As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens in Europe, energy suppliers are working out ways to ensure they meet customer needs, especially those that are vulnerable and need to self-isolate.

In an Energy Central article, Guidehouse’s Pritil Gunjan, senior research analyst, discussed ways the coronavirus will impact utilities and how they can adapt to become more resilient during the outbreak.

She explained that during the crisis, there will be economic disruption and efforts implemented to flatten the curve. These will require a reliable energy source to avoid any further disruptions. 

“Utilities must take proactive steps to ensure that the building blocks of critical infrastructure—electricity, heat, and water—continue to be delivered…,” Gunjan said. “The demand for power will shift from commercial and industrial segments to residential consumers as remote schooling and work from home arrangements become the new norm.”

“Energy stakeholders will need to think ahead of the curve to ensure their systems offer the flexibility and agility needed to deal with these challenges,” Gunjan explained. 

She recommended energy companies redefine their strategies through:

• Distributed Energy Resource (DER)
• Self-Generation
• Digital technologies and DER energy management tools
• Local energy sourcing