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Page 2: The real surprise >> By Jesse Berst
1. Diverging demographics. We will have an increasingly diverse population with strong geographic, gender, generational, income and aspirational differences, with each segment expecting to “have it my way.”
3. Cost-conscious consumers. Trained by freeware and $.99 iTunes downloads, consumers will expect technology to add value at little or no extra cost.
4. Multiplying market choices. The market will grow more and more crowded as new vendors continue to pour into the sector as they recognize the smart grid as the next high-tech frontier.
5. Continuing service obligations. Despite the growing demands on utilities, nobody is talking about lessening their obligations regarding reliability, universal access and provider of last resort.
6. Deepening jurisdictional tensions. The push and pull between federal and state entities will increase, often “trapping” utilities in the middle and making regulatory issues more complex.
7. Increasing security and privacy demands as safety, security and privacy become critical.
8. Complex utility challenges including asset obsolescence, decoupling, dynamic pricing and other issues.
9. Higher labor costs due to the aging workforce and the shortage of skilled workers.
Page 2: The real surprise >>
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