The Digital Utility

Introduction: A strategic roadmap for the future
My quest to help utilities build smart cities
Part 1: The utility of the future
Chapter 1: Striving for a competitive monopoly
Surviving in an increasingly competitive environment
The secret to becoming a competitive monopoly
Facing the inevitable disruption
Chapter 2: Facing the truth … and your fears
Six industry truths you cannot ignore
Truth 1: New energy technology is getting cheaper, physically smaller and more efficient.
Truth 2: Everything is becoming connected.
Truth 3: Growth of data is increasing insights into companies and consumers.
Truth 4: Energy consumers strive for choice and control.
Truth 5: Energy consumers expect simplicity.
Truth 6: Reducing the impact we have on our planet is an increasingly important part of investment decisions.
Tackling your fears to get ahead
Industry fear 1: Regulatory uncertainty
Industry fear 2: Market deregulation
Industry fear 3: Diminished return on investment
Industry fear 4: Restrictions on innovation
Industry fear 5: Consumer adoption of new energy technologies
Industry fear 6: Competition from established organisations in other industries
Industry fear 7: Competition from start-ups
Industry fear 8: Making poor investment decisions
Chapter 3: Focusing inwards to deliver outwards
Staying focused on services over technologies
Everything needs to be measured – no excuses
From gut feel to data-led decision-making
Chapter 4: Four key principles to fast-track your success
Principle 1: Invest in smart meters
Principle 2: Start with the basics
Principle 3: Think like a start-up
Start-up principle 1: Ditch the corporate mindset
Start-up principle 2: Forget the ROI
Start-up principle 3: Disrupt the core
Principle 4: Share your data
Part 2: The ENERGY framework
Chapter 5: Introducing the ENERGY framework
An overview of the 6-step ENERGY framework
Step 1: Explore
Step 2: Narrate
Step 3: Evaluate
Step 4: Resource
Step 5: Govern
Step 6: Yield
A word of advice…
Chapter 6: Explore
Know your stakeholders
Determine what’s possible
1: Lifestyle
2: Choice
3: Operations
4: Insights
5: Partners
6: Enabling services
Where are you today?
Capture your customers’ thoughts
Define how you will measure success
Chapter 7: Narrate
Develop a set of hypotheses
Determine your starting position with the four Ps
Policy
People
Process
Platform
Apply the four Ps to your current state analysis
Develop your narrative
Chapter 8: Evaluate
Stress-test your narrative
Secure stakeholder support
Stress-test your services
Evaluate the results
Chapter 9: Resource
Resource 1: Funding
How a pilot can strengthen your business case
Resource 2: People
Resource 3: Solutions
Resource 4: Partners
Chapter 10: Govern
Work out your governance structure
Support your start-up team
Chapter 11: Yield
Do not yield to the opinions of others
Check the health of your canary
Revisit and revise
Conclusion: Utility of the future
Next stop: Smart cities