Electric Perspectives Podcast

On August 29, Hurricane Ida delivered a devastating direct hit to southeastern Louisiana, and the storm’s remnants caused severe flooding and destructive tornadoes in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. StormGeo Meteorologist Justin Petrutsas joins us to recount the historic nature of this catastrophic Category 4 hurricane. We also speak with former Entergy storm incident commander Greg Grillo, who walks us through some of the challenges that crews are facing as they work to restore power to customers impacted by Ida. We are grateful for the more than 27,000 workers from at least 41 states and D.C. who are committed to the Ida restoration efforts. Join us and #ThankALineworker.

On this episode of Electric Perspectives, Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Vice President of External Affairs Brad Viator is joined by EEI President Tom Kuhn, International President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Lonnie Stephenson; and Director of Energy Jobs at the Department of Energy Jennifer Kropke to reflect on National Lineworker Appreciation Day and the hard work lineworkers do all year long to keep the lights on and customers safe. They also discuss how government, labor, and energy partners are working together to build a skilled energy workforce; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; the bipartisan infrastructure bill pending in Congress; and more. 

Achieving clean energy goals requires technological innovation, cross-sectoral approaches, and enhanced customer engagement. What are electric companies doing to lead the way, and what will it take to achieve economy-wide net zero emissions? How should companies engage with customers to keep them informed about the energy transition? And what role can regulators play to drive investment and support innovation? Pedro Pizarro, President and CEO of Edison International and EEI Vice Chairman, joins this episode of the Electric Perspectives Global Circuit, recorded in July 2021.

The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI’s Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit www.eei.org/international

The global electric power industry is leading the clean energy transition and also emphasizing the importance of inclusion in the workforce of the future. What are the different waves of the energy transition? How are companies ensuring the energy transition is equitable? And how are electric companies balancing their changing workforce and attracting the younger generation to the industry? John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid, joins this episode of the Electric Perspectives Global Circuit, recorded in August 2021.

National Grid is a principal partner of COP26 and will be hosting the Global Youth Engineering Climate Conference this September. Learn more about the conference at http://ngrid.com/2TIFREB. The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI’s Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit www.eei.org/international

The transmission system is key to integrating more clean energy resources into the energy grid. It enhances the resilience of the grid, powers electric transportation, and facilitates the adoption of a broad array of smart technologies to better serve customers. EEI’s member companies are vital to transmission development, and, collectively, they invest more than $120 billion each year to make the energy grid stronger, smarter, cleaner, more dynamic, and more secure.  

Transmission development is a key priority for policymakers, clean energy advocates, and electric companies. On this episode of Electric Perspectives, EEI Executive Vice President of the Business Operations Group and Regulatory Affairs Phil Moeller is joined by John Moore, Director of the Sustainable FERC Project in the Climate and Clean Energy Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, to discuss how and why a holistic approach to transmission development is key to achieving clean energy goals

Electric companies across the country are establishing infrastructure academies and enhancing their workforce training programs. These programs enable electric companies to develop a highly skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce of tomorrow, while offering rewarding career opportunities in the communities they serve.  

On today’s show, Terrell Lockhart, Distribution Operations Manager at DTE Energy, and Clint Williams, an IBEW Local 17 representative, discuss the DTE Tree Trimming Academy that they both help lead. Kelly Ann DeCurtis, Director of Talent Management at Exelon, also joins us to discuss Pepco’s partnership with the D.C. Infrastructure Academy to operate the Pepco Utility Training School. Both programs are helping people in the communities these companies serve gain the skills they need for rewarding careers in the electric power industry.  

Many countries and companies have announced ambitious clean energy goals – goals that will require technological innovation, investment, and increased R&D, as well as new policies. How can electric companies drive innovation to tackle some of the challenges of the energy transition? What can countries learn from each other as new technologies are designed and deployed? And how are companies managing risk during this transition, including supply chain and climate risk? Andrés Gluski, President and CEO of AES Corporation, joins this episode of the Electric Perspectives Global Circuit, recorded in June 2021.

The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI’s Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit www.eei.org/international

This Saturday is National Lineworker Appreciation Day, and EEI, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Utility Workers Union of America, and the National Electrical Contractors Association will join together to salute the nation’s nearly 75,000 electrical lineworkers. Lineworkers work around the clock, often in dangerous conditions, to keep the lights on for the customers and communities they serve. They also build and maintain the energy grid and stand ready to make emergency repairs to ensure that customers have access to the safe and reliable energy they need to stay connected and to power their lives.

In this episode, Donnie Colston, director of the IBEW’s utility department, explains why we celebrate National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10 and how America's lineworkers kept the lights on during a historic storm season and the pandemic. We also talk to Savoya Taylor, Commonwealth Edison’s first female overhead electrician specialist, and Cyril Ontai III, a Hawaiian Electric lineworker trainer, about what lineworkers do every day to keep the lights on and the importance of safety in their line of work. To learn more about National Lineworker Appreciation Day, visit EEI's website.

Earlier this month, EEI 2021 brought together the nation's foremost thought leaders, industry executives, and policymakers for conversations about the transition to clean energy, the road to net zero carbon emissions, grid security, and other major priorities for EEI’s member companies – including our commitment to advancing racial and social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. This episode features highlights from the panel Unleashing the Power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, featuring former EEI Chairman Ben Fowke, the chairman and CEO of Xcel Energy, who was speaking with Eric Holder, the first Black U.S. attorney general, and the panel EEI Spotlight on DEI: Measuring Our Progress in Meeting Industry DEI Goals, featuring Georgia Power Chairman, President, and CEO Chris Womack and Apple Vice President of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson.

To view these DEI panels and other dynamic content in their entirety, go to the EEI 2021 Archives. You must be registered for the conference to access the archives. The content will be available until July 10.

While addressing global challenges, it is crucial to develop solutions with an understanding of regional differences and local conditions. How are electric companies approaching community-based projects? How are business models evolving to respond to regional changes? And what does the regulatory landscape need to focus on to accommodate a more dynamic industry? Siegfried Kiefer, President and CEO of Canadian Utilities, an ATCO company, joins this episode of the Electric Perspectives Global Circuit, recorded in September 2020. Last year, ATCO received the 2020 International Edison Award for its Alberta PowerLine.

The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI’s Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit www.eei.org/international