Riding the wave of Enlit
Enlit may have wrapped up a few weeks ago, but the ideas, discussions, and insights from the event remain as relevant today as they were on day one.
At Enlit, the focus was clear: our industry is riding a wave of transformation, powered by innovation, customer demands and the push toward sustainable energy. In this content piece, we share the key takeaways that left a lasting impression on us.
Flexibility has emerged as the cornerstone of modern utility strategy. With the rapid rise of renewables and increasing electrification, utilities must respond dynamically to fluctuations in supply and demand.
IDC’s insights support this trend, predicting that by 2029, 50% of energy suppliers will implement dynamic pricing for electric vehicles, unlocking V2G (vehicle-to-grid) flexibility that could account for 10-15% of total system flexibility (source: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Utilities 2025 Predictions Doc #US51330824). This level of adaptability enables utilities to manage loads more efficiently, using stored EV energy to balance grid demand and prevent overloading.
Flexibility is essential not only at the grid level but also in empowering consumers. Demand-side management tools, time-of-use tariffs and dynamic pricing models allow customers to become active participants in energy distribution. For instance, EV owners can contribute with stored energy back to the grid during peak times, supporting stability while also benefiting financially. This two-way interaction builds a resilient, consumer-centered ecosystem that aligns utilities and customers in pursuit of sustainable energy management.
The emphasis on flexibility, highlighted as a key takeaway from Enlit, is more than just a response to current challenges; it’s a forward-looking strategy that makes the utility sector ready to meet the demands of a dynamic energy landscape.
Our Smart meter management solution aligns with this direction by providing a data hub for smart metering capabilities. Built on a superior tech stack, this solution supports the flexibility the market demands, positioning us to address the evolving use cases of the future.
At Enlit, it became clear that billing and CRM systems are no longer the industry’s spotlight. While these aren’t the headline-grabbing technologies today, their foundational importance remains vital. The expectation is that billing and CRM systems operate seamlessly, enabling new innovations rather than demanding attention.
But as Forbes article rightly points out “Launching a top-quality, cloud-based ERP can be a game-changer for enterprises. Rather than being a mere business application for your financials, it can become the foundation of your digital infrastructure.”
But we must not overlook the journey the utility sector still faces in achieving truly robust systems of record. Significant work and substantial investments are still on their way to truly modernize these foundational systems.
While newer use cases like time-of-use rates, dynamic rates, and complex billing of metered items have become a common requirement in the recent years for ERP solutions, at Ferranti we keep investing in a strong, flexible and future-proof billing and CRM infrastructure which ensures that utilities can confidently launch and scale these initiatives. By providing a solid foundation, we enable utilities to innovate on top of stable, trustworthy systems.
Moreover, the proliferation of behind-the-meter assets, enabling customers to take a more active role, has made navigating complex local regulations and meeting country-specific requirements a significant challenge for systems of record.
At Ferranti, we invest heavily year after year in country-specific software to address the evolving local needs of our home markets. Read more about it here:
No doubt AI holds incredible potential in the utilities sector, from optimizing energy management to enabling predictive maintenance. But as we emphasized in our pitch at Enlit, AI is the “cherry on top”—it’s the exciting finish that draws attention, but it needs a solid base to truly shine. Without high-quality data and well-integrated systems, AI can’t deliver on its promise.
All in all, it is about understanding your data, which in concrete terms it means:
Our long expertise in data integration and process orchestration and the +45 years in the utility makes us masters of “baking the cake,” creating a strong foundation of reliable data and operational processes that allow AI to reach its full potential.
As we look forward, these industry insights and transformations will guide our path. Enlit may be over, but the wave of change it highlighted is ongoing and we are committed to riding it alongside our partners and customers, driving impactful solutions in energy and utilities.