Workforce Transformation: Powering the Utility of the Future

Virtually every component of the utility industry—the business models, the technology, the customer experience, et al.—is currently experiencing transformation. With nearly $800 billion dollars in grid infrastructure and operations investments expected over the next decade, the notion of dynamic wide-scale change is no longer merely an over-used and under-defined buzzword; it is fast becoming the primary work of utility companies.

[1] And that has significant implications for your workforce and workplace

The scale and speed of change in the industry often obscures the fact that transformation is as much an opportunity as it is a challenge, a means for utilities to enact ‘version 2.0’ of their Utility of the Future visions. But an innovation initiative or business transformation process alone will not be enough to enable, encourage, and enact lasting improvement; equally significant changes to the development and retention of talent will be necessary to realize ambitious business and operational goals. Put another way: the work of talent development in a time of change is more and deeper than simply replacing retiring senior engineers and/or attracting younger “digital natives” to the utility space; it’s actually a matter of strategy, about alignment of your business goals and your changing workforce.