“Virtual power plant” might be trending—but Eversource’s Tilak Subrahmanian says it misses the mark.

In this RE+ Northeast PowerUp Live stage interview, Nico sits down with Tilak for a refreshingly candid utility perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs) are being integrated, managed, and monetized at scale. Spoiler: it's not just about demand response anymore.

From managing EV charging loads to influencing ISO capacity calculations, Tilak breaks down how Eversource is designing a distributed grid built for policy, performance, and people. If you’ve ever wondered how utilities actually think about DERs, this is the episode for you.

What you’ll learn: 

🔹 How 70,000 residential and 400+ commercial customers help Eversource manage load

🔹 What “edge DOMs” and “grid DOMs” are—and why they matter

🔹 How Eversource partners with OEMs like Renew Home and EV manufacturers

🔹 Why toaster ovens are the secret weapon in small business energy efficiency

This is utility thinking, unfiltered. Tap play and gain a deeper understanding of the real opportunities—and challenges—behind the energy transition.

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