Book Description

Following a historic look at the dominant business models of the utilities industry, we look at the factors impacting the industry today, "the three D's: decentralization, decarbonization and digitization". Decentralization describes what is happening, decarbonization describes why, and digitization helps explain how. To this, we add a fourth D: financial decline. After considering the impact of these factors, we look to the future. The book examines business model transformation through the study of an industry at the center of today's efforts to combat climate change: electrical utilities. When change comes to be the dominant business model of a mature industry, the pattern of change often occurs in recognizable ways. Often, radical change will occur in one element of an industry's business model, forcing a period of disruption, followed by innovation in other aspects of the business model as it adjusts to the new competitive environment. Following a historic look at the dominant utility business models and how we got to where we are, we look at how technology and climate change are impacting the industry today and "the three D's: decentralization, decarbonization and digitization". Although clichéd, the term is a useful framework to describe the big drivers of change moving through the industry. Decentralization describes what is happening, decarbonization describes why, and digitization helps explain how. To this, we add a fourth phenomenon striking at the financial stability of many utilities: financial decline. After considering the impact of these factors, we look to the future. Part 1 introduces the concept of business model transformation in mature firms. Part 2 describes the history of utility business model transformation from the 1880's. Part 3 illustrates stresses of decarbonization and technology on today's utility model. Part 4 describes the roadblocks to change encountered by mature firms, and strategies to bypass them. The basis of this book is research completed for a Doctoral dissertation completed and defended in 2019.