Insulating gas management is entering a more complex phase.
To better understand where the industry stands, DILO surveyed utilities, OEMs, service providers, and specialized support organizations about how they currently manage SF₆ operations, tracking, compliance, and operational readiness. The results reveal a growing gap between day-to-day gas handling demands and the systems organizations rely on to manage them.
While SF₆ remains widely used across the industry, operational complexity is increasing as organizations face tighter reporting requirements, evolving regulations, workforce challenges, and the gradual introduction of alternative gas mixtures.
The survey findings point to a clear trend: the industry is not lacking experience — it is lacking visibility and operational control.
According to survey responses, 95.8% of organizations still actively handle SF₆ gas. However, only 41.7% reported feeling “very confident” in their current readiness and gas management processes.
At the same time:
These findings suggest that many organizations are still managing increasingly complex gas operations with fragmented or manual workflows.
For decades, SF₆ has been the dominant insulating gas used in power systems due to its reliability and dielectric performance. That remains true today.
However, organizations are increasingly being asked to manage more than just SF₆.
Survey respondents reported handling:
As multiple gas types enter operations, organizations face new challenges involving:
This transition is creating operational demands that many legacy tracking systems were never designed to support.
Despite increasing operational complexity, spreadsheets remain one of the most common gas tracking methods across the industry.
While spreadsheets provide flexibility, they can become difficult to manage across multiple sites, teams, contractors, and gas types. Manual tracking processes often limit real-time visibility and make reporting more reactive than proactive.
As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, organizations are placing greater emphasis on:
The survey findings indicate that many organizations are actively looking for ways to improve operational control and reporting confidence.
When asked where improvements are most needed, respondents identified several clear priorities:
These priorities reflect a broader shift happening across the industry: insulating gas management is becoming more data-driven, process-oriented, and operationally critical.
The insulating gas industry is evolving quickly, but operational readiness remains uneven.
Organizations are being asked to manage increasing complexity while maintaining compliance, minimizing emissions, improving visibility, and preparing for future gas handling requirements.
Those that invest early in stronger processes, training, and operational visibility will be better positioned for the future.
See how your organization compares to utilities, OEMs, and service providers across the industry.
Access the full report for detailed survey findings, benchmarking insights, operational trends, and recommendations for improving gas management readiness.