Best Practices: CIOs Move from 2009 Spending Limits to 2010 Projects

This IDC Energy Insights report provides findings from three surveys recently conducted by IDC Energy Insights and IDC Vertical Group that provide insight on utility information and communications technology (ICT) spending and budgets. The report examines what actions utility CIOs have taken to address the impact of the recession and how they are approaching budgets for 2010 given recent impetus for implementing the intelligent grid. The report concludes with a look ahead and provides recommendations to utility CIOs.

According to Jill Feblowitz, IDC Energy Insights practice director, "The recession hit utilities, with companies in 2009 taking action to reduce expenses. ICT budgets and spending are expected to recover in 2010 with IT efficiency and reliability, along with productivity driving IT investments for 2010. IDC Energy Insights believes that the pockets of customer backlash to smart metering may slow, but not stop, investment in intelligent grid technologies — a substantial portion of these investments are in ICT."