New players and technologies, regulation, renewables and consolidation are just a few of the hot-button issues for Energy & Utility consultants. Then there's the cost of carbon and the emergence of electronic vehicles… not to mention the sector's slow growth projections and pending rate hikes. Navigating this new—and much more complex—industry will be tricky.
The U.S. utility industry entered 2011 searching for the same thing it has sought since 2008. Chances are, the industry will have to wait until after the 2012 elections for an answer.
"For years people throughout the industry have been looking for a price on carbon," notes Robert Zabors, a founding director of Bridge Strategy Group. "One of my favorite stories is about a meeting that took place somewhere [in the energy industry] in which somebody finally yelled out, "There is a price on carbon: it's $3. Now, let's move on!"
