Just back from an incredible time at the 73rd annual EUFMC (Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference) in Williamsburg! The weather was beautiful, but the networking and educational sessions were the real highlight. This year’s theme, Driving Safety, Sustainability & Technical Expertise, perfectly captured the shifts happening in our industry. From AI drastically reducing truck rolls to tackling the critical technician shortage and the grid demands of EVs and data centers, the conversations were eye-opening. Check out the link to our blog below for a deep dive into our top takeaways!
Key Takeaways Summarized (For internal sharing or a quick-read section on your blog)
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Grid Demands & Environmental Pressures: EVs now make up 10% of car sales, and data centers are driving a massive $250 billion investment into the grid (with near-term investments hitting $1-$2 trillion). Coupled with a rise in natural disasters, infrastructure readiness is more critical than ever.
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The Looming Workforce Crisis: The industry is facing a massive demographic shift. 45% of linemen and 50% of maintenance technicians are expected to retire by the end of the decade, leaving up to 400,000 tech vacancies by 2028. Solutions like high school trade programs, apprenticeships, and military transitions (Hire a Hero, Skill Bridge) are essential.
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AI and Drones are Transforming Operations: Companies are rapidly standardizing fleet assets and deploying AI. Florida Power and Light (FP&L) successfully reduced 44,000 truck rolls using drones and AI, while ENMAX is leveraging ChatGPT, Claude, and SharePoint AI agents to index files and manage 500 fleet assets.
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Safety Technology & Telematics: Safety remains paramount, with 40 linemen tragically losing their lives annually. Fleets are leaning into telematics (like Samsara and LYTX) and exploring future tools like 360-degree cameras, biometrics, and lone-worker tracking systems like Entergy’s “SmartTagIt” to mitigate risks. Driver resistance and privacy concerns remain a hurdle that requires careful management.
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Strategic Infrastructure: Preparedness is taking new shapes. For example, FP&L operates 68 of its own gas stations to mitigate the fuel costs and risks associated with natural disasters (saving $3.00/gal in the process), while fleets are actively looking at blueprints for next-generation garages.
Record-Breaking Attendance Highlights an Industry at a Turning Point The 73rd annual Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC) in Williamsburg, VA, was one for the books. Bringing together representatives from 97 investor-owned utilities, dozens of contractors and cooperatives, and over 300 supplier representatives, this year set a new record for fleet registrations. The theme of the event—Driving Safety, Sustainability & Technical Expertise—couldn’t have been more timely. With data centers driving a staggering $250 billion in grid investments and EVs now making up 10% of car sales, the pressure on utility fleets to scale efficiently and sustainably is at an all-time high.
Tackling the “STCKY” and Prioritizing Fleet Safety Safety is always at the heart of EUFMC, but this year’s discussions took on an urgent tone. As Peter Waldrap (VP of Safety at LG&E) pointed out, the industry still loses roughly 40 linemen a year. David Johnson from Quanta emphasized the concept of “STCKY”—Stuff That Can Kill You—as a core focus for fleet maintenance and safety protocols. To combat worksite risks, forward-thinking utilities are turning to technology. We heard incredible insights from Entergy’s Josh McDonald regarding “SmartTagIt,” a lone worker tracking system, and saw deep dives into how Southern California Edison is rolling out telematics systems to 14,000 drivers. While challenges like driver pushback and privacy concerns exist, the future of 360-degree cameras and biometrics is arriving fast.
AI Meets Fleet Tradition Perhaps the most fascinating takeaway from EUFMC 2026 was how rapidly Artificial Intelligence is moving from a buzzword to a highly practical tool in the utility belt. Alongside traditional OEM drive-through demonstrations from industry giants like Altec and Terex, we saw utilities showcasing massive AI ROI. Florida Power and Light (FP&L) noted they have reduced a staggering 44,000 truck rolls simply by utilizing drones and AI workflows. Meanwhile, fleets like ENMAX are actively utilizing AI agents, including ChatGPT and Claude, to manage hundreds of fleet assets.
The organizers even embraced this tech-forward culture in fun ways, playing a fully AI-generated song called “Safety First” during the event—a highly creative touch that proved technical expertise and safety culture don’t have to be boring. As we look ahead to our own upcoming events in Glendale and the IPConference, it’s clear that bridging the gap between innovative AI and boots-on-the-ground safety is the blueprint for the future.
