Guidehouse
Michelle Fay is a partner in the Communities, Energy & Infrastructure segment and leads the firm’s global Energy Providers practice, supporting clients as they implement transformational programs. She brings more than twenty-five years of experience. Michelle’s expertise includes program and project management, organizational change management, account management, process and performance improvement, grid modernization, energy efficiency, and analytics.
Thought leaders in the energy and utilities industry are forecasting that 2026 will be a critical year dominated by pressure due to massive load growth from data centers, artificial intelligence, and onshoring of manufacturing. Surging power demand from data centers and electrification efforts are expected to test the limits of existing generation and grid infrastructure.
Maintaining reliability will be a top concern and this explosion in demand is also causing affordability challenges. But AI that is helping cause these issues is also being looked at as part of the solution.
Public Utilities Fortnightly Executive Editor Steve Mitnick turned to four experts facing the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2026. Guidehouse Global Energy Providers Practice Leader Michelle Fay, Emerson President of Power and Water Solutions Bob Yeager, and Energy Impact Partners Head of Innovation Evan Pittman with EIP Elevate Future Fund Managing Partner Anthony Oni provided their thoughts on what the new year will bring.
PUF’s Steve Mitnick: What can the energy and utilities industry expect to see and be challenged by in 2026?
Michelle Fay: 2026 is going to be a pivotal year for the industry. We are going to continue to see unprecedented load growth, affordability pressure, and accelerated resilience challenges.