I Feel the Earth Move under My Feet
ScottMadden, Inc., one of North America’s leading energy consulting firms, recently released the Summer 2014 edition of The Energy Industry Update. This semi-annual publication offers our view of major events and emerging trends in the energy industry.
The energy and utility industries continue to anticipate and react to potential fundamental shifts in the 100+ year-old model of investment, regulation, and earnings. Policy and regulatory changes are big factors driving the design of the new landscape. For many of these changes, significant investment in existing and new infrastructure is needed across all parts of the energy value chain. And by the way, load growth is no longer, so investment and cost recovery are uncertain. Themed “I Feel the Earth Move under My Feet,” this issue surveys a broad array of strategic issues, including:
- Emergence of yieldcos in the power sector
- Continued expansion of environmental regulation, including recently proposed CO2 regulations for existing power plants and their potential effects
- Gas and power industry response to and lessons from last winter’s “polar vortex”
- An emerging maturity model for renewable energy integration into utilities
- With the recently upheld FERC Order 1000, the advent of a new competitive era in transmission and its regional variations
- Availability of water for energy generation in North America
“The energy industry is rapidly approaching ‘points of no return’ on plant retirements, gas and power transmission development, and grid resilience, among other things.” said Stuart Pearman, partner and energy practice leader of ScottMadden. “Meanwhile, increasing levels of distributed generation and strengthening interest in energy efficiency and microgrids are forcing utilities to re-examine a business model that has been in place for a century. Keeping businesses running and homes lit and heated, adapting to new possibilities from changing technology, and ensuring a fair return for risk and investment are front and center for utility executives. ScottMadden is applying its experience and broad view of the energy business to help our clients chart their course forward. We hope this Energy Industry Update provides a backdrop for executive decision makers as they confront change and make it happen.”
For more than a decade, the ScottMadden Energy Industry Update has served as a catalyst for strategic discussion, debate, and decisions. More than ten thousand industry leaders rely on it for the most important trends and thought-provoking insights. To download the latest Energy Industry Update, please click here.
To subscribe to future editions of the Energy Industry Update, please click here.
About ScottMadden’s Energy Practice
Since 1983, we have been energy consultants. We have served more than 300 clients, including 20 of the top 20 energy utilities. We have performed more than 2,400 projects across every energy utility business unit and every function. We have helped our clients develop strategies, improve operations, reorganize companies, and implement initiatives. Our broad and deep energy utility expertise is not theoretical—it is experience based.
About ScottMadden, Inc.
ScottMadden is the management consulting firm that does what it takes to get it done right. Our practice areas include Energy, Clean Tech & Sustainability, and Corporate & Shared Services. We deliver a broad array of consulting services ranging from strategic planning through implementation across many industries, business units, and functions. To learn more, visit www.scottmadden.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
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Media contact:
Mary Tew
marytew@scottmadden.com
919-714-7628