Radical collaboration: The game-changer for utilities in a sustainable energy future

Posted: January 27, 2026

The power and utilities sector is undergoing a seismic transformation. Global investment in clean energy will hit US$2.2 trillion in 2025—double the projection for fossil fuels—but without radical collaboration, grid gaps and slow progress in developing nations could stall the entire energy transition.

Why is this so urgent?

As power grids become cleaner and distributed energy resources (DERs) expand quickly, both data volumes and system designs are getting more complex. Manual coordination and simple one-to-one connections can no longer handle these evolving demands. On top of this, AI’s potential for accurate forecasting and optimization relies on reliable, unified data; if engineering and market information remain separated, models will always be lacking. Open, well-governed ecosystems offer a solution: by linking operational and market realities, we enable confident automation and allow new capabilities to grow without needing major system changes.

Key trends driving radical collaboration include:

• Data everywhere: Engineering models, OT time-series data, maintenance logs, emissions reports, and supplier data are often siloed. The real value lies in connecting them under clear governance.
• Open business models: Cloud, APIs, and “bring your own tech” architectures make it easier to integrate best-in-class tools and avoid vendor lock-in. Collaboration becomes a hedge against risk.
• AI demands trust: Predictive analytics require governed, contextualized data, forcing alignment across functions and enterprises.
• Sustainability: Emissions reduction and efficiency targets cross organizational boundaries, requiring shared data models and coordinated decisions.

WEIM: Radical collaboration in action

The Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM), managed by the California ISO (CAISO), exemplifies radical collaboration at grid scale. Coordinating 22 balancing authorities across 11 western states, CAISO harmonizes high-frequency telemetry, bids, constraints, and topology from all entities every five minutes. By pairing transparency around market mechanics with governed data pipelines—synchronizing plant historians, engineering twins, and market engines—CAISO enables thousands of local decisions to resolve into a reliable, lower-cost whole. This dynamic energy trading market spans multiple utilities, states, and resource types, demonstrating the power of shared digital ecosystems.

Real-world wins: Tucson Electric Power & Salt River Project

As active participants of WEIM, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and Salt River Project (SRP) are also showing what’s possible. By using AVEVA™ PI System™, they’ve standardized data, synchronized market and plant info, and given operators, analysts, and traders the right views at the right time. The result? Faster forecasting, fewer delays, and decisions that balance reliability with market performance. SRP even turned its data backbone into a profit center, saving money for customers and building a more data-driven culture.

The payoff: Why digital transformation matters

When you embrace radical collaboration and digital transformation, you get:

• Quicker, smarter decisions
• Better reliability and efficiency
• Real progress on sustainability
• The agility to absorb more renewables without risking reliability
• A competitive edge powered by data-driven insights

What utilities can do next

To reap the benefits of radical collaboration, decision-makers should:

• Define constraints: Treat legacy models and APIs as living agreements.
• Govern data: Make sure users trust what they see.
• Build on progress: Automate analysis and feed insights back into strategy.
• Choose openness: Use platforms that let you plug and play as markets evolve.

Radical collaboration isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a practical, proven way for utilities to thrive in a changing energy landscape. With the right digital tools, it’s not just possible—it’s already happening.