“We just need to become the Ben and Jerry’s of the utility world!”

So said Mary Powell (pictured left), CEO and president of Green Mountain Power, as she announced in 2014 that her electric utility had just become certified as a Benefit Corporation. The “B-Corp” designation means that the utility must follow certain standards of accountability, transparency, and sustainability alongside its traditional commitment to shareholder returns. There are more than 1,700 B Corps in 50 countries, spanning 130 industries.

For an electric utility, that means moving from just selling energy, toward “energy as a service.” We’ve written about them before. Back in January, Powell talked with John Farrell about what it means to make energy into a service, and how a utility can transform itself into a societal good.