For convergence to be successful, a number of challenges must be met. For the energy industry these are: the commodity supply/demand imbalances and resulting price volatility, the aging infrastructures of today's energy supply systems, the NIMBY ("not in my back yard") attitude that hinders generation and transmission construction, the competition for talent, and the capital requirements of a once regulated, monopolistic utility structure. All of these must be overcome to provide the quality, reliability, and affordability of energy service required to fuel the new economy's burgeoning communications requirements.