< Back to the full 2026 report on Top Risks Increasing future readiness: Energy and utilities leaders prioritizing technology modernization 5 min read 2026 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks and OpportunitiesAmid rising climate pressures, legacy system constraints and accelerating demands for modernization, energy and utilities leaders are re-evaluating where risk and opportunity intersect. Protiviti’s Executive Perspectives on Top Risks and Opportunities Survey—drawing on insights from 1,540 global, cross-industry board members and C-suite executives—reveals a sector focused on resilience, data-driven decision-making and strengthening the systems that underpin long-term performance. Energy and utility executives see the greatest opportunities in revenue stability, ecosystem development and modernizing core infrastructure, while navigating challenges such as AI integration, workforce readiness, cybersecurity exposure and supply chain disruption. Read the full report to see where your peers are concentrating investment and preparing for the future.Download the 2026 energy & utilities insights14-minute readWatch the 2026 webinar60-minutes, on-demand Where energy & utilities leaders see the greatest growth opportunities over the next two to three yearsAs tech modernization needs and operational pressures increase, growth will be less about new market expansion and more about strengthening and extracting greater value from existing systems, assets and customer relationships. 61 % Revenue potential 58 % Ecosystem development 40 % Geographic expansion Based on a five-point scale assessing agreement/disagreement. Percentages reflect sum of "Agree completely" and "Agree somewhat" responses. Our webinar series Discover how leading executives are turning today’s top risks—AI, cybersecurity, and talent—into tomorrow’s growth. Join us for actionable insights to help your organization outpace uncertainty and seize new opportunities. Register now Explore featured solutions and industries Pro Digital Hightech Artificial Intelligence (AI) We help organizations reach the possible with AI that’s innovative, controlled, and accountable, focusing on delivering business outcomes, supporting you through change, and building trust through responsible, expert-led implementation. Pro cloud Cybersecurity We help leaders align cyber initiatives with core business objectives to drive growth, build trust, and ensure resilience focusing on protecting your revenue, reputation and customer trust. Pro Briefcase Supply Chain Operations & Performance We help organizations envision and run supply chain networks that drive change, align with their strategies, and make a positive impact on society. Technology We help leaders modernize with purpose to maximize ROI and drive enterprise impact, transforming technology with speed, accuracy & focused-outcomes. graph Power, Utilities & Renewables We align very well to the Energy Transition given our focus on sustainability and innovation. Embracing this shift is critical to consumer confidence, investor expectations, and overall success and we are driven to help our clients throughout. Pro Document Stack Oil, Gas & Resources Our global industry team is geographically dispersed in the key O&G and Mining business centers around the world, which enables constant contact with the major players in the industry. Get more Top Risks insights Discover our full catalog of insight briefs for additional research findings and expert commentary related to the 2026 report on Top Risks. Insights by industry Insights by organizational role Insights by industry Aerospace & Defense Financial Services Healthcare Manufacturing & Distribution Private Equity Technology, Media & Telecommunications Insights by organizational role Finance Teams Information Security Teams Internal Audit Teams Operations Teams Technology & Data Teams FAQs + EXPAND ALL Where are energy and utilities executives planning to invest most in the next two to three years? + The top investment areas are infrastructure modernization (63%), regulatory compliance infrastructure (37%) and supply chain management (34%), reflecting the sector’s focus on improving reliability and strengthening resilience. These priorities support better outage response, stronger governance and more confident long-term planning. Protiviti helps energy and utilities organizations turn these priorities into measurable improvements in system performance, compliance readiness and operational stability. What is holding energy and utilities companies back from realizing full value from AI? + The biggest challenges include integrating AI with legacy technologies (42%), preparing the workforce to use new tools (37%) and managing data and cybersecurity exposure (32%). These issues show the importance of strong data foundations, clear governance and practical use cases. Protiviti helps organizations address these barriers so they can adopt AI safely, confidently and with meaningful impact. Why is system and technology modernization so critical for energy and utilities leaders right now? + Executives are moving away from fragmented legacy environments to upgrade ERP platforms, grid technologies and field systems that improve planning, asset management and outage response. Modernization reduces operating costs and creates the digital backbone needed for advanced analytics and future AI use. Protiviti helps organizations navigate these upgrades to achieve reliable, future-ready technology environments. What supply chain challenges are shaping energy and utility executive decision-making? + Supply chain fragility, supplier consolidation and third-party dependency are top concerns, with executives noting how these pressures complicate long-term procurement planning and increase risk exposure. Many leaders plan to invest in greater visibility, performance monitoring and scenario planning. Protiviti helps organizations strengthen supply chain resilience and improve oversight of critical vendor ecosystems. What long-term risks are energy and utilities executives most focused on? + Sustainability is the leading long-term concern, selected by 43% of executives who anticipate continued pressures from climate impacts and transition expectations. Supply chains, markets and security risks also remain central as systems become more digital and interconnected. Connect with us Tyler Chase Tyler is the Global leader of Protiviti’s Energy and Utilities (E&U) industry, which covers all segments of the Oil and Gas value chain, Power & Utilities, Renewables, and Mining. In this role, Tyler ensures that Protiviti has robust offerings in Internal Audit ... Learn More Subscribe to our thought leadership Get exclusive access to more content and insights to help you stay ahead. Sign up ✕ Scroll to top Introduction Webinar series Featured solutions and industries More Top Risks insights FAQs Connect with us
