Finding Balance
Jason Price is a director of client engagement in West Monroe’s Energy and Utilities Practice, based in New York City. He is a graduate of the NYU Clean Energy program and the host of the Power Perspectives podcast on Energy Central.
Monica Chandra is an experienced consultant in West Monroe’s Energy and Utilities Practice, advising energy and utility clients on their regulatory and planning strategies.
Both load growth and energy affordability dominate headlines and will continue well into 2026 and beyond. Speed to power driven by AI growth will require greater investments in a broad portfolio of generation and infrastructure to transfer power to load centers.
These load centers are not seeking behind-the-meter solutions, which means a greater expectation for the utility to deliver. It is not just data centers but also manufacturers, upgrading aging assets, and shoring up a resilient grid — all of which affect the pocketbooks of every customer.
The scrutiny utilities face calls for transparent grid planning so that the economics make sense on spending for the right investments. This means affordability becomes front and center for grid planners.
The public needs confidence that spending is being made in the right place, and there is a grid governance role for the customer to be heard. History has shown that when the public understands and supports the utility, rate cases have a greater chance for approval. We all know history has a habit of repeating itself.