Most Americans have never heard of their state’s public utility commission—yet these low-profile regulatory bodies control over $200 billion in annual utility spending and directly influence the price you pay for electricity and gas. In this episode of Energy Changemakers, host Elisa Wood sits down with Charles Hua, founder and executive director of PowerLines, a national nonprofit pushing for smarter, more consumer-centered utility regulation.

Together, they unpack the eye-opening findings of PowerLines’ latest national survey with Ipsos, revealing a rare bipartisan consensus: Americans across political lines feel powerless about their utility costs—and most don’t know where to turn for solutions. Charles explains why this regulatory opacity persists, what it means for energy affordability and the economy, and how PowerLines is working to modernize an outdated system for a more inclusive, transparent, and effective energy future.

If you’ve ever looked at your utility bill and wondered, Why is this so high—and who decides this anyway?, this episode will give you the clarity (and motivation) to learn more.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why state utility commissions wield more power over your wallet than you think

• The real drivers behind rising electricity and gas bills (hint: it’s not what you expect)

• How regulatory systems can evolve to center consumer voices

• The uphill battle of participating in public utility commission meetings—and what needs to change

• Why both policy insiders and everyday Americans need to care about this issue now

• Opportunities to engage with Power Lines and push for a more equitable grid

Charles Hua is the founder and executive director of PowerLines, a nonprofit organization working to make the utility regulatory system more accountable, equitable, and responsive to American consumers. With experience at the U.S. Department of Energy and Berkeley National Lab, Charles brings deep policy expertise and a practical mission: ensuring that the energy system works for everyone – not just insiders.

🌐 Visit PowerLines.org

📧 Contact Charles: [email protected]

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about state Public Utility Commissions: NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners)
  
  Join the Energy Changemakers community: EnergyChangemakers.com

As uncertainty looms over the future of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), many in the distributed energy sector are concerned about how to keep solar and storage projects economically viable. In this episode, host Elisa Wood sits down with Gareth Evans, CEO of VECKTA, to unpack his recent analysis that offers surprising—and hopeful—insights.

Gareth’s findings challenge conventional wisdom: solar and storage projects can still achieve a viable return without the ITC—but only if we radically rethink how these systems are structured. Elisa and Gareth discuss real-world project comparisons, the importance of optimization, and how resilience and cost savings are quickly becoming more compelling motivators than sustainability branding alone.

If you’re navigating the complex landscape of decentralized energy, this conversation is a must-listen.

Guest Bio:

Gareth Evans is the CEO of VECKTA, a leading SaaS platform and marketplace that empowers businesses to design, evaluate, and deploy profitable and resilient onsite energy systems. With a focus on removing soft costs and increasing project viability, VECKTA’s technology enables companies to analyze their full portfolio of assets, optimize energy strategies, and connect with qualified suppliers—all while saving time, money, and emissions. Gareth brings decades of experience in clean energy innovation and is a vocal advocate for practical, scalable solutions in the transition to decentralized power.

Learn more: www.veckta.com

Key Topics & Highlights:

• [00:00–03:00] Introduction to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and why it’s on shaky ground

• [03:00–06:00] What VECKTA does: a SaaS platform and marketplace to de-risk and scale onsite energy

• [06:00–10:00] The IRA’s impact on distributed energy—how it shifted the global energy conversation

• [10:00–14:00] Real-world analysis: how project viability changes with and without the ITC

• [14:00–17:00] Why optimization—not just solar saturation—is the key to post-ITC success

• [17:00–20:00] What types of businesses are leading the charge (hint: it’s not who you’d expect)

• [20:00–25:00] Resilience vs. sustainability: changing motivations in a high-risk energy landscape

• [25:00–27:00] Quantifying resilience: how to prevent costly outages

• [27:00–29:00] The future of decentralized energy—why Gareth remains optimistic, ITC or not

 Resources & Mentions:

• Veckta: Official Site

• Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) summary: White House Overview

• American Society of Civil Engineers Grid Report: ASCE Infrastructure Report Card

• Energy Changemakers Community & Newsletter: energychangemakers.com

Call to Action:

If this conversation inspires you, be sure to:

• Subscribe to The Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite app

• Leave a review to help more listeners find us

• Join our newsletter at energychangemakers.com

• Follow VECKTA for more insights into optimizing your energy future

Together, we can shape a cleaner, more resilient grid—one project at a time.

Across America, sunny driveways are abundant yet surprisingly overlooked as potential power generators. Now, a Florida-based startup, Gismo Power, is pioneering a remarkable innovation: a portable, plug-in solar EV charger called the MEGA –  or Mobile Electricity Generating Appliance.

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, host Elisa Wood talks with Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt, CEO and mechanical engineer, and her parents and business partners, electrical engineer Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt and operations specialist Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt. Together, this activist entrepreneurial family is challenging both conventional wisdom and outdated regulations to create a new category of solar technology designed specifically for renters, small businesses, and anyone seeking greater energy independence.

The MEGA is more than a typical solar installation—it’s an appliance that plugs directly into your home’s electrical system. Because it’s mounted on wheels, the MEGA avoids the high costs and red tape associated with permanent rooftop or ground-mounted systems. This unique approach has already attracted early adopters across the U.S., from tech enthusiasts to Native American communities looking for energy sovereignty.

But innovation is only half the battle. Gismo Power faces complex regulatory hurdles, as most jurisdictions lack a legal framework for “plug-in” solar devices. Elisa’s conversation with the Ginsberg-Klemmt family reveals the challenges—and potential solutions—in navigating local permitting processes, utility approvals, and shifting attitudes toward decentralized renewable energy.

Ultimately, the Ginsberg-Klemmt family sees the MEGA as not just a technological breakthrough but as a path toward energy democracy—making clean power accessible and affordable for the millions of Americans who have been historically left out of the solar revolution.

Join Elisa and the Gismo Power founders as they discuss the science, the struggles, and the exciting future of distributed solar energy, one driveway at a time.

Guests:

Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt, CEO of Gismo Power, Mechanical engineer and recipient of the Ozy Genius Award and winner of SXSW Innovation Award in the student innovation category

Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt, vice president of engineering at Gismo Power, Electrical engineer specializing in renewable technologies.

Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt, vice president of operations, leading communications, regulatory strategies, and community outreach.

Explore Further:

• Learn more about Gismo Power: gismopower.com

• Read about Utah’s groundbreaking plug-in solar legislation (HB 340)

• Discover the work of Red Cloud Renewables: redcloudrenewable.org

Join the conversation:

Subscribe to our newsletter and become part of the community working toward an equitable, decentralized, and clean energy future at energychangemakers.com.

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are often overlooked, misunderstood, or underrepresented in discussions about the future of the electric grid. In this episode, host Elisa Wood explores why DERs—like rooftop solar, batteries, small wind turbines, and community energy projects—are so critical to building a decentralized, resilient, and equitable energy system.

Elisa shares why she founded Energy Changemakers and how this platform fosters meaningful conversations with industry leaders about the transformation of the electricity system. She also discusses the major barriers to widespread DER adoption, from regulatory hurdles to misconceptions about their role in the energy mix.

This episode features insights from leading voices in the energy sector, including:

• Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt (vice president of operations, Gizmo Power) on the economic benefits of owning distributed energy systems.

• Bill Prindle (principal, Better Energy Advisors) on the challenges of valuing DERs.

• Lorenzo Kristov (grid architect) on the need for bottom-up energy planning.

• Cameron Brooks (E9 Insights) on the importance of distribution system planning to support DER growth.

Key Takeaways

• DERs offer unique advantages – They provide backup power, are faster to install than traditional power plants, and reduce electricity loss by generating power closer to where it’s used.

• Ownership matters – Local communities that invest in DERs can control their own energy sources and keep financial benefits within their community.

• Regulatory change is needed – Current policies favor large-scale energy projects, but a shift toward valuing DERs and integrating them into local planning can drive meaningful change.

• The grid must evolve – With the rise of EVs, batteries, and solar power, the distribution grid needs modernization and better integration strategies.

Join the Energy Changemakers Community

If you’re passionate about decentralized energy and want to be part of the conversation, consider joining the Energy Changemakers community. Visit energychangemakers.com to:

• Attend free events

• Subscribe to the newsletter

• Join the premium community for exclusive content and networking opportunities

Connect & Subscribe

• Subscribe to Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite platform

• Leave a review to help spread the word about DERs

• Follow us online at energychangemakers.com

Together, we can accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more decentralized grid.

How do you make an ambitious clean energy goal a reality that benefits an entire community? In this episode, we sit down with Cody Hooven, principal and co-founder of Evolution Affairs, to explore how she led the charge in creating San Diego Community Power—now the second-largest Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in the U.S.

From navigating policy and financial hurdles to engaging local stakeholders and launching during the turbulence of COVID, Cody shares the behind-the-scenes story of what it takes to build a more decentralized, community-driven energy future. She also discusses the growing role of local governments in energy decision-making, the unique advantages CCAs offer over traditional utilities, and why community engagement is the key to lasting change.

Tune in to learn how CCAs are shaping the future of energy—and how communities across the country can take control of their power.

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers

00:27 Meet Cody Hooven: The Force Behind San Diego's Community Choice Program

01:57 Understanding Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)

04:48 The Growth and Challenges of San Diego Community Power

11:40 Navigating Financial Hurdles During COVID-19

14:16 Lessons Learned and Advice for Future CCAs

23:24 The Role of CCAs in Distributed Energy

29:41 Future of CCAs and Energy Transition

33:30 Cody Hooven's New Venture: Evolution Affairs

35:25 Conclusion and Call to Action

🔗 Learn More & Join the Conversation: EnergyChangemakers.com

AI is driving up power demand, but how much and how fast remains under debate. Bulls warn we’ll need far more electric power than we’re poised to produce. Bears say utilities inflate the numbers and don’t account for the efficiencies technology tends to achieve over time.

The debate heightened recently when DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, announced that it had developed a more efficient AI large language model. This model purports to perform as well as US models but uses far less computing power and, therefore, less electricity.

This is a big deal because the power industry has been planning and investing based on the idea that AI will increase electric demand significantly.

So, exactly how much influence will DeepSeek have on electricity demand? In an interview with Energy Changemakers’ Elisa Wood, Rich Miller, former editor and founder of Data Center Knowledge and Data Center Frontier, explains why neither the bulls nor the bears are correct. 

Miller also describes the growing innovation of data centers, their increasingly important role in energy, and why they could transform the utility industry.

Stay until the end, when Miller unveils the surprising results of a poll he conducted with his data center industry followers. 

***

Elisa Wood: “My world loves distributed energy, and I'm curious if you're seeing much of a push towards onsite energy for data centers?”

Rich Miller: “That is the million-dollar question. And in fact, that is the most important trend that I think we are seeing right now, largely because we have this sort of log jam where many data center operators want much more energy than they're going to be able to get from the utilities in the short term.”

Visit EnergyChangemakers.com for content and community on the grid edge.

Bill Prindle, principal of Better Energy Advisors, told us what distributed energy resource (DER) companies don’t get about utilities in episode 1 of this two-part series. Now he looks at the other angle — what utilities don’t get about distributed energy players. 

It’s a clash of business cultures: Utilities have historically operated as monopolistic, cautious, heavily regulated entities. DER companies are innovative, often disruptive, scrappy and highly competitive. And they have to work together.

Prindle is uniquely qualified to describe the nuances of how these two entities interact. He’s worked with both for many years in roles at ICF, the American Council on an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Alliance to Save Energy. 

Here we look at the sometimes uneasy relationship between utilities and distributed energy companies as new challenges emerge in the electric sector, including flattened demand growth, DER integration, regulatory shifts, and evolving business models. 

—“For decades, utilities operated in a happy economic environment—demand grew, rates decreased, and everyone benefitted. But the game has changed.” – Bill Prindle

—“The industry isn’t just about engineering and regulation; it’s also a fascinating study in culture and personality.” – Elisa Wood

With an expensive push underway to build large power plants and transmission to meet growing electric demand, energy efficiency is gaining new importance. Creating more negawatts (energy reduction) reduces the need to build new energy infrastructure, saving everyone a lot of money.

Despite its benefits, energy efficiency has always been a “little engine that could” technology trying to overcome market obstacles. Now it faces problems collecting fair compensation in wholesale markets because of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruling.

Guest Paula Glover, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, dives into the specifics of the ruling, its implications for wholesale capacity payments in the PJM market and the broader ramifications.

Be sure to listen to the end to hear Glover’s analogy explaining how energy efficiency is like cooking a Thanksgiving dinner. It’s spot on. (We recorded this podcast just after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday)

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers

00:28 The Impact of FERC's Decision on Energy Efficiency

01:43 Interview with Paula Glover: Insights on Energy Efficiency

04:31 Defining Energy Efficiency in Today's World

06:07 The Role of Demand Response in Energy Efficiency

07:50 Understanding Capacity Markets

17:11 Alliance to Save Energy's Current Focus

22:30 The Importance of Energy Efficiency Messaging

25:24 Conclusion and Call to Action 

Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood discusses the concept of non-energy benefits with Roger Lin, Senior Attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. They explore the importance of valuing the social, environmental, and community impacts of energy decisions, which are often overlooked in traditional energy planning. California's efforts to incorporate non-energy benefits into energy resource planning are highlighted, including the ongoing proceedings and potential outcomes. The conversation delves into the challenges of quantifying these benefits, the problems with current least-cost optimization methods, and the broader implications for climate justice and energy resilience.

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers

01:16 Understanding Non-Energy Benefits

02:13 Interview with Roger Lin

05:24 California's Non-Energy Benefits Proceeding

19:10 Challenges and Opposition

34:01 Future Implications and Broader Impact

36:45 Conclusion and Call to Action
Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood interviews Russell Lowes from Arizonans for Community Choice. They explore the potential of Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs in transforming local energy. Russell shares his journey from high school activism to becoming an author who influenced the fate of a nuclear power plant in Arizona. The conversation delves into the mechanics of CCE, their benefits over traditional utility models, and the specific efforts to bring CCE to Arizona. Russell outlines the environmental and economic advantages of CCE, discussing obstacles, the role of utilities, and the broader implications for energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers

00:37 Guest Introduction: Russell Lowes

02:11 Russell's Journey in Energy Activism

03:55 The Impact of Russell's Book

05:59 Challenges of Nuclear and Fossil Fuels

07:48 Understanding Community Choice Energy (CCE)

13:20 Promoting CCE in Arizona

15:18 Utilities vs. CCE: The Business Model Conflict

20:59 Benefits of CCE Over Traditional Utilities

29:55 Future of CCE and Legislative Efforts

34:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.