As smart grid begins to enter into the mainstream of the energy industry, many hurdles and challenges will be faced. Smart grid presents significant contrast from the present business model. How utilities confront new challenges will determine their successes or failures. Over the next several years, utilities across the country will deploy advanced sensors, communications infrastructure and control systems that will disrupt the current business model of the way we produce, deliver and use energy. Much of the smart grid research centers around technology with little research being provided on the new business model and the many organizational requirements. Critical organizational questions and considerations that Smart Energy Source is addressing include:

• How do we create effective and equitable evaluation processes and matrices to determine value for both the consumer and utility?
• How do we manage data and reconcile the need for data interoperability, and maintain the integrity and security of sensitive data?
• What does the future business model look like and how does this business model support new energy innovations, reliability, safety and sustainability?
• How do we confront and manage (develop new processes and procedures) the high demands for new technology and the organizational disruption of current processes and procedures?