Energy Central

Collective utility action to deploy private networks will drive increasing value from the network of networks effect. Private broadband networks are becoming critical infrastructure for Utility Industry modernization efforts today and will be even more important in the future. Private LTE networks offer utilities ownership, greater control and security with a network that can operate outside of public domain. This enormous change opens the door for utilities to broaden their vision and collectively envision how their PLTE networks can become the foundation for a nationwide interconnected network of PLTE networks that protects and enhances the future digital grid. Industry standardization around technology and functionality will provide innovation at scale to maximize the value of these mission critical strategic investments.

In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, Host Jason Price will be joined by Gil C. Quiniones, President and CEO of NY Power Authority (NYPA), and Rob Schwartz, President and CEO of Anterix, to discuss PLTE networks as a key enabler of the end to end digital utility. They also will explore the significant power and benefit the utility sector could experience by moving forward with collective action that would maximize value through interoperability and economies of scale and scope. Forward-thinking companies like NYPA already are investing in LTE platforms as part of its next generation digital transformation effort. Anterix is committed to enabling private broadband for utilities with its 900 MHz spectrum.

Key Links
Gil Quiniones’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/40449

“Communications is a fundamental issue”: NYPA’s Gil Quiniones on Its LTE Network Deployment: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/%E2%80%9Ccommunications-fundamental-issue%E2%80%9D-nypa%E2%80%99s-gil-quiniones-its-lte-network

Rob Schwartz’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/257941

Grid of the Future: Overcoming Today’s Challenges, Setting Foundation for Tomorrow: https://energycentral.com/o/anterix/grid-future-overcoming-today%E2%80%99s-challenges-setting-foundation-tomorrow

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-special-edition-utility-private-lte

In the world of energy and utilities, buzzwords and hot concepts have a way of going viral and becoming the most discussed issue at any given conference, journal, or even happy hour, but the natural question is whether or not the excitement and hype behind them is warranted. The world of distributed energy resources, or DERs, is a strategy that’s moved past simple hype and into an established and rapidly growing cornerstone of the utility business, but it’s also dragged with it one of those buzzwords that could still go in either direction: DERMs, or distributed energy resource management systems.

Ben Ealey, Principal of Grid Integration at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), has followed DERs and DERMS closely since they broke onto the scene, and he’s here to declare once and for all that DERMS as we know it is dead. What exactly does that mean, how did the rise and death happen so quickly, and where does the industry go from here? These are just a few of the questions that Ben walks Jason Price, host of the Power Perspectives Podcast, and Matt Chester, producer of the podcast, through in this thought-provoking episode. And with just a few weeks left until Halloween, we’re forced to ask: will this death be final or will DERMS rise again?

Key Links:
Ben Ealey’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/259176/about

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/c/gr/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-22-%E2%80%98derms-we-know-it-dead%E2%80%99-ben

Episode #23: ‘Could DERs Have Prevented the Utility Turmoil in California This Summer?’ with Kyle Haas of K&A Consulting - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

Utilities in the Western United States have had a rough summer, to say the least. In a season that began with them continuing to manage as best as they could with the coronavirus pandemic and its economic implications, a massive heat wave ended up bringing the California grid to its knees and requiring rolling blackouts before a particularly devastating wildfire season created even more problems. Amid these various disasters, citizens understandably look to the utilities to continue to keep their lights on with consistency and reliability, but the market forces driving the grid and the 20th century energy systems that make up the bulk of the utility sector may not be the optimal tools for the job. That’s the opinion of our guest on the podcast this week, at least.

Kyle Haas is a Program Manager for K&A Consulting where he focuses on solutions in distributed energy resources, or DERs. In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Kyle guides host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester on a tour of how DERs might have been able to minimize some of the negative grid impacts felt during the past few months in California, as well as provides suggestions for how California’s natural resources and utility infrastructure might be approached in the future to minimize wildfire risk and maximize the ability of the state’s utilities to provide reliability and resilience to their customers.

Key Links:

Energy Central Post for Episode: https://energycentral.com/c/gr/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-21-%E2%80%98could-ders-have-prevented

Kyle Haas’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/257936/about

Kyle’s response to Q&A on Energy Central on the topic of California’s rolling blackouts: https://energycentral.com/c/um/energy-central-community-deep-dive-massive-heat-wave-causing-power-demand-surge

Creative rate structures from utilities meant to give customers nudges on customer consumption behaviors are nothing new, but with the advent of smart technologies they are indeed becoming more common. As the recent spate of rolling blackouts in California demonstrated, giving the power markets more tools to influence when energy is consumed is needed more than ever to align supply with demand and ensure customers can depend on reliable and resilient energy systems.

James Riley, a Partner at Appos Advisors, has spent plenty of time consulting utilities on how, why, and where to launch time-of-use rate structures that provide financial incentive to customers to shift their energy consumption away from peak hours, and he recently shared with the Energy Community his experience as a utility customer in California who changed to a time-of-use rate structure himself. With this lens, James walks Jason Price and Matt Chester of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast through the benefits of time-of-use rates, including the ability to more efficiently integrate renewable energy into the grid while optimizing the energy markets so that supply and demand can be more in sync, not to mention the benefits that such plans can bring to attentive customers.

Key Links:
James Riley’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/113802

The Times They are a Changin’: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/times-they-are-changin%E2%80%99

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/c/em/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-20-%E2%80%98-it-time-time-use-rates%E2%80%99

In recent months, the federal government and the utility sector have come to a reckoning about the state of cybersecurity on the U.S. grid, leading to an Executive Order from the President to prevent foreign-made equipment to be installed on the grid due to potential creation of backdoors into our vulnerable systems by foreign adversaries. While this move and other security measures about what to do next have been getting plenty of attention from energy professionals, Joe Weiss has another important question: what about the equipment that’s already been installed across our grid?

As Managing Partner of Applied Control Systems, Joe spends his time thinking through the vital questions surrounding cybersecurity of industrial control systems, both in the utility sector and in wider industry applications, and Joe joins Jason Price and Matt Chester in this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast to provide warning about how critical the situation has become. Seeing the weaknesses that exist across the U.S. grid, Joe asks whether security professionals and government officials are doing everything that needs to be done to provide for sufficient defense of our energy systems, especially in the less obvious and more seldomly discussed areas. For anyone who recognizes the threat that an attack on our power industry would present (or especially for someone who hasn’t given that topic much thought), this episode is not one you’ll want to miss!

Key Links:
Joe Weiss’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/238118/about

ICS cyber security is the second coming of the Maginot Line – and the Chinese have breached it: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/ics-cyber-security-second-coming-maginot-line-%E2%80%93-and-chinese-have-breached-it

Presidential Executive Order 13920 was not due to a malware event - recent and upcoming events will discuss the event: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/presidential-executive-order-13920-was-not-due-malware-event-recent-and-upcoming

Emergency Executive Order 13920 – Response to a real nation-state cyberattack against the US grid: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/emergency-executive-order-13920-%E2%80%93-response-real-nation-state-cyberattack-against

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/c/iu/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-19-%E2%80%98-us-doing-enough-secure

As utilities looked to 2020, the changing landscape of power generation, energy policy, and consumer needs already promised to make the year one of unprecedented change. But as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have spread and put utility companies and their workers squarely on the frontline, it’s safe to say that the pace of adaptation and innovation has gone beyond anything imagined by those sitting in the C-suite. But unexpected developments are not an excuse to fall behind for utilities that serve such a foundational role in modern society, and so leaders have found themselves called upon by employees, customers, and government representatives alike to step up and navigate these unchartered waters. Patti Poppe, the CEO of Consumers Energy, found herself in that role of leading her company through the unknown, and on today’s episode of the Power Perspectives Podcast she shares some of her lessons learned.

Through shifting her workforce to be as remote as possible to adapting new programs that could ensure quarantined customers still found ways to integrate energy efficiency to many late nights and early mornings planning out next steps and communicating the latest developments to her employees, all while keeping an optimistic attitude and positive outlook, Patti has demonstrated the type of leadership that should be recognized and replicated, both among peers in other utility companies and in industry more widely. You won’t want to miss this captivating conversation where Patti leads Jason Price and Matt Chester through a mile in her shoes in what it takes to navigate unprecedented crisis from the CEO’s (virtual) office.


Key Links:
Patti Poppe’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/257141

Consumers Energy’s Support for Small Business During COVID: https://www.consumersenergy.com/-/media/CE/Documents/news-and-information/small-biz-covid.pdf

Big Picture Clean Energy Plan for Michigan: http://www.MICleanEnergyPlan.com

Consumers Energy Providing 100,000 Google Nest Thermostats to Michigan Households During Pandemic: https://www.consumersenergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/2020/05/19/consumers-energy-providing-100k-google-nest-thermostats-to-michigan-households-during-pandemic

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-18-%E2%80%98utility-leadership-during

Utilities are, first and foremost, a people business. The product being sold to customers isn’t a luxury, but rather an essential product for daily lives and ensuring customers’ safety and wellbeing. As such, safe and reliable delivery is paramount and making sure that all customers have the ability to afford energy is a requirement. Recognizing how energy efficiency programs from utilities can play a key role in those goals, especially in assuring affordability for low-income or disadvantaged customers, Ameren Illinois has become a recognized leader in ensuring energy efficiency is provided for all, as evidenced by them winning the 2020 AESP Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Customer Engagement.’

Leading this charge to assure that Ameren Illinois innovated in ways to help low-income residents, as well as small and minority-owned businesses, capitalize on energy efficiency programs has been Kristol Simms, Director of Energy Efficiency Strategy & Innovation. Kristol joins Jason Price and Matt Chester for a conversation about how Ameren Illinois continually puts people first and what the utility sector should be doing to embrace the idea of energy efficiency for all.

Key Links:
Kristol Simms’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/241660

Energy Efficiency For All: Market Development at Ameren Illinois: https://energycentral.com/o/leidos/energy-efficiency-all-market-development-ameren-illinois-webinar-brought-you

AESP Conference Impressions from Kristol Simms: https://energycentral.com/c/ee/aesp-conference-feedback

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/c/ee/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-17-%E2%80%98putting-people-first%E2%80%99

The year is only half over, but it’s safe to say that 2020 is already one for the record books within the utility sector. With the year already starting off to be hectic for utilities among an energy transition, fluctuating energy markets, grid modernizations, and more, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was just another screwball the industry was forced to adapt to on the fly. But adapt it has, and, as you’ll hear in this episode, it’s been the public power utilities who have been in many ways setting the standard for how utilities should prepare before a crisis, react to it, and adjust to it as time goes on.

In this riveting episode, Jason Price and Matt Chester are joined in the podcast booth by Joy Ditto, who recently became the CEO of the American Public Power Association. Joy takes us through what public power utilities across the country have had to do to react to an everchanging landscape, while simultaneously keeping an eye forward on potential for innovation, transition, and more. You won’t want to miss this episode to learn what the community-owned difference is in the utility sector and what lessons can be learned across the wider energy industry.

Key Links:
Joy Ditto’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/238361/about

The Community-owned Difference: Lessons for Maintaining a Customer Focus: https://energycentral.com/c/cc/community-owned-difference-lessons-maintaining-customer-focus

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/c/um/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-16-%E2%80%98how-public-power-leading

While California has long been considered the leader in clean energy development, New York has in recent years staked its claim as the major renewable energy hub east of the Mississippi River and with recent policy developments may be giving California a run for its money as the most ambitious state for cleaning up the energy sector. In many ways, state-level policy is seen as more impactful and important for these issues, so to learn more about what New York State is doing right (including the recently passed Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act) Jason Price and Matt Chester are joined by Noah Shaw, Partner and Co-Chair of the Renewable energy Practice at Hodgson Russ LLP.

Noah has an impressive legal background when it comes to the energy sector, including stops at NYSERDA and the United States Department of Energy before landing at Hodgson Russ. In this episode of the Energy Power Perspectives™ Podcast, he brings that experience to explain what the immediate future for the Empire State looks like when it comes to renewable energy and how other states across the country may be able to follow the New York roadmap.

Key Links:
Noah Shaw’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/255067

Not Just Section 94-c: New York’s Budget Creates Major Renewable Energy Initiatives: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/not-just-section-94-c-new-york%E2%80%99s-budget-creates-major-renewable-energy

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/c/cp/power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-15-%E2%80%98navigating-empire-state-renewable-energy

The continued shift towards electric vehicles has long presented logistical and technological challenges for utilities that are needed to provide charging power, infrastructure, and support to the future of transportation. These challenges also present great opportunities, in the view of this week’s guest on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Benoit Marcoux. Benoit is an Executive Advisor at ChargeHub, so he has a front-row seat to the EV revolution and he kindly shares his insights with host DW Keefer and Producer Matt Chester in this episode.

If you’re interested in the future of electric vehicles, the potential transformation that will bring to utilities, and how customers will adjust their relationship with power providers as a result, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Key Links:
Benoit Marcoux’s profile on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/32511

EV Charging Enables Stronger Customer Engagement: https://energycentral.com/c/um/ev-charging-enables-stronger-customer-engagement

The Electric Cars in the Future of Utilities: https://energycentral.com/c/um/electric-cars-future-utilities

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/c/gr/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-special-edition-impact-ev-revolution