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Power & Utilities

Optimize your strategic direction and digital projects for defensibility in a transparent industry.
Power & Utility

Industry-specific Understanding & Best-in-Market Solutions

Utilities are at a critical inflection point. 

Decarbonization, grid modernization, reliability, affordability pressures, cyber risk and regulatory scrutiny are converging and forcing utilities to modernize operations, technology and customer engagement simultaneously. 

ISG brings deep industry and regulatory expertise to help utilities operationalize AI, data and cloud platforms in ways that strengthen grid resilience, improve operational performance and stand up to regulatory scrutiny. We advise across IT, OT and the enterprise to ensure technology investments deliver measurable, defensible outcomes. 
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ISG Can Help You:

Rapidly reduce O&M costs through AI-driven automation, asset intelligence and process optimization.


Re-design IT and data operating models to support grid modernization and enterprise-wide decision-making.


Select and govern the right systems integrators and technology ecosystems for large-scale capital and digital initiatives.


Integrate or separate complex IT, OT and data environments following mergers and divestitures.


Design utility-specific vendor management, risk and AI governance frameworks.


Establish regulatory-grade benchmarks, oversight models, and defensible business cases, including expert testimony when required.

Move Forward With Confidence:

De‑risk the design and deployment of modern, secure, AI-enabled platforms.


Improve value realization during service renewals and sourcing transitions using data-driven performance insights.


Ensure consistent, high-quality digital experiences across providers and platforms.


Control the cost, risk, and compliance implications of cloud and next-generation technology adoption.

Ensure Regulatory-Grade Benchmarks

Benchmarks built to stand up to regulatory scrutiny. 

Regulators increasingly require utilities to demonstrate that costs, programs, and investments are reasonable, efficient, and defensible. In this environment, not all benchmarks are created equal. 

ISG delivers regulatory-grade benchmarking grounded in real operating data, not broad-based surveys or third-party datasets. Our benchmarks are designed to support executive decision-making, withstand regulatory review, and hold up under expert testimony.

ISG provides:

  • Insights from over 6,000 unique benchmarking engagements, supported by ISG’s proprietary database of operational and financial data, KPIs, and performance measures

  • Benchmarks calibrated by utility size, project scope, and support function, using repeatable methodologies with built‑in data integrity and validation

  • Project Benchmarking and Project Estimation as a Service (PEaaS) to evaluate capital programs, digital initiatives, and major IT investments helping utilities validate budgets, forecast total cost of ownership, assess delivery efficiency, and reduce the risk of cost overruns

ISG enables utilities to pinpoint the root causes of performance gaps and determine the right cost to serve. We also benchmark project cost, schedule, and delivery performance, providing greater transparency and confidence across large‑scale transformation and infrastructure programs.

ISG advisors are experienced in testifying to our benchmarking methodologies, project evaluations, and findings in regulatory proceedings worldwide giving utilities confidence that their data, decisions, and investments will stand up when it matters most.

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Meet Our Team

Korey Barnard

Korey Barnard

Partner

Korey Barnard

Korey Barnard

As the leader of the ISG Energy & Utility Practice for the Americas, Korey brings over 20 years of extensive experience in advisory and management roles. His strong analytical, communication and evaluation skills enable him to swiftly grasp his clients’ needs and provide effective guidance and recommendations. Korey is an experienced advisor in the development and evaluation of complex global service delivery alternatives. He possesses comprehensive expertise across various evaluation domains, including front-end strategic analysis, contract structuring and negotiation, service transition management, and financial management. Throughout his career, Korey has collaborated with numerous global and regional clients across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, across a diverse array of industries. 

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Jon Brock

Jon Brock

Account Director

Jon Brock

Jon Brock

Mr. Brock is an internationally recognized expert on best practices in utility business process and technology, with extensive experience in helping top global companies redefine themselves. Jon’s expertise spans a wide range of disciplines, including strategic planning, business development, operations, process re-engineering, organizational restructuring, benchmarking, regulatory/testimony, financial analysis and strategic alliances. ​

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James Deacon

James Deacon

Head of Public Sector

James Deacon

James Deacon

James ensures clients get optimal value from their supplier relationships and business transformation investments. James has advised the boards, C-suite and executives of Public Sector and Enterprise clients such as the ATO, IAG, nbn, Scentre Group, Toll, Ausgrid and Rio Tinto on their sourcing requirements, operating model designs, and partner relationships.

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Julien Escribe

Julien Escribe

Partner

Julien Escribe

Julien Escribe

Julien oversees ISG’s IT and technology consulting and advisory teams across South Europe, Middle East and Africa. He works to make sure that clients are using the right technology to optimize their IT and Network/Telecoms operations, including workflow, efficiency, and that they’re getting the most from every interaction with their technology service providers. 

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Dale Hearn

Dale Hearn

Partner

Dale Hearn

Dale Hearn

Over the past decade with ISG, Dale has shared with clients his expertise in corporate finance, strategic planning and technical operations, including scope-of-work and service-level agreements.  He is extremely proficient in contract negotiations. His IT experience covers mainframe, data centers, systems integration, midrange servers, managed network services, end-user computing and help desk. He has helped complete acquisitions by coordinating tax, legal, finance, accounting and senior management teams. His clients benefit from his market intelligence insights in the IT industry and identification of strategic service providers. Dale has an MBA with a concentration in finance.

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Brad Thompson

Brad Thompson

Business Development Executive

Brad Thompson

Brad Thompson

As a Business Development Executive, Brad brings 30+ years of experience in the IT services industry to help shape clients’ strategies and plans to drive business efficiency and growth. Brad approaches clients without an agenda and listens intently to understand their concerns, challenges, and opportunities to ultimately craft a solution that meets the clients where they are and takes them where they want to go. 

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Kimberly Tobias

Kimberly Tobias

Partner

Kimberly Tobias

Kimberly Tobias

Kimberly has responsibility for business development and relationship management for the Eastern US in the Utility and CPG & Retail industry verticals. With experience as both a client and an advisor, Kimberly has a broad base of knowledge to assist clients, from assessing their current operations, developing their future state strategy and implementing that strategy to governing their ongoing operations. 

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