Energy Central

Energy efficiency has been a part of the utility toolbox for many years, providing support to customers in finding ways to reduce power bills through the basics like upgrading their appliances, turning off or swapping out their light bulbs, and the other basics. Today's power customer, though, tends to be smarter about these energy efficiency basics, and at the same time improving efficiency across a service area is even more important to utilities seeking to meet decarbonization goals and managing an evergrowing load profile with limited capacity to generate and deliver power. Luckily, these trends are happening at the same time that technological advances are enabling energy efficiency 2.0 that can unlock new potential.

The evolution of this energy efficiency space is the passion of the guest to this week's episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Lary Rush. Larry is the Manager of Residential Conservation and Load Management at AVANGRID, and he's regularly seeking out new ways to assist AVANGRID's customers to tap into the latest efficiency opportunities. Accomplishing utility bill savings is even more important amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty, and as the unparalleled trusted source of energy information, the utility role for customers is as critical as ever. Larry joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share his insights in this hot topic area.

Key Links:
Link to Energy Central post with full episode transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-85-elevating-utility-energy-efficiency-programs-next-level-larry-rush

Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: 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 landscape of the traditional legacy utility continues to be challenged by new technologies, public policies, and customer demands. Among the latest developments that are creating change in the power sector is the rise of Community Energy organizations. Community energy, such as community choice aggregators, enables customers to take an unprecedented level of control over their power services by offering them the option to engage with new providers, which opens them up to choosing the company that best aligns with their energy goals. In particular, customers who are particularly clean energy-focused are finding the opportunity to engage with community energy to be a game-changer in taking ownership of their energy and carbon footprints.

Joining the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast to discuss what it's like to be one of these new players in the space of Community Energy is Nick Chaset, the CEO of East Bay Community Energy in the Bay Area of California. With a service area filled with many businesses and residents who jump at the opportunity to play a role in the clean energy transition, not to mention the region's innovation-minded reputation, EBCE has an unparalleled opportunity to push the envelope of Community Energy offerings. Nick joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share his insights and lessons learned from what EBCE has been able to accomplish to date.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-84-clean-energy-opportunity-community-energy-providers-nick-chaset-ceo

Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: 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

While most U.S. utilities operate in a regulated market, meaning competition from other utilities for providing service in their given region isn't a concern, that doesn't mean that these power companies opt to sit back and wait for the customers to come to them. In fact, the business development departments of utilities serve some of the most critical functions. By providing a business case for major facilities and companies to set up shop in their service area, the utility can expand its customer base and thus provide more affordable and beneficial services to existing customers. Further, serving as community pillars that strive to elevate the entire economy is a unique proposition for utility companies, one that is unique among other businesses operating in a given region.

To discuss what the challenges, motivations, and success stories of such efforts in major utilities, this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast brings on Patrick Smith, the VP of Economic, Community, and Business Development at Ameren Missouri. Patrick has seen it all in his career in the energy sector, starting as a journey lineman and climbing the ladder over the decades to ultimately end up at this latest challenge. He shares with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester how this development focus is able to open up new opportunities and offers his best practices for succeeding in this function.

Key Links:
Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-83-embracing-utility-role-community-economic-development-patrick-smith

Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: 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 utility landscape today is filled with more goals competing for attention and funding than at any time in history, and the regulatory processes that are compelling utilities to make progress towards those targets are constantly ramping up the pressure. But similar to how technology for utilities is advancing, getting more complex, and unlocking new possibilities, the regulatory mechanisms at play are also widening in scope, methodology, and outcomes.

One particular area of interest for modern utility leaders is the advancement of Performance Incentive Mechanisms, or PIMs. PIMs are part of the broader world of performance based regulations (PBRs), and utilities are seeing them gain prominence and favor with their local regulators and public utilities commissions. The web of regulatory frameworks that utilities have had to navigate has always been a complicated one, but more so than ever it can be tough to keep track. In this episode of the podcast, Karl Rábago is featured to help make sense of it all. Karl has spent over 30 years in the utility sector, making impressions via time at the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Department of Energy, AES, Austin Energy, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and more. He brings that experience to chat with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester about what he’s seeing in today’s regulatory landscape and why PIMs are gaining traction.

Key Links
Karl Rábago's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/karl-r%C3%A1bago

Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: 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

Ask anyone across the utility sector and they'll likely agree: today is the most exciting it's ever been work in the power industry. Between rapid technological advancement, the newfound availability of investment funds for grid and program upgrades, and the hyperfocus on meeting the challenges of clean and reliable energy, utility companies today are more dynamic than ever before. With this fast-paced environment comes the need for research and development to identify the best opportunities and integrate the most successful processes. For decades, the utility industry was a bit stagnant or even stale, but today the R&D opportunities are only limited by our collective imagination.

To highlight just how critical the modern focus on utility R&D is, this week's episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes a guest who is guiding that discovery and advancement journey at one of the nation's most well respected utilities. Our guest today is King Look, the Director of R&D at Con Edison. King joins the podcast booth to share with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester what he sees as the top priorities in a successful R&D program as well as preview some of the landscape changing technologies and programs he and his team at Con Edison are currently working to bring to the field.

Key Links
Link to Energy Central Post with full episode transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-81-%E2%80%98utilities-embracing-rd-role-future-king-look-director-rd-con-edison

Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: 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

Much has been made about the need to modernize the U.S. power grid, and recent developments at the federal level have made it clear that public funding to upgrade and expand our transmission and distribution infrastructure is on the way. Whether already designated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in late 2021 or potential new funding that may come in forthcoming legislation and budgets, the scale of spending is looking like it's going to finally catch up to what's been long needed, but vast quantities of money without an intelligent plan for how and where to spend them is shortsighted.

Given the scale and complexity of the grid, even the most tuned-in grid professionals in the utility industry can struggle to grasp the best approach to the billions of dollars coming to the grid. That's why Bill Meehan and Pat Hohl, Directors of Electric Utility Solutions at Esri, advocate for a geographic approach to these investments. By tapping into the treasure troves of grid-wide data and utilizing tools like GIS and other geography-based approaches, the most efficient and intelligent decisions can be made. But doing so is no small feat, so Pat and Bill join the Energy Central podcast as returning guests to share with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester their thought process for what will ensure optimal distribution of funds.

Key Links
Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: energycentral.com/user/register

Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-80-taking-geographic-approach-public-grid-investment-bill-meehan-and-pat

Bill Meehan's Energy Central Profile:https://energycentral.com/member/profile/360/about

Bill's first apperance on the podcast:https://energycentral.com/c/iu/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-12-%E2%80%98-unlock-modern-utility-gis
Pat Hohl's Energy Central Profile:https://energycentral.com/member/profile/204983/about

Pat's first appearance on the podcast:https://energycentral.com/c/iu/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-10-%E2%80%98-past-future-circuits-how

Devouring Underutilized Data With Spatial Analytics: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/devouring-underutilized-data-spatial-analytics

Pop Quiz – What Happened on October 19, 1973: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/pop-quiz-%E2%80%93-what-happened-october-19-1973

Geospatial Infrastructure - Utility Lessons Learned with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan - Episode #6: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/geospatial-infrastructure-utility-lessons-learned-pat-hohl-and-bill-meehan

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

Episode #79: 'Bringing Home the Rural Energy for America Program' with Bob Morgan of USDA and Greg Saubel of Sabuel's Markets [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

A key area of focus from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, in recent years has bled into the world of energy and utilities, specifically in assisting the nation's rural population to fight climate change, increase energy resilience, and embrace new energy technologies that can bring commercial benefit. To tap into smart energy policies and investments, the USDA has been hard at work with the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP. which has already funded thousands of projects across Rural America and over $1.5 billion in funds in aggregate.

To examine the process behind this program and the real business impacts, this episode of the podcast welcomes in the state director for USDA Rural Development in Pennsylvania, Bob Morgan, as well as a recipient of a REAP grant in Pennsylvania, Greg Saubel of Saubel's Markets. Having been involved in the $100,000 USDA grant to install solar panels on the roof of the set of family-owned grocery stores, these two guests join podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to demonstrate just how important and successful these rural energy outreach programs can be.

Key Links

Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-79-bringing-home-rural-energy-america-program-bob-morgan-usda-and-greg

Join the Energy Central Community: energycentral.com/user/register

USDA Launches Pilot Program to Deploy Renewable Energy Infrastructure to People in Rural Towns: https://energycentral.com/c/ee/usda-launches-pilot-program-deploy-renewable-energy-infrastructure-people-rural

USDA Invests in Rural Pennsylvania (Opinion): https://energycentral.com/c/ee/usda-invests-rural-pennsylvania-opinion

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

Episode #78: 'How Wholesale Electric Participants Have Adopted North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) PKI to Fight Cyber-Attacks & Stay FERC Compliant' with Lila Kee, GlobalSign Chief Product Officer [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

Cybersecurity topics have been elevated to top of mind for utility executives across the industry, a promising trend from years past where not enough attention was paid to this area, but many key decisionmakers still struggle to understand the best course of action that they need to take. With grid-wide security needed to prevent vulnerabilities that can upend the power systems on which we rely, these leaders in energy must lean dutifully on the expertise of the cybersecurity experts. And luckily for the industry, these experts have been putting serious time and effort into outlining the pest practice standards and frameworks that should be implemented across utility enterprises.

A key body in these efforts has been the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), including their initiatives to implement public key infrastructure (PKI) across the wholesale power sector. Joining the podcast for this episode is one of the drivers of that focus, Lila Kee, Chief Product Officer at GlobalSign. Having been integral to these efforts to promote encryption, data integrity, and authentication for online transactions at the scale the power grid requires, Lila joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to sing the praises of NAESB protocols and share how and why energy stakeholders should embrace these frameworks and standards.

Key Links

Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-78-how-wholesale-electric-participants-have-adopted-north-american-energy

Lila Kee's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/lila-kee

Top ten cybersecurity tips for the electric sector: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/top%C2%A0ten%C2%A0cybersecurity-tips-electric-sector

Join 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

As energy demand grows and existing assets and infrastructure ages, the utility industry is increasingly taking stock of the capacity that the grid is able to handle. After events like 2021’s Winter Storm Uri in Texas nearly brought the state’s power sector down, many leaders are questioning long-held beliefs regarding capacity, the makeup of their generation fleets, and more. The energy industry is, of course, evolving towards a grid that’s more defined by renewable energy sources, distributed energy assets, and smart technology, but if those implementations undermine the ability of utilities to reliably deliver power when it’s most needed then it’s all for naught.

To dig into these difficult but critical questions, Doug Houseman joins the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast for his second appearance on the show. In this episode, Doug taps into his wealth of experience and knowledge to educate the utility listeners about how they should be thinking about spare margin, long-term thinking, and grid-scale planning. In this conversation with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester, Doug espouses his wisdom with the wit, frankness, and expertise the energy industry observers have come to expect.

Key Links
Energy Central Post with Full Podcast Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-77-%E2%80%98spare-margins-and-whether-new-generation-keeping-pace-doug-houseman

Doug Houseman's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/doug-houseman

Episode #41: ‘The Whole Grid and Nothing But the Whole Grid’ with Doug Houseman, Principal Consultant at 1898 & Co. [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-35-%E2%80%98-whole-grid-and-nothing-whole-grid%E2%80%99-doug-houseman-principal

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

Episode #76: 'Preparing for the EV Shift from a Utility Perspective' with Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, VP of Customer Experience at Consumers Energy [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

The shift to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) is not only the most comprehensive transportation system evolution to date, but it is also setting up the electric power industry for its most fundamental disruption in its history. The amount of sheer new energy demand that accompanies a complete shift towards EVs has not been seen since the advent of air conditioning, but the domino effect of impacts are also never ending: new opportunities for flexible demand, installation of necessary equipment and infrastructure, and a true rethinking of the relationship between utility and customer.

Rather than see this shift as a hurdle to overcome, Consumers Energy in Michigan has taken it on as a challenge to be able to help its customers in new and creative ways. This major utility has pledged to power one million EVs by the end of the decade, and the pride felt in the role Michigan has always played as the heart of the U.S. auto industry has meant that this transition to EVs is personal. The passion and excitement for this shift, however, does not mean that the path from here to there is clear and straightforward, and some of the challenges that will come have likely not even yet been identified. But that doesn't stop Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Vice President of Customer Experience at Consumers Energy, from taking a leading role in bringing the utility and its customers into the EV future. Lauren joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to provide lessons already learned along the way and an outlook for what the pathway is from here to 2030 to support one million EVs on the Michigan roads.

Key Links

Full episode transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-76-preparing-ev-shift-utility-perspective-lauren-youngdahl-snyder-vp

Lauren Youngdahl Snyder's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/lauren-youngdahl

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