Energy Central

JT Thompson, Chief Revenue Officer at Edge Zero, and Michael Goldman, Principal at Apex Analytics, dive into the transformative power of grid-edge technology. They discuss how real-time data from transformer-mounted sensors enhances power quality and utility operations, enabling proactive responses to outages. The pair highlights success stories, including reduced costs for utilities, and the importance of effective regulatory collaboration. They also explore the future of connected devices and the role of AI in optimizing energy management.

Jigar Shah, a serial clean-energy entrepreneur and former director of the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, shares his wealth of knowledge about the energy sector. He emphasizes the urgent need for utilities to improve efficiency and adapt to rising demand to prevent significant rate hikes. Jigar advocates for utilizing batteries and virtual power plants as key solutions. He believes that utilities must take initiative now, or they risk being blamed for inaction. His insights on funding and energy innovation offer a roadmap for shaping the future.

Elliot Mainzer, CEO of CAISO, brings extensive expertise in grid operations to the discussion. He likens managing today's energy grid to 'flying the plane while building it'. Elliot highlights the vital collaboration between ISOs and states for reliability and the economic benefits of the Western Energy Imbalance Market. He emphasizes the need for data centers to be 'good grid citizens' by offering flexibility and dispatchability. The conversation also covers the future of nuclear energy and reforms to streamline resource integration, ensuring a resilient energy future.

In this engaging discussion, DeAnna Hardwick, Chief Customer Strategy Officer at CPS Energy, emphasizes the shift from treating customers as mere ratepayers to prioritizing their experience and trust. Forrest Morgeson, Director of Research at the ACSI, shares insights on measuring customer satisfaction and highlights recent trends, including declining support for green initiatives. Together, they explore how utilities can foster loyalty through affordability programs and improved communication, all while navigating the challenges of the evolving energy landscape.

Did you know: Companies with above-average diversity in their leadership teams report 19% higher revenue from innovation. But still, women account for just 22% of jobs in the energy sector. And in leadership? Women represent only 15% of senior management team members. So how can we get more women in leadership roles at utilities? Today on Piloting the Future, Kim and Lee hear insightful POVs from Tamara Grose, VP of Client Success at VertexOne and WEA Board Member, and Lindsey Margiotta-Lane, COO of CleanSky Energy and WEA Founding Board Member. This episode is packed with tips & tricks for utility leaders and newer professionals alike, from operationalizing innovation to building community. Leadership is core to the future of the utility industry—and this episode is a perfect conversation starter to make that leadership stronger, more innovative, and more resilient.

Aging infrastructure, surging demand from electrification and data centers, and rising customer expectations are reshaping the way utilities operate. For PSE&G, New Jersey’s largest electric and gas utility, the challenge is clear: how do you modernize the grid for a stormier, more digital future while keeping affordability and safety front and center? In this episode of Power Perspectives, PSE&G President and COO Kim Hanemann joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to share how her decades of experience—from restoring power after Superstorm Sandy to spearheading grid modernization—are guiding the company’s path forward. The conversation touches on everything from the generation deficit in the PJM region to rethinking what resilience means in the wake of extreme weather events to the debate over whether utilities should be owning generation again. If you want an inside look at how one of America’s most influential utilities is tackling today’s energy transition challenges while preparing for tomorrow, you won’t want to miss this discussion. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/from-superstorm-sandy-to-data-center-growth-how-this-utility-president-7ePusUF5zADLKgB Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p2Qg9bZwH98 Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

Welcome to a new show from Energy Central: The Watt & Why, hosted by Mike Smith. What might happen to the electricity grid if we don’t make a change soon? Americans may lose 817 hours of power (34 days) per year by 2030…but that doesn’t have to happen. So: What’s the solution to a grid under major stress from extreme weather, concentrated large load demand, and aging infrastructure? It’s all about reliability—taking big swings for a big payoff. Today on Energy Central’s brand new podcast, The Watt & Why, host Mike Smith gets reliability solutions from an industry vet: John McDonald, IEEE Life Fellow and longtime grid expert. Together, Mike and John explore 1) how this reliability crisis differs from those of the past 2) how utility leaders can invest in the right systems and functionality to make outsized impacts on reliability and 3) what generation mix makes the most sense for utilities optimizing for reliability. Reliability is front of mind for all of us. This episode is a masterclass on making the grid really, truly work for us. Have an idea for a future episode from Energy Central? Email our head of content, Kinsey: kinsey@smoothmedia.co Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe

The power grid is under historic strain. Electricity demand is climbing, climate impacts are intensifying, and the clean energy transition is accelerating. Despite this well agreed upon urgency, new infrastructure projects keep getting stuck in permitting delays, siting disputes, and interconnection backlogs. For the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities, in particular, these roadblocks hit especially hard. Communities can’t afford to wait years for the infrastructure that keeps the lights on and rates affordable. In this episode of Power Perspectives, host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester chat with Scott Corwin, President & CEO of the American Public Power Association (APPA). Scott breaks down why permitting reform is a make-or-break issue for public power, where solutions are emerging, and what “smart permitting reform” could look like to balance speed, reliability, affordability, and community engagement. Whether you’re in the utility C-suite, working on grid infrastructure in the field, or contributing to the policy debates unfolding in D.C., this episode offers a crucial public power perspective on one of the most urgent issues shaping our energy future. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/permitting-delays-are-breaking-the-grid-here-s-one-ceo-s-fix-LA3mRBl28CvqHfB Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tvK39wCwmgA Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

Join Erik Helland, Commissioner at the Iowa Utility Commission, Jason Wild, CEO of Wild Innovation & Strategy Excellence, and Mike Smith, Principal at KLN Group, as they delve into the challenges utilities face in keeping pace with Big Tech. They discuss the stark contrast in R&D spending, the cultural hurdles that stifle innovation, and the importance of treating data as a valuable asset. The trio highlights how human behavior impacts technology adoption and the delicate balance between operational excellence and the need for transformative change.

Wildfires are no longer just a seasonal threat — they’re a year-round crisis reshaping the way utilities must plan and operate. With billions in damages each year and mounting regulatory and reputational risks, utilities are under intense pressure to respond faster, smarter, and more proactively to protect both the grid and the communities they serve. The challenge: most control rooms aren’t equipped with the integration and situational awareness needed to act decisively in the heat of the moment. In this episode of Power Perspectives, podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester are joined by Dan Lysaker, Director of Product Design at AspenTech Digital Grid Management, to explore how advanced distribution management solutions (ADMS) can provide the real-time visibility and control utilities desperately need. Dan shares lessons learned from utilities in wildfire-prone regions, explains the value of integrating fire data into a single operational view, and discusses how utilities worldwide are rethinking resilience strategies. If you’re a utility decision-maker looking to harden your grid against tomorrow’s wildfire threats, this conversation is a must-listen. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/utilities-are-fighting-wildfires-with-data-FgCr1EknTFrnIOy Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1hDmfegC_i4 Dan Lysaker on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/member/sldMU0QXZ6 AspenTech on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/aspentech Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast