Continuing on Energy Central’s focus on innovation for this whole month, this week’s episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast recognizes the external factors that are bringing innovation to the forefront. From the three D’s of decarbonization, decentralization, and digitalization to the unexpected pivots that utilities across the country had to embrace in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the current climate is making innovation a priority that pervades how we look at energy.

No one recognizes that evolution better than Jody Allison, the Vice President for Transformation at Algonquin Power and Utilities, as she spends he days bringing forth new idea, creative opportunities, and customer empowerment to those in her company and its service area every day. Jody was eager to share with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester what this innovation looks like from inside the utility board room and how they’re moving well beyond buzzwords but truly embracing necessary change today and tomorrow.

Key Links

Jody Allison’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/jody-allison

Innovation by Jody Allison: https://energycentral.com/c/um/innovation

Energy Central post with podcast transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-33-innovating-utility-sector

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

In the business world, innovation has risked turning into more of a buzzword than an actual guiding principle. But in a rapidly evolving industry like utilities, innovation can have real impact on operations, on customers, and on the way the entire sector is set up. As such, innovation departments have sprung up across various power providers, seeking out new ways to modernize grid operations, to transform the customer-utility relationship, and to enhance the 21st century utility goals of clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Innovation in these departments is no hollow promise, but something to tangibly deliver.

The guest on this latest episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast lives and breathes innovation for utilities, and he argues that to truly embrace innovation a utility must embrace it as a part of the pervading company culture. Josh Gould is the Director of Innovation at Duquesne Light Company, and in that role he’s made it his personal mission to weave innovation culture through every part of the utility business. And while certain outcomes seem more obvious to be measured, Josh shares with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester how innovation culture can in fact be tracked. His pitch, in this episode, is all about starting innovation at your utility today, so if you need inspiration or ideas to bring to your CEO, you’ll want to listen to Josh’s call to action here!

Key Links

Josh Gould’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/josh-gould

Why traditional thinking on innovation culture must evolve: https://energycentral.com/c/um/why-traditional-thinking-innovation-culture-must-evolve

Energy Central Post with Full Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-32-creating-culture-innovation

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Hydropower can be rightfully considered the oldest, original renewable energy source. And from the use of waterwheels centuries through to modern marvels like the Hoover Dam, it’s remained a steady, reliable, and affordable form of clean energy generation. But despite its relatively stellar record of providing electricity and energy storage, particularly in areas like the Pacific Northwest, hydropower still tends to fly under the radar when it comes to policy discussions and forward-looking energy transition plans. Why has this workhorse of the utility industry been overlooked and underappreciated for so long, and will the use of digital tools be able to modernize and optimize the hydropower sector like never before?

These are the questions posed to Steve Wright, General Manager of Chelan PUD and contributor to the Reinvigorating Hydropower Report, that this episode will explore. Steve joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to sing the praises of hydropower, update the Energy Central community about developments in the world of hydropower that may be going unnoticed, and argue for the position that hydropower currently and will in the future continue to play in the critical clean energy transition.

Key Links

Steve Wright’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/steve-wright-3

Reinvigorating Hydropower, post on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/c/gn/reinvigorating-hydropower

Reinvigorating Hydropower, full report: https://www.chelanpud.org/hydropower/hydropower-for-the-future#:~:text=Reinvigorating%20Hydropower,cost%2C%20emissions%20and%20reliability%20perspective.&text=Design%20markets%20that%20value%20hydropower,societal%20goals%20for%20carbon%20reduction

Energy Central Post with Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-31-%E2%80%98reinvigorating-hydropower%E2%80%99

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The HR departments across the utility sector are facing numerous challenges as they continue to develop and build up the workforce of the power sector. Not only is there the brain drain being experienced as career-long employees continue to hit retirement age at record pace, but recruiting for the best and brightest out of school is pitting utilities against Silicon Valley, big tech, and more. That means the utility recruiter needs to get smarter, more deliberate, and highlight the unique aspects of the utility business to attract and retain the best talent. For the guest of today’s episode of the podcast, that imperative is in overdrive because she also has to demonstrate to recruits why moving out to Alaska can create such an appealing life and career, despite potential hesitations from applicants about leaving the contiguous United States and moving to a colder and more remote community.

Despite those hurdles, Shirley Akelkok shares with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester all the ways that working in the Matanuska Valley has perks that can’t be replicated elsewhere. She also shares her wisdom of recruiting practices that are applicable no matter where your utility is visited, from focusing on relationship building to embracing site visits to selling positions as part of a lifestyle rather than just a job. Shirley’s commitment to her community is evident, and by the end of this episode she may just have you checking out property in America’s northernmost state.

Key Links

Shirley Akelkok’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/shirley-akelkok

Recruiting Experiences at Matanuska Electric Association: https://energycentral.com/c/hr/recruiting-experiences-matanuska-electric-association

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Transcript of Episode: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-30-think-your-utility-has

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Taking a new job is always a big moment filled with excitement and nerves, but imagine taking over as CEO with the company with which you’ve spent nearly two decades. Now imagine also doing so amid a global pandemic and economic crisis. That’s the situation that Garrick Rochow found himself in just a few months ago when he became the CEO of Consumers Energy, the public utility that provides power and gas to 6.6 million people in Michigan. But rather than approach this new appointment as just a challenge, Garrick has embraced his role as CEO at this critical juncture in our nation’s history as an unprecedented opportunity to ensure the utility was doing all the right things—from clean energy to diversity & inclusion to supporting local communities, and more. Garrick has sought to ensure Consumers Energy continues to fulfill not only its obligations as a public utility, but also go several steps further in creating the type of change that’s needed for the future.

In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Garrick joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share his vision for everything a public utility can and should do for its customers, whether during normal times or at a moment of crisis. Garrick’s passion for his co-workers and customers, as well as the industry at large, are indeed palpable, and this episode seeks to catch that enthusiasm and make it contagious for all listeners. In discussing important topics like utility transformation and decarbonization, steady and calm leadership, and supporting communities in need, Garrick shares his many goals and aspirations for Consumers Energy in the years to come, and under his guidance this utility will surely continue to be one to watch for years to come.

Key Links

Garrick Rochow’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/garrick-rochow

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-29-rising-moment-creating

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

For most of their history, the utility industry and the transportation industry have been tangentially associated, but not fully intertwined. Certain small-scale vehicles required electricity, transportation and power both have had to deal with their greenhouse gas contributions, and many forms of transportation were critical to moving electric fuels around the world. These sectors would see each other in passing, occasionally collaborate, but ultimately remain independent. Well as anyone who's recently been to an auto trade show, watched a Super Bowl commercial, or paid close attention to the cars parked at the shopping center knows, it seems like electric vehicles (EVs) have truly arrived. No longer is it a notable event when you spy a Tesla on the road or an EV driver actually using the charger in the parking garage, but rather the pivot point has been reached where EVs are all over the place. As EVs grow in market presence, today's guests find that the separation of utility and transportation is waning. In fact, they'd go so far as to say that the future of these industries is beyond intermingling but will reach a full-fledged marriage where continued success of one is built upon the success of the other.

Lincoln Bleveans (Assistant General Manager of Power Supply) and Joe Flores (Marketing Manager) of Burbank Water and Power have spent much time analyzing the electrification of transportation and what the implications are to the utility. Being able to plan for the growth in demand load from EVs is atop the mind of utility executives, but Lincoln and Joe are also eager to see how the availability of EVs as sustainable and flexible assets can transform how utility managers look at patterns on the grid and the opportunity for true strategic transformation. Lincoln and Joe are truly a dynamic duo and their conversation with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester will surely leave the listener just as excited about the utility/transportation marriage as they are.

Key Links

Lincoln Bleveans’ Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/lincoln-bleveans

The California Transportation-Electricity Marriage: The (Utility) Honeymoon Tell-All: https://energycentral.com/c/ec/california-transportation-electricity-marriage-utility-honeymoon-tell-all-zpryme

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-28-swirling-romance-utilities

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

In this next entry into our leadership series, highlighting the invaluable insights and forward-looking initiatives being put forth by utility CEOs, we welcome to the podcast Paula-Gold Williams, CEO of CPS Energy. As head of the largest municipally owned energy utility, Paula shares insights in how she and her team have been working to bring clean, Reliable power generation to the San Antonio community, even amidst the unexpected challenges that the COVID pandemic has thrust upon them. Specifically via CPS Energy’s Flexible Path strategy, the utility is looking at how to most thoughtfully discover, explore, and implement new power generation in the coming years, seeking input from innovators and partners across the sector to replace the utility’s aging generation capacity with new, cleaner generation.

Paula joins Matt Chester, Community Manager of Energy Central, and Audra Drazga, the VP of the Power Industry Network, to share updates on this exciting new initiative, discuss how it fits into CPS Energy’s short- and long-term plans, and reflects on how the company was able to keep People First amid the challenges brought about by the last year.

A special thanks goes to CPS Energy for supporting this edition of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast.

Key Links:

Paula Gold-Williams’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/paula-gold-williams

CPS Energy Launches Global FlexPOWER Bundle Request For Proposal to Bring Cleaner, Greener Energy to San Antonio, Texas: https://energycentral.com/c/ee/cps-energy-launches-global-flexpower-bundlesm-request-proposal-bring-cleaner

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/c/um/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-special-edition-thinking-globally-and

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

This week, the Energy Central Power Perspectives Conversation centers on the creation, collection, and use of something that’s become just as important to the utility industry as the electrons itself: data. In this episode of the Power Perspectives Podcast, Alden Systems CEO John Sciarabba draws from his experiences during a more than 20-year career in the industry to share more insights into this topic, including common mistakes that your utilities make when it comes to data collection, how to optimize the data you are collecting, and predictions for how technology will meet industry needs in the future.

A special thanks to Alden Systems for supporting this edition of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast.

Key Links:

John Sciarabba’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/john-sciarabba

The Digital Data Revolution: Changing How Utilities Will Meet the Challenges of 5G and Beyond: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/digital-data-revolution-changing-how-utilities-will-meet-challenges-5g-and-beyond

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-special-edition-utility-data

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Utilities are increasingly looking to add renewable power to their grids to meet local, state, and federal clean energy requirements, to satisfy climate-concerned customer bases, and to fulfill internal goals of increasing the sustainability of operations. But the addition of clean energy cannot come at an excessive cost that will be passed onto ratepayers that may already be strained with heavy energy burdens in their monthly bills. Balancing these goals, along with the imperative that power remains reliable and resilient above else, means that utility executives are commonly seeing themselves becoming expert jugglers and multi-taskers. As CEO of Florida Municipal Power Agency, today’s guest Jacob Williams take on even more of a stressful task as his organization seeks to answer the needs of the citizens and representatives from their 30+ municipal member organizations.

As a part of this entry into the Power Perspectives Leadership Series, Jacob spends time with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to explain how exactly the municipal power agency model works, how the high energy demand and sometimes spotty sun in the Sunshine State create unique challenges, and the plans and expectations that FMPA is bringing into 2021 and beyond to continue delivering reliable, affordable, and clean power to Floridians. Utility-scale solar continues to be a key solution, but it’s not always as easy as it seems—tune into this episode to hear Jacob explain why.

Key Links

Jacob Williams’ Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/jacob-williams-1

Florida Municipals Provide Affordable, Reliable and Clean Electricity: https://energycentral.com/c/um/florida-municipals-provide-affordable-reliable-and-clean-electricity

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: https://energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-27-keeping-municipal-power

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

While most of us are more than happy to put 2020 in the rearview mirror, to simply shut the door on such a tumultuous year without reflecting on the successes that occurred and the lessons that were learned would be shortsighted. Further, looking ahead to the goals and challenges that the new year will bring would be incomplete without putting them in the context of the year that we just experienced. Recognizing both of these facts, we’re thrilled to welcome onto the podcast for the first episode of the year Tilak Subrahmanian, the Vice President of Energy Efficiency at Eversource Energy.

Tilak joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share the varied ways in which Eversource was able to adapt to a quickly changing world much faster than they may have previously thought possible and how customers were kept at the top of the mind of utility professionals when it came to engagement, safety, financial assistance, and more. Where many of us felt battered by everything that 2020 brought, Tilak reminds us that it’s important to find the light and look forward to an even brighter future. After listening to this highly engaging episode, you’ll be ready to tackle the energy changes of 2021 and beyond head on just like Tilak has guided his team and peers to do.

Key Links

Tilak Subrahmanian’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/239409

State of the Industry in 2021: https://energycentral.com/c/um/state-industry-2021

Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: https://energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-26-forecasting-2021-utility

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/