Report examines utility disaster preparedness

Recently released findings from an analysis generated by energy technology firm Itron determined utilities and consumers share more concerns about a disaster today versus five years ago.

Disaster Preparedness: An Itron Resourcefulness Insight Report summarized results discussions with more than 500 consumer utility ratepayers and 300 utility executives nationwide.

“Disasters, both manmade and natural, are increasing at record levels, and our industry is calibrating around this new normal,” Marina Donovan, vice president of global marketing and public affairs at Itron, said. “As climate change and cyber-attacks increasingly threaten our energy and water infrastructure, the report reveals a collective sense of awareness and urgency among utilities and consumers and discusses the important role of technology in helping utilities better prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.”

The breakdown showed 69 percent of utility executives and 55 percent of consumers noted they are more worried about a disaster striking them today than they were five years ago. Utilities ranked cyber-attack as their top disaster concern, with 50 percent of all consumers indicating they would be willing to pay more on their utility bills to invest in disaster preparedness. Also, 87 percent of consumers said they had been impacted by some type of disaster in the past five years.

“Hurricanes, earthquakes, storms and other natural hazards can cause damage to the energy grid and impact the delivery of electricity to customers,” Scott Aaronson, vice president of Security and Preparedness at the Edison Electric Institute, said. “EEI has seen firsthand the consequences of these incidents to the nation’s energy grid. Following natural disasters, electric companies respond as quickly and safely as possible to restore service to affected customers.”