FLEET STRATEGY
Build for the Future
EUFMC keynote address reframes the role of utility fleet managers
By Seth Skydel
At the 2026 EUFMC, Peter Waldrab, vice president safety and technical training at LG & E and KU, delivered a keynote address that was as much a call to action as it was a diagnosis of an industry at an inflection point.
In“ From the Grid to the Garage: How Industry Disruption Is Reshaping Utility Fleets,” Waldrab outlined a convergence of forces, including load growth, weather volatility, regulatory pressure, workforce transformation and advancing technology, that are redefining what utility fleets must do and how they must evolve.
“ The grid that powers the future gets built and maintained by workers in vehicles you spec, procure and keep running,” he told attendees, putting fleet professionals squarely at the center of the industry’ s transformation.
What followed was a structured look at the trends shaping utilities and five clear implications for their fleet strategy.
Historic Load Growth: After decades of flat or declining demand, load growth has come roaring back. Waldrab described it as“ the biggest expansion that we’ ve seen in our industry since the post – World War II industrial era.”
Drivers include electrification and, most significantly, the explosive expansion of data centers— hyperscale facilities with loads equivalent to entire cities that are now being planned and built on timelines measured in months.
The result is a surge in grid investment that must move through utility fleets and for fleet managers, this isn’ t abstract. It translates into increased demand for equipment, and unprecedented pressure to maintain their fleets.
Weather Volatility: A risk that fleets face, Waldrab pointed to a dramatic rise in billion-dollar weather events, from roughly six annually decades ago to 28 in 2023. And the storms are not only more severe, he noted, but also more unpredictable.
These events now require nationwide response mobilizations, with crews and equipment traveling across regions to restore power, a shift that is fundamentally changing how fleets must operate.
“ More resilience, greater mobility and endurance are no longer optional,” Waldrab said.“ These are now baseline requirements.”
Affordability and Regulation: Utilities are navigating a complex regulatory environment shaped by rising energy costs and heightened
public scrutiny. Electricity prices have climbed significantly, placing affordability at the center of policy debates.
“ Affordability is a big deal for our customers, our regulators and our investors,” Waldrab emphasized.“ The result is intensified scrutiny of every capital and operating decision.”
As a result, fleet investments, once viewed primarily through operational lenses, must now be justified with financial rigor and transparency, Waldrab added.
Workforce Transformation: The utility workforce is undergoing a generational shift. Nearly half of line workers are expected to retire within the next decade, leaving behind a younger, less experienced workforce performing one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
“ This is the youngest workforce that we’ ve had in a generation,” Waldrab said.“ Safety, training and knowledge transfer are more critical than ever, and fleets are central to all three.”
Technology Expands: From telematics and AI-driven safety systems to drones and robotics, technology is reshaping field operations. Importantly, Waldrab stressed that these innovations don’ t replace fleets, they expand them.
12 l July-August 2026