Oneok

Companies // Utilities

• Background

  This company is a constituent of the utilities sector. Few sectors have seen as many deep, structural changes over the past decade as the global utilities sector. In many countries, former state-owned companies have been privatised, at least partially, and new, private companies have been allowed to challenge them, even across borders. Renewable energy, such as wind and solar energy, as well as environmental concerns have put their stamp on the sector and in the emerging world infrastructure investors have new utility projects high on their shopping lists. Infrastructure investment is vital for economic growth and governments rarely lose sight of this. Most countries, however, still don’t spend enough, leading to drinking water shortages and power cuts. Even advanced economies like California have had problems in the recent past. Utility companies will be at the forefront of modernisation within the developing world, playing a key role in infrastructure modernisation. Technology, new chemical products and modern materials have helped utility companies to become more efficient. Companies in this sector are even seeking to increase their growth potential by offering combined products, for example a gas company offering electricity and telecommunications services which come cheaper in a package than when bought individually. Mergers and acquisitions have helped utilities branch out into other sectors or geographies. In some countries, utility companies now allow their customers to compose their own energy mix. If a customer is environmentally friendly, they may choose a certain percentage of green energy or they may want to increase or reduce the percentage of nuclear energy in their power mix. Another option would be to opt for a utilitity provider that contributes to sustainability by actively investing in renewable fuels. On the energy saving side, smart meters enable households and businesses to monitor which devices use how much power, with the aim to reduce energy consumption through awareness. Watch this space: Sustainability regulations and government incentives are likely to have a greater impact on this sector in the years to come. Customers will be encouraged to save energy, use more energy-efficient technologies and switch to renewables. Doing anything beyond the necessary such as installing a well to make use of groundwater or using solar panels is likely to receive more support from governments.

• Influencing Factors

  A country’s wealth and natural resources. Other factors include the flow or interruption of oil and gas deliveries from the major exporting regions, ability to make acquisitions cross-border, increasing energy needs worldwide and freshwater shortages in the developed and developing markets.