Key survey trends
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New year,
new challenges
The U.S. power industry faces significant uncertainties in 2025, with the impact of the new administration’s energy policy on existing incentives still unclear. Nearly 95% of survey participants identified either the new administration’s pending policy changes or the resurgence of measurable load growth as the most disruptive factors to their operations, with more than half citing new policy priorities as the most disruptive.
What single change from last year is likely to be the most disruptive to current utility plans?
New federal administration upends last administration’s energy legislation
Substantial load growth is back
DERs and energy storage reach critical mass
Resilience & cybersecurity return to the fore
With a new policy agenda in Washington, utility stakeholders have shifted their focus to core priorities like resilient grid infrastructure and cybersecurity. When asked about top priorities amidst the energy transition, more than 86% of respondents selected T&D upgrades and improved system resilience as their key focus, while 74% emphasized cybersecurity and digitization.
T&D upgrades and improved power system resilience
Cybersecurity and digitalization integration across the energy system
Clean power and renewables
Which energy transition priorities from the last administration are utilities most likely to continue supporting regardless of changes in federal policy?
The more things change, the more they stay the same
When asked about the most disruptive long-term threats, respondents this year echoed last year's concerns, with around 40% citing aging infrastructure, 35% climate-related risks, and 25% inequity and rising costs. Notably, three-quarters of survey participants emphasized the growing need for resilient infrastructure to combat these increasing climate threats.
Aging infrastructure and decline in community livability
Extreme weather and destructive climate-related disasters
Inequity and rising costs from maintaining quality of service
What is the most disruptive threat facing U.S. utilities and their communities?
Resilience first—
for now
Utilities are prioritizing resilience amid policy uncertainties. This year, 62% of respondents want to see storm-hardened, self-healing, resilient grids capable of delivering 24/7 uninterrupted power, up from 57% in 2024. Meanwhile, interest in interactive and on-demand energy services platforms has decreased from 26% to 20%, reflecting a return to fundamental priorities.
Storm-hardened, self-healing, resilient delivery system providing 24/7 uninterrupted power
Interactive and on-demand energy services platform offering customers maximum flexibility and control
Fully electrified built environment and transportation system powered by 100% renewable energy
What infrastructure-of-the-future would you most like to see utilities build?
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50%
44%
6%
86%
74%
37%
41%
25%
62%
20%
18%
Select a trend
*Survey recipients were asked to select three options for this question, the graphs above represent the top three responses.
34%
