- 74% of utilities prioritize grid modernization, but only 9% feel prepared for future challenges.
- Grid data management and cybersecurity are major concerns, with only 3% and 5% feeling fully prepared, respectively.
- Economic volatility is a top concern for 37% of utilities, though just 3% consider themselves prepared to address it.
Tantalus Systems (TGMPF, Financial), a leading technology company dedicated to aiding utilities in modernizing their distribution grids, released significant findings from its third annual Utility of the Future Survey. Conducted from January to April 2025, the survey compiled responses from 103 utilities across North America.
The survey results reveal that a striking 74% of utilities emphasize the need for grid modernization. Despite this focus, only 1 in 11 utilities report feeling adequately prepared to tackle forthcoming challenges. This readiness gap has prompted a surge in demand for support from reliable vendors and partners such as Tantalus.
Notably, grid data management and cybersecurity emerged as the top two challenges, with only 3% and 5% of utilities feeling completely prepared to address these areas, respectively. According to Tantalus's President & CEO, Peter Londa, utilities are recognizing the critical importance of transforming grid data management and cybersecurity to enhance infrastructure reliability and resilience.
In addition, the survey highlighted extreme weather as a persistent concern, maintaining its status as a top issue for the third consecutive year. This concern is compounded by staffing challenges and the need for grid reliability and resilience to meet customer expectations. Moreover, 37% of utilities identified economic volatility as a primary concern, yet a mere 3% feel wholly prepared to manage this volatility.
The survey also indicated a decline in the urgency for innovation and regulatory pressures from 2024 to 2025. Tantalus remains committed to supporting utilities in closing the readiness gap, offering data-driven solutions to leverage existing infrastructure effectively.
