Energy Central

Episode #29: 'Forecasting 2021 Utility Trends of Efficiency, Customer Engagement, & More’ with Tilak Subrahmanian of Eversource Energy - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast] While most of us are more than happy to put 2020 in the rearview mirror, to simply shut the door on such a tumultuous year without reflecting on the successes that occurred and the lessons that were learned would be shortsighted. Further, looking ahead to the goals and challenges that the new year will bring would be incomplete without putting them in the context of the year that we just experienced. Recognizing both of these facts, we’re thrilled to welcome onto the podcast for the first episode of the year Tilak Subrahmanian, the Vice President of Energy Efficiency at Eversource Energy. Tilak joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share the varied ways in which Eversource was able to adapt to a quickly changing world much faster than they may have previously thought possible and how customers were kept at the top of the mind of utility professionals when it came to engagement, safety, financial assistance, and more. Where many of us felt battered by everything that 2020 brought, Tilak reminds us that it’s important to find the light and look forward to an even brighter future. After listening to this highly engaging episode, you’ll be ready to tackle the energy changes of 2021 and beyond head on just like Tilak has guided his team and peers to do. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-26-forecasting-2021-utility Jacob Williams’ Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/jacob-williams-1/about Florida Municipals Provide Affordable, Reliable and Clean Electricity: https://energycentral.com/c/um/florida-municipals-provide-affordable-reliable-and-clean-electricity

In an episode that’s part recap of a crazy year for all of us and part celebration of the first full year of the podcast under our belt, this episode features host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester discussing some of the best guests and moments that took place on the podcast during our first full year hitting the air waves. We share updates from some of our fan favorite guests, trade top memories and moments for the podcast, and reflect on what it was like to navigate 2020 in the utility sector (no doubt made more bearable because of the terrific guests who were willing to join us this past year). Take a listen to hear some great moments from episodes you may have missed, learned what news our industry leaders have had to share since then, and to close the chapter on this year as we look ahead to prosperous and engaging 2021. From all of us at the Energy Central Team and who work on the Power Perspectives Podcast, a sincere thanks goes to our listeners for an overwhelmingly successful first year—we couldn’t do it without you! 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/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-25-%E2%80%98don%E2%80%99t-call-it-clip-show%E2%80%99 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/

That the transportation sector is leaning more and more into electric vehicles is no surprise, and is in fact become more of a foregone conclusion. But that trend being seemingly inevitable doesn’t mean it will be a smooth and easy transition for all stakeholders and planning for that future today is of paramount importance, especially for those in the utility business who will be tasked with ensuring there’s enough power being generated and transmitted to where it’s needed to keep the electric vehicles of the region energized. And nowhere in the United States is the need to plan for the electric transport of tomorrow more apparent than with grid operators in Texas, often seen as the crossroads of the country for freight travel. In today’s episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, David Treichler—the Director of Business Development at Oncor Electric Delivery—joins us to share about the state of the electric vehicle evolution in the Lone Star State and what sort of considerations are required of his team at Oncor to ensure fleets can be reliably charged the day they’re brought home from the lot. The infrastructure and processes responsible for moving electrons across the grid were not set up with the transportation sector in mind, but with thought leaders and innovators like David at the helm, the future of electric vehicles in personal, fleet, and freight transportation surely looks bright. Key Links David Treichler’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/106622 Transportation Electrification – Oncor’s Efforts to Be Ahead of the Wave: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/transportation-electrification-%E2%80%93-oncor%E2%80%99s-efforts-be-ahead-wave Link to register as a member of the Energy Central community: https://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/ Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-24-%E2%80%98fleet-electrification

Forward-looking industry leaders know that artificial intelligence is poised to transform the way we do everything, both on the business side and from specific customers. The world of power utilities just may be the part of the economy where the possibilities are greatest, the need is highest, and the excitement is peaking. DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) has even made AI in the energy space a priority with its multi-million dollar initiative called the National Infrastructure for Artificial Intelligence on the Grid, or NI4AI. In today's episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester are joined by Theo Laughner, the CEO of PowerGRID-RX Inc and a key member of the NI4AI team to discuss this invaluable initiative, and how it all ties him being able to put a sheet of bacon in his smart oven-- the future really is now! Key Links: Theo Laughner’s Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/242161 ARPA-E funded platform NI4AI is democratizing grid data: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/arpa-e-funded-platform-ni4ai-democratizing-grid-data Link to register as a member of 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': https://blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/ Energy Central Post with More Details: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/energy-central-power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-episode-23-%E2%80%98national-infrastructure

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

Exploring the rise and potential demise of Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) in the energy industry, Ben Ealey declares the death of DERMS as we know it. The podcast delves into the evolution of utility industry, the rapid growth of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), and the future outlook of DERMs. It also discusses the importance of cybersecurity in securing Distributed Energy Resources and the ongoing industry debates surrounding the necessity of DERMs in energy management.

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