The Ripple dived into the tough questions about the future of our power grid. Industry folks, investors, and startup leaders traded views on everything from dusty old grid parts to cutting-edge tech and new business models.

Key conclusions stood out:

• It’s urgent to update old grid systems and bring more software into play.

• Incentives matter: utilities need reasons (and rewards) to adopt new tech.

• Customers expect things to “just work” but don’t want complexity.

• Policy and business models shape adoption even more than technology itself.

• Plugging in more renewables isn’t easy with slow, complex grid upgrades.

Overall, the Ripple’s crowd agreed that building a future-ready grid calls for fresh tech, smarter rules, and tight teamwork between everyone—utilities, startups, and the folks using the power. Adaptation is a must, and the real win is making these changes work for everyone.