Smart grid IT consulting powerhouse Accenture just released a series of reports that have been making some news. Most of the reports have been focused on the positive findings, including expectations of a return on smart grid investments that exceed initial forecasts.

But amidst the optimism, there’s also a good deal of concern that utilities from North America to Europe and Asia are facing competition like they’ve never had to deal with before. Simply put, utilities are waking up to the existential challenge posed by the disruptions at the grid edge – the place where energy and technology-empowered customers are threatening to render existing utility business models obsolete.

Here’s the key chart, representing the responses of 54 utility executives in thirteen countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, the U.K. and the United States) to the question, “Do you believe competition from new entrants will increase in the following areas in the next five years?”

via Utilities at the crossroads of the grid edge : Renew Economy.