2017年电力及公用事业趋势（英文）

2017 Power and Utilities Industry Trends Summary

Core Content

The 2017 Power and Utilities Industry Trends report highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the sector as it navigates a revenue downturn while adapting to evolving customer demands. The report emphasizes the need for innovation and transformation in response to a global shift toward energy efficiency and digital integration.

Main Trends and Challenges

• Revenue Downturn:

  • Consumer energy revenue has declined in many industrialized countries.
  • In the EU, electricity consumption dropped in 22 out of 28 countries between 2005 and 2014.
  • In the U.S., electricity sales growth has been below 1% annually since 2002, with declines in some years.
  • The slowdown is attributed to factors such as the replacement of older equipment with more efficient alternatives, efficiency standards, and a shift toward less energy-intensive industries.

• Growing Demand for Innovation:

  • There is a strong surge in demand for new power and utilities offerings.
  • Innovations such as smart-home devices, energy storage, and analytics software are gaining traction.
  • Customers, both business and consumer, are increasingly interested in managing their energy use through digital tools and data analytics.

• Shift in Business Models:

  • The traditional regulated business model is no longer sufficient.
  • Utilities are moving toward a more flexible, market-based approach that includes a broader range of services and technologies.
  • This transformation involves redefining the portfolio to include energy services, product offerings, and technology integration.

Key Strategies for Utilities

• Retailization:

  • Developing more direct consumer-to-utility relationships, similar to consumer banking or online shopping.
  • Early steps include real-time mobile experiences, energy efficiency audits, home energy management solutions, and mobile payments.
  • The adoption rate of these services is still low, with only 40% of customers receiving outage information directly from utilities in 2015.

• Energy Efficiency and Sustainability:

  • Companies are setting ambitious energy efficiency targets, such as using 100% renewable energy or reducing energy intensity.
  • These goals are driving short-term changes in business power usage and increasing pressure on utilities to offer sustainable solutions.

• Technology Integration:

  • Emerging technologies like battery storage, microgrids, and intelligent sensors are being integrated into utility operations.
  • These technologies are expected to enhance reliability and reduce costs, particularly in large-scale industrial and commercial settings.

New Opportunities and Partnerships

• Expanding Services:

  • Utilities are looking to provide alternative generation sources, energy storage, and data analytics services.
  • These services are crucial for meeting the growing demand for energy management and customer-centric solutions.

• Strategic Partnerships:

  • Many utilities are adopting a partnering approach to build new capabilities.
  • This includes collaborations with other utilities or key suppliers to leverage existing expertise and market presence.
  • M&A is also being used to acquire companies with established energy service management brands and technologies.

• Market-Based Approach:

  • The focus is shifting from asset ownership to service delivery and product volumes.
  • This involves adopting more adjustable pricing models, such as fees-for-service and shared performance gains.

Conclusion

• The power and utilities industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by technological innovation and customer demand.
• Utilities that adapt and innovate are more likely to thrive in this new landscape.
• The report underscores the importance of building new service capabilities, embracing digital technologies, and forming strategic partnerships to remain competitive.

Key Authors

• George Sarraf – Partner, PwC Middle East
• Michael (Casey) A. Herman – Partner, PwC US
• Tom Flaherty – Principal, PwC US
• Todd Jirovec – Principal, PwC US
• Joachim Rotering – Partner, PwC Strategy&, Germany
• Norbert Schwieters – Partner, PwC Germany
• Marcus Morawietz – Partner, PwC Strategy&, Germany
• Andrew Clark – Partner, PwC UK
• Steve Jennings – Partner, PwC UK
• Christopher Dann – Principal, PwC US
• Brian D. Carey – Principal, PwC US
• Kenji Mitsui – Partner, PwC Japan
• Shoji Shiraishi – Partner, PwC Japan
• Rhys Kealley – Contributing author

Summary of Key Points

• Revenue decline is a macro-level trend due to increased efficiency and shifting economies.
• Digital innovation is driving new customer expectations and behaviors.
• Retailization and market-based strategies are becoming essential for utilities to remain relevant.
• Partnerships and M&A are key strategies for expanding service capabilities.
• Sustainability is a growing priority for both business and consumer customers.