From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: Why Procurement Is the Utility Industry’s Critical Capacity Builder

Conrad Snover, CEO at ProcureAbility, was recently featured in POWER Magazine.

With electricity demand projected to rise 25% by 2030 and 78% by 2050, utilities are under growing pressure. These increases are measured against 2023 levels. Utilities are facing a perfect storm. This includes aging infrastructure, climate-driven disruptions, and rising expectations for reliability and resilience. Meeting this moment will require more than incremental improvement. It demands entirely new sources of capacity. It also requires a fundamental rethink of how the industry delivers outcomes.

Procurement is no longer a support function—it is the utility industry’s most critical capacity builder. Long before crews reach the field, procurement decisions play a critical role. They determine whether transmission and distribution projects advance or stall. These decisions shape access to critical materials. They also influence supplier reliability. In addition, they impact overall risk exposure.

Read the full article on POWER Magazine.

As CEO of ProcureAbility, Conrad leads the firm’s vision and growth through a focus on client success and the continuous innovation of procurement and supply chain services. Conrad brings a broad perspective shaped by more than three decades of advising executives on procurement optimization and supply chain transformation.

He is deeply committed to helping global organizations evolve procurement from a transactional function into a strategic driver of value for the enterprise. His work centers on guiding organizations through complex change—strengthening supplier ecosystems, redefining operating models, and modernizing capabilities to help evolve procurement toward modern models that deliver intelligence, agility, measurable value, and sustainable competitive advantage. Throughout his career, Conrad has partnered with Fortune 1000 organizations across a wide array of industries including energy, utilities, technology, financial services, hospitality, and healthcare.

Within ProcureAbility, Conrad champions an internal focus on talent development in a culture of empowerment. He serves on the Boards of Directors for the Utility Supply Management Alliance (USMA) and the Utility Purchasing Management Group (UPMG). He is frequently consulted by executive teams and industry organizations for his perspectives on the future of procurement, leadership, and trends, and is a recognized thought leader who is regularly interviewed and quoted by leading industry media.

ProcureAbility is the leading provider of procurement and supply chain services, offering advisory, managed services, digital, and staffing and recruiting solutions. For 30 years, we have focused exclusively on helping clients elevate their procurement function.

We combine leading methodologies, analytics, market intelligence, and industry benchmarks with our uniquely flexible and customizable service delivery model. Global organizations of all sizes trust ProcureAbility to transform their procurement operations, drive growth, and reimagine what’s possible.

Let ProcureAbility help you reimagine your procurement capabilities.