Energy Central

Energy Efficiency is a key component of every utility across the country, but efficiency programs and departments have been in the power sector for so long that it may be easy to overlook their importance. However, the impact that energy efficiency can have for utilities today is in fact more critical than ever, serving as a key driver toward a myriad of top-level utility goals: decarbonization, grid reliability, customer affordability, the business bottom line, and more. Seeking to ensure that energy efficiency, and importantly the new tools and opportunities that digital technologies and innovative thinking are uncovering in the efficiency realm, stays top of mind, VEIC has become one of the nation's most trusted voices on how, where, and why to ramp up energy efficiency efforts. To highlight the efforts underway across the country, this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast brings in VEIC's CEO, Rebecca Foster. Listen in as Rebecca shares with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the success stories taking place today and the lessons learned from which all power providers can benefit. Key Links: Energy Central Post for Episode with Full Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-89-cranking-impact-energy-efficiency-across-country-rebecca-foster-ceo Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: energycentral.com/user/register Rebecca Foster's profile on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/rebecca-foster 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 #88: 'Eyes on Energy Efficiency, Grid Resilience, and Clean Energy in the Lonestar State' With Rudy Garza, Interim President & CEO of CPS Energy [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast] Fair or not, the eyes of the utility industry have been on Texas in recent months. After Winter Storm Uri in early 2021 nearly brought the grid down completely, state lawmakers, utility leaders, and innovators have been seeking ways to ensure grid resilience is at the top of the agenda. And leading into the summer season, those new strategies appeared poised to be put to the test thanks to record heatwaves that would bring with them previously unseen levels of power demand. At CPS Energy, interim President and CEO Rudy Garza has taken this spotlight seriously and leveraged the expertise across his teams to ensure that every tool in the toolbox has been tapped into to prepare the San Antonio utility for what's to come. From ensuring low-hanging energy efficiency fruit was tapped into to ramping up the additional sources of clean energy and peak load energy resources, Rudy has shown confidence that CPS Energy customers can count on the lights to stay on this summer. To dive into the lessons learned from last year and highlight the efforts that are continually ongoing, Rudy joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share his perspective. Key Links Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-88-eyes-energy-efficiency-grid-resilience-and-clean-energy-lonestar-state Rudy Garza's profile on Energy Central: energycentral.com/member/profile/rudy-garza 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 increasingly digital world in which we operate, cybersecurity has become a core focus for leaders across the economy. In the utility industry in particular, ensuring systems are secured against potential cyber attack is a top priority, and the state of cybersecurity protections must continue to evolve as new technologies continue to get introduced to the ecosystem. For any utility big or small, the prospect of a cyber vulnerability can put customer data at risk, cause financial damages, and can even bring the operation of the grid down. No matter the size or makeup of the utility, these truths remain consistent, though for smaller municipal utilities the challenge can be greater as they have fewer resources than large investor-owned utilities. That said, municipal utilities are stepping up to the challenge, and the guest on this week's episode is one of those great leaders in utility cybersecurity at the city level. Hong Sae is the CIO at the City of Roseville, and he joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to weigh in on the unique municipal challenges and offer tips and tricks from his over a decade in this role. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-87-protecting-grid-municipal-level-cybersecurity-hong-sae-city-roseville 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

Americans are hurting economically in recent months, with prices for everything in the monthly budget rising more than previously expected. Utilities have not been immune to the tough financial situation, as fuel prices continue to rise and show unpredictable volatility, but for most households and businesses they are unable to reasonably do anything about their energy budget beyond typical energy conservation practices. With prices rising, it is the responsibility of the utility providers to manage costs and as much as possible shield their customers from unexpected bill increases, but doing so is no easy feat. That's the situation that Jacob Williams, CEO and GM of Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) finds him and his teams in, especially as the hot Florida summer approaches and brings with it higher power demand across all service areas. In his second appearance on the Power Perspectives Podcast, Jacob shares insights on the tools that utilities in the Sunshine State can use to manage their costs, bring affordable electricity to their customers, and ensure simultaneous goals of reliability and decarbonization aren't sacrificed in the meantime. Listen in as Jacob chats with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester about what utilities will need to do in the coming months. Key Links: Link to Energy Central post with full episode transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-86-keeping-electricity-affordable-among-high-energy-costs-jacob-williams Link to Create Your Own Profile on Energy Central: energycentral.com/user/register Jacob Williams' Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/jacob-williams-1/about Florida Municipals Working to Keep Electricity Affordable: https://energycentral.com/c/um/florida-municipals-working-keep-electricity-affordable 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

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

CEO of EBCE, Nick Chaset, discusses the rise of Community Energy, customer control over power services, and clean energy opportunities. EBCE's innovative approach includes AI, partnerships, and 100% clean energy goal. Proximity to Silicon Valley enhances sustainability efforts and partnerships. Collaboration with technology providers for diversified investments and future growth in clean energy solutions. Lightning round insights on climate change solutions, transportation electrification, and modernizing utility infrastructure.

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

Karl Rábago, an expert in utility goals and regulatory processes, delves into the topic of Performance Incentive Mechanisms (PIMs) in the utility sector. He discusses the evolving regulatory landscape, the importance of PIMs, and the challenges and opportunities they present for utilities. Karl also shares personal insights on Tex-Mex cuisine and career advice for aspiring professionals.

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