IFS Survey Finds Utilities Prioritize Grid Resilience and AI

Sep 24, 2026
A survey of 850 utility executives finds that grid resilience, affordability and operational performance are shaping investment plans, while data silos limit the use of AI and predictive asset management.

IFS says utilities are shifting investment toward grid resilience, reliability, affordability and operational performance in a press release describing research conducted by Censuswide. The survey covered 850 C level and senior utility executives.

The research found that 26% of utilities are reevaluating asset portfolios to prioritize existing grid infrastructure. It also found that 57% of utility leaders consider AI critical for reducing operating costs, while 47% see it as critical for improving asset performance and managing demand growth from electrification.

Operational data silos constrain 49% of surveyed organizations. Only 33% describe their asset lifecycle management capabilities as advanced, while 51% use asset management systems with limited predictive capabilities that operate in silos.

Utilities are also considering battery energy storage and distributed energy resource management systems to handle demand volatility and prolonged outages. Among respondents, 22% expect advanced geothermal energy to have the greatest long term impact on continuous clean baseload power, while 18% selected small modular reactors. Another 46% consider AI critical for accelerating the integration of renewable and distributed energy.

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