THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF TECH TRANSFORMATION AMONG UTILITY COMPANIES
The role of utility companies has evolved profoundly over the past century. A hundred years ago, utilities delivered essential services like electricity, water, and wastewater to geographically dispersed populations, prioritizing reliability, safety, and affordability. At that time, utilities’ technological footprint was limited to basic mechanical systems, reflecting the practical needs and expectations of the era. Utility customers rarely considered the people behind the poles, wires, and pipes of these services, and vice versa, unless an outage or crisis occurred.
A NEW ERA OF UTILITY INNOVATION
Today, the utility landscape has shifted dramatically. Utility leaders now operate within highly sophisticated digital networks. They must uphold historical priorities while driving innovation in clean energy, smart grids, the Internet of Things (IoT), electric vehicles (EVs), asset modernization, and customer engagement. They are also replacing aging infrastructure, enhancing the smart grid, and offering products that promote energy efficiency, demand response, and water conservation. The best leaders place customers at the center of everything they do, meeting the demands of a rapid clean energy transition, balancing supply and demand in densely populated areas, and ensuring equitable services for all. It’s no small feat.
FOCUSING ON THE “WHO” IN TRANSFORMATION
While many member organizations that support utility innovation and transformation focus on the “what” of transformation—specific goals and the technology needed to achieve them—the Utility 2030 Collaborative (U2030) also emphasizes the “who” by constantly asking ourselves, “What do utility leaders need to be successful?” The answer is giving them and their teams the inspiration, training, and developmental support to thrive in this rapidly changing environment.
U2030’S ROLE IN EMPOWERING THE FUTURE
At U2030, we amplify the power of collaboration by uniting over 250 brilliant and diverse individuals, each bringing unique insights, expertise, and personalities to build the utility of the future. Our board of directors—Ahmad Ababneh (Pacific Gas & Electric), Jody Allison (Liberty Utilities), Ajit Apte (Baltimore Gas & Electric), Brandy Bolden (SMUD), Chima Chijioke (Georgia Power Company), Chris Hilborn (Independent), Frankie McDermott (SMUD), Luke Peterson (Hibbing PUC), and Sean Vanslyke (SEMO Electric & GoSEMO Fiber)—are committed to leading our collaborative in developing, connecting, celebrating, and empowering leaders who can solve the pervasive challenges at the intersection of utility customers and operational excellence.
U2030 offers an integrated 12-month calendar of events, programs, and tools designed to develop, empower, connect, and celebrate utility professionals through a complex innovation and transformation journey. Our dedication extends to social impact initiatives and charitable giving, supporting our communities and fostering empathy by our future leaders to create the most relevant and impactful solutions for utility customers. Our community partnerships have included The Midnight Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and Park Pride.
SIGNATURE EVENTS AND MEETINGS
Each year, U2030 hosts two dynamic “unconference” events featuring innovative session formats designed to encourage active collaboration and engagement among participants. 2025 events include:
- A U2030 wellness retreat held in the spring. RADIATE brings people of all genders together to focus on women’s empowerment in the utility industry through leadership development and self-care.
- In September, we offer the U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting. It is a forum for ideating solutions to utility professionals’ most pressing challenges while practicing transformational leadership strategies.
Between events, U2030 offers small group virtual forums that explore the latest trends impacting utility leaders. Additionally, U2030 members enjoy exclusive access to the U2030 Collective Brain Platform, an online hub for connecting, learning, and sharing resources. This tool facilitates collaboration and the exchange of ideas and resources among our members, ensuring continuous connections, growth, and innovation.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS
Strategic partnerships are vital to U2030’s success. Through our membership model, we collaborate with technology companies and advisors, who serve as preferred vendors and play a crucial role in helping us achieve our innovation and transformation goals. Founding technology member companies include Oracle, Avertra, Energy Central, Appos Group, Questline, and Heidrick & Struggles. Forward-thinking utilities, such as Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Liberty Utilities, Georgia Power Company, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E), Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), Hibbing PUC, and SEMO Electric Cooperative, have been members since our inception in January 2020.
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN UTILITIES
As a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certified by WBENC and the CPUC Supplier Clearinghouse, U2030 is committed to empowering underrepresented groups with an emphasis on championing diversity of thought because it leads to better outcomes. At our U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting, we celebrate the Women Who SPARK Awards Program winners with an inspirational gala showcasing their contributions to innovation, transformation, and mentorship. Our RADIATE Leadership Program provides a comprehensive curriculum calendar for women in utilities to develop leadership skills and receive mentoring support to expand their impact within the industry.
CONCLUSION: A FUTURE BUILT ON PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY
As we reflect on the evolution of utility companies from their early days to the present, it’s clear that while technology has dramatically expanded the industry’s capabilities, we must equally focus on the people who drive innovation and transformation. At U2030, we recognize their value and want to continue enabling their ability to create more sustainable, resilient, and customer-focused companies. By focusing on the “who” as much as the “what,” we are paving the way for a brighter future in the utility sector—where we recognize utility employees as individuals with unique needs and strengths and ensure that no one faces transformation challenges alone.
Author: Vanessa Edmonds, Executive Director,Utility 2030 Collaborative (U2030)