April is the first full month of spring; at least it is in the Northern Hemisphere. Among the themes associated with April, are National Volunteer Month, Black Women’s History Month and Autism Awareness Month. In the U.S., April also is National Stress Awareness Month. Perhaps that is why I experienced a bit more stress. It also could be that it was a busier month than usual. Not only was EE T&D Magazine on deadline for the May/June issue, but I also attended the SAS Utility Advisory Board’s spring meeting, which took place at the end of the SAS Global Forum in Denver, Colorado. Even though it was only Wednesday, everyone gathered for the Utility Advisory Board meeting already had endured several long days of sessions, meetings and networking. Tacking the meeting on at the end of the Global Forum was the best option for bringing together a large group that rarely has a chance to meet in person.

I scanned the faces of the people around the room, expecting to see a few of them nodding off. I figured they would be weary from all of the working and socializing over the past three days. By the time most returned to their offices, they would find their inboxes full of unread messages, and they would have countless phone calls to return. Maybe I am one of the few who find conferences draining because those who attended the advisory board meeting remained alert and participated in lively discussions.

The week following the SAS Global Forum was the IEEE PES T&D Conference. Like the SAS event, the IEEE conference took place at the Convention Center in Denver. There were approximately 14,000 attendees at the conference, so there was no shortage of sessions, demonstrations or conversations. Of the 920 companies exhibiting at IEEE PES, 280 were first-time exhibitors.

This year’s IEEE PES T&D Conference presented the EE T&D Magazine crew with the opportunity to tell people about the first-ever IEEE PES GTD (generation, transmission and distribution), Asia, coming up next March in Bangkok, Thailand. Although this will be IEEE’s first PES GTD conference in Asia, more than 10,000 are expected to attend, with at least 400 companies exhibiting. Because EE T&D Magazine is the media sponsor of the Asian event, we were able to meet with the organizers of IEEE PES GTD Asia and make introductions for them. Their vision for the conference is an exciting one. For companies entering, or exploring entry into, the Asian market, this conference will be ideal for making direct contact with decision-makers and prospective industry partners.

Certain topics come up frequently in my discussions at industry events. In several conversations during the SAS Utility Advisory Board meeting and the IEEE conference, people raised these same topics. One is the growing concern over the aging workforce. It is no secret that as more Baby Boomers, who make up the “old guard,” retire, there will not be enough experienced Gen Xers or Millennials to replace them. 

Additionally, younger professionals may be intelligent, proactive and insightful, but most of these up-and-comers still are in the process of gaining the managerial and life experience leadership requires. If there is not a solution to address the question, “who will fill the gap when the older workers retire?” this challenge could soon become a harsh reality that will impact every industry.

At the rapid pace at which technology already has transformed the energy sector, it may not take long for artificial intelligence to advance as tomorrow’s employee. Fortunately, there are a number of manufacturers and consulting companies who are partnering with colleges or trade organizations to provide advanced training for current industry workers, while also training younger students for a variety of jobs, including management. We will cover these partnerships and programs in a future issue of the magazine.

The changing customer mindset is another topic of conversation that comes up frequently among industry partners. Today, energy consumers want to be in control of how and when they use their energy. As they gain more knowledge about renewable energy and how they can save on cost and output, customers will expect better communication and service from their utilities. In our Powherful Forces column for this issue, we feature Juliet Shavit, CEO, and president of SmartMark Communications. Shavitbelieves it is time for utilities to acknowledge how the customer’s role has changed. “Never did utilities think customers would play a role in AMI or meter deployments,” said Shavit. “I don’t think utilities factored in how important the role of the consumer was going to be, and it will only become more important to consider their customers as utilities shape their plans and investments for the future.” In our profile of her, Shavit also shares some ideas on what utilities can do to improve their customer engagement. Learn more about Shavit and her role as a leader and industry influencer in Powherful Forces.

In her bylined article, Roberta Bigliania, vice president for IDC Energy Insights, expounds upon the relationship between utilities and customers. Bigliania also points out pitfalls utilities can avoid and shares steps utilities can take to ensure a positive customer experience.

The concerns over the aging workforce and evolving role of energy consumers can be disheartening, but as contributors to our magazine repeatedly demonstrate, there are new approaches coming forth to address, and possibly, even resolve these issues.

For readers who could use a generous dose of inspiration, our feature on George “Larry” Clark should fit the bill. As someone who has been through half-a-century of industry change, Clark remains enthusiastic about his work. We had a chance to speak with Clark about his experience and what he feels the future holds for the power sector. To understand Clark’s work as an industry leader, whose tenure and contribution deserve recognition, check out this issue’s Grid Transformation Forum.

If you would like to contribute an article or if you have an idea about interesting technology, solutions, or sugges¬tions, please email me at Elisabeth@ElectricEnergyOnline.com.

Elisabeth