Energy Central

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

Episode #79: 'Bringing Home the Rural Energy for America Program' with Bob Morgan of USDA and Greg Saubel of Sabuel's Markets [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast] A key area of focus from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, in recent years has bled into the world of energy and utilities, specifically in assisting the nation's rural population to fight climate change, increase energy resilience, and embrace new energy technologies that can bring commercial benefit. To tap into smart energy policies and investments, the USDA has been hard at work with the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP. which has already funded thousands of projects across Rural America and over $1.5 billion in funds in aggregate. To examine the process behind this program and the real business impacts, this episode of the podcast welcomes in the state director for USDA Rural Development in Pennsylvania, Bob Morgan, as well as a recipient of a REAP grant in Pennsylvania, Greg Saubel of Saubel's Markets. Having been involved in the $100,000 USDA grant to install solar panels on the roof of the set of family-owned grocery stores, these two guests join podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to demonstrate just how important and successful these rural energy outreach programs can be. Key Links Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-79-bringing-home-rural-energy-america-program-bob-morgan-usda-and-greg Join the Energy Central Community: energycentral.com/user/register USDA Launches Pilot Program to Deploy Renewable Energy Infrastructure to People in Rural Towns: https://energycentral.com/c/ee/usda-launches-pilot-program-deploy-renewable-energy-infrastructure-people-rural USDA Invests in Rural Pennsylvania (Opinion): https://energycentral.com/c/ee/usda-invests-rural-pennsylvania-opinion 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 #78: 'How Wholesale Electric Participants Have Adopted North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) PKI to Fight Cyber-Attacks & Stay FERC Compliant' with Lila Kee, GlobalSign Chief Product Officer [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast] Cybersecurity topics have been elevated to top of mind for utility executives across the industry, a promising trend from years past where not enough attention was paid to this area, but many key decisionmakers still struggle to understand the best course of action that they need to take. With grid-wide security needed to prevent vulnerabilities that can upend the power systems on which we rely, these leaders in energy must lean dutifully on the expertise of the cybersecurity experts. And luckily for the industry, these experts have been putting serious time and effort into outlining the pest practice standards and frameworks that should be implemented across utility enterprises. A key body in these efforts has been the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB), including their initiatives to implement public key infrastructure (PKI) across the wholesale power sector. Joining the podcast for this episode is one of the drivers of that focus, Lila Kee, Chief Product Officer at GlobalSign. Having been integral to these efforts to promote encryption, data integrity, and authentication for online transactions at the scale the power grid requires, Lila joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to sing the praises of NAESB protocols and share how and why energy stakeholders should embrace these frameworks and standards. Key Links Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-78-how-wholesale-electric-participants-have-adopted-north-american-energy Lila Kee's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/lila-kee Top ten cybersecurity tips for the electric sector: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/top%C2%A0ten%C2%A0cybersecurity-tips-electric-sector Join 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': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts