Bringing Grid Edge Intelligence to Life in an Evolving Energy Landscape

At this year’s DISTRIBUTECH, our team heard about the urgent need to simplify and align procurement standards, the momentum behind grid edge technologies, and the shift from experimentation to full-scale execution.

Utilities aren’t just exploring what’s next—they’re acting on it. The focus has turned to getting proven tools in place, modernizing infrastructure, and preparing the workforce for a more dynamic, responsive grid.

Procurement complexity remains a top concern.

A common theme emerged at our breakfast roundtable that included utility, government, and vendor participants: the industry must simplify and align procurement standards to accelerate progress and ensure timely delivery of critical initiatives.

But a key question remains: Who will manage the third-party risk assessment process? Key challenges include determining where utilities should store resulting data and ensuring the solution is efficient, while remaining adaptable to business changes. Generative AI could be leveraged to streamline workflows and enable compliance management to be outsourced. Although a significant investment, it would yield time savings on multimillion-dollar contracts, achieving alignment on a workable model for utilities remains a hurdle.

Utilities are scaling advanced technologies.

As the grid becomes more dynamic, utilities need smarter tools at the edge to keep up. Real-time awareness and faster decision-making are essential—and that means scaling Grid Edge Intelligence technologies. From advanced sensors to analytics platforms, utilities are finding new ways to strengthen grid responsiveness while navigating the complexity of regulatory approval.

Field operations are also evolving fast. Utilities are turning to LiDAR, satellite imagery, and AI-driven tools to make asset inspections and vegetation management more accurate and efficient. But transformation doesn’t happen without a clear business case. That’s why leading utilities are building thoughtful strategies—moving from proof of concept to scaled deployment—to unlock the full potential of these innovations.

The shift from exploration to execution is underway.

A dominant theme across the conference was the operationalization of emerging technologies. Utilities are increasingly focused on deploying proven solutions, modernizing infrastructure at scale, and preparing their organizations—both from a workforce and regulatory perspective—for the next phase of transformation. This shift is happening in parallel with larger forces redefining the future of the energy economy.

The focus is no longer just on what's possible—it's on what’s practical. Leaders are looking for scalable solutions that deliver real impact now, not just promise down the line. That means bridging the gap between innovation and day-to-day operations, while staying ahead of shifting regulations and evolving customer expectations.