Utilities Should Focus on the Fundamentals – Emerson’s Sally Jacquemin | DTECH Interview Studio

Why It Matters

Focusing on foundational systems accelerates reliable AI integration and strengthens grid resilience, a critical competitive edge for utilities facing climate‑driven disruptions. This approach reduces outage risk and improves operational efficiency across the sector.

Key Takeaways

• Utilities must prioritize foundational infrastructure before AI adoption
• Emerson offers end‑to‑end digital grid solutions
• JPS restored 98% service within 120 days post‑hurricane
• Integrated SCADA and outage management improves resilience
• AspenTech acquisition strengthens Emerson’s automation portfolio

Pulse Analysis

Utilities are under unprecedented pressure to modernize, yet many chase headline‑grabbing technologies without a solid data and control foundation. Jacquemin’s analogy of a concrete slab underscores a strategic truth: reliable AI outcomes depend on clean, real‑time telemetry, standardized communication protocols, and robust cybersecurity. By first securing these fundamentals, utilities can avoid costly retrofits and ensure that machine‑learning models have trustworthy inputs, ultimately delivering the promised efficiency gains without compromising reliability.

Emerson’s recent acquisition of AspenTech amplifies its capability to offer a unified digital grid platform. The company now bundles advanced process optimization tools with traditional SCADA, distribution management, and outage response systems. Jamaica Public Service’s experience after Hurricane Melissa illustrates this synergy; a single source of truth enabled operators to coordinate repairs, prioritize critical loads, and communicate status across the network, culminating in 98% service restoration within four months. Such integrated solutions reduce manual data reconciliation, shorten decision cycles, and bolster grid resilience against extreme weather events.

Looking ahead, the utility sector’s roadmap will increasingly feature AI‑driven predictive maintenance, network model management, and edge‑based analytics housed in modern data centers. However, as Jacquemin notes, these capabilities are the landscaping atop a well‑engineered foundation. Utilities that invest early in standardized data models, interoperable hardware, and comprehensive automation platforms will be better positioned to scale intelligent applications, meet regulatory expectations, and deliver uninterrupted power to consumers. The upcoming Factor This web event on April 2, 2026 will further explore how such strategic planning translates into tangible recovery performance.