Itron Report Reveals Heightened Need for Resilient and Reliable Grid in the Face of Climate Disruption
1 in 4 Utility Executives Say Pandemic is Delaying Upgrades Yet Natural Disasters, Renewables and Electric Vehicles Demand Modern Infrastructure
Launched today at Itron Inspire 2021, the company’s premier customer-focused event, the report dives deep into the differing opinions of consumers and utility executives related to resilience planning for an innovative, reliable grid. Across the surveyed countries, integrating renewables and modernizing aging grid infrastructure are the top two biggest challenges. The findings indicate that in the next five years utility execs surveyed see EV demands becoming the biggest challenge for the grid. Additional key findings in the report show:
- Consumers agree with the top priorities of integrating renewables and upgrading infrastructures. However, they are more concerned about natural disasters (20%) than EVs (16%).
- Utility executives are extremely/very concerned about the grid and the impact of disasters (88%), demand from EVs (85%), integrating renewables (86%) and complying with environmental mandates (90%).
- Consumers are less concerned than utility executives about the impact of disasters and EVs on the grid, however they are also less confident in how prepared utilities are to manage these situations with 84% of utilities stating they are ready vs. 47% of consumers.
“In looking at these results, there is agreement on the need for grid modernization, but utility executives and consumers have different concerns and priorities. We see that utilities are looking to the future to plan and prepare for what is coming, while consumers indicated more immediate concerns,” said
Across all five countries, the biggest challenges to the reliability and resiliency of the grid are upgrading aging infrastructure, integrating renewables and complying with carbon mandates, but these priorities change as executives look to the future:
|
Today |
In Five Years |
US |
Upgrading grid |
Upgrading grid |
|
Upgrading grid |
Meeting EV demand & upgrading grid |
|
Integrating renewables |
Meeting EV demand |
|
Complying with carbon mandates |
Meeting EV demand |
|
Integrating renewables |
Integrating renewables |
According to the survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed technology investments across all the countries. Yet, the technology is critical to create a more resilient infrastructure. The report notes that advanced metering infrastructure and distribution automation are high priorities for EVs, distributed energy resources (DER) deployments, and disaster response. And sensors are the highest priority technology for grid resiliency in the face of disasters.
“In America, the
To download a full copy of the Itron Resourcefulness Insight Report, visit www.itron.com/resourceful. To listen to key sessions and keynotes at the virtual Itron Inspire Event,
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Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
509-891-3802
PR@Itron.com
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