, and technology.
  • Key players and consumer perspective
  • Industry terminology and metrics
  • Deeper knowledge across a variety of industry subjects

Access Cambashi’s Industry Insights Demonstration

Utilities Industry Related Professions

Analyzing the workforce in the utilities industry reveals a complex landscape. Managers and supervisors lead strategic planning and resource allocation, particularly prominent in developed regions like North America and Western Europe. Professionals, such as engineers, are integral to infrastructure design and optimization, with higher concentrations found in technologically advanced regions. Semi-professionals, such as field technicians, play essential roles across both developed and developing regions, ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly. AEC & MFG Workers, comprising laborers and maintenance staff, are prevalent in regions experiencing rapid infrastructure growth, like parts of Asia.

Regional differences further shape the utilities workforce. North America prioritizes advanced technology adoption, reflected in its high proportion of professionals and managers. In Western Europe, emphasis on sustainability drives the presence of professionals in renewable energy and environmental management. Asia showcases a diverse mix, with significant roles for semi-professionals – particularly in South Asia, and AEC Workers in infrastructure expansion. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for the VP of HR in utilities companies to effectively manage their workforce amidst evolving industry demands and regional nuances.

Software Market in the Utilities Industry

For utility businesses to continue innovating they must embrace digital transformation and create new technologies. The operational models of utility organizations are changing to deliver value at speed by incorporating new technologies. 

Technology outside the IT function continues to grow and has an opportunity to adapt and scale new ways of working with disruptive technologies. Examples of technologies that are changing the way utility industries operate are: 

  • data analytics 
  • energy storage 
  • hydrogen 
  • Internet of Things (IoT) 
  • renewable energy advances 
  • smart meters 
  • water reuse technologies 

Here we can see the relative sizes of the Computer-Aided Technologies (Mechanical CAD, Mechanical CAE), PLM, BIM, and GIS software sectors in the global utilities market. The total is worth approximately $US2.5 billion annually. Note how BIM and GIS are the largest segments, given utility assets and infrastructure networks are widely dispersed geographically, seeing data on a map can help operational decisions, fault diagnosis, and strategic planning.

Design/Engineering/Manufacturing Software Market Share – Utilities Industry

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