U.S. carbon dioxide emissions generated from energy consumption and production fell 3.8 percent in 2012 to 5,290 million metric tons, reaching their lowest level since 1994, according to a report from the Energy Information Administration.

After the economic crisis, which had a marginal effect on the power generation industry, the automation and software solutions market in the electric power generation sector continued to grow. While the capital expenditure trend grew strongly from 2006 until 2008, it went down significantly in 2009 due to the global economic crisis. However, the investment activities resurged in 2010 and 2011. Developed economies have increased their investment in grid modernization while emerging economies have continued to build new electricity infrastructure. China's projects in this sector are ambitious and farsighted.