Energy Central

The EC Network

Welcome to the Energy Central Podcast Network—your ultimate resource for the biggest ideas, boldest perspectives, and best insights from across the electric power industry.

We publish…

Power Perspectives. From CEOs of major utilities to founders of energy tech startups pushing the envelope, Power Perspectives curates the news, thought leaders, and big picture conversations most important to modern power professionals—every week on Tuesdays.

The Watt & Why. Dive deep into utility business strategies, straight from the minds of the leaders deciding what comes next. Host Mike Smith leverages his own decades of power utility industry experience and leadership to get to the bottom of what inspires, drives, and challenges utility decision makers.

Piloting the Future. Hosts Kim Gergen and Lee Krevat go deep with the leaders, innovators, and forward thinkers responsible for not just imagining where our power future is headed…but building it day by day.

The GISt. This action-packed limited series demystifies the rapidly evolving world of Geographic Information Systems through focused, expert-led deep dives into the most future-defining GIS topics.

And there’s even more to come.

Energy Central is a community where 250K electric power professionals share, learn, and connect in a collaborative environment. Want to join in? Visit www.EnergyCentral.com to register for free.

Episodes

Mentioned books

Jan 12, 2025 • 29min

GIS for smaller utilities: grid modernization is here (brought to you by SSP Innovations)

In this episode, Mike Goggin, Senior Product Manager at SSP Innovations, joins the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast to explore how advanced GIS technology is now within reach for smaller utilities. Historically reserved for larger utilities, Esri’s Utility Network has become an essential tool for modernizing grid management. Mike shares how SSP Innovations has tailored this powerful platform to meet the unique needs of cooperatives, municipalities, and mid-sized utilities. Listen in as Mike discusses: - The challenges driving utilities away from legacy systems like ArcMap and geometric networks. - Common adoption hesitations and strategies to ease the transition to the Utility Network. - Real-world benefits of pre-configured systems and how customization can address individual utility needs. - The Utility Network’s role in tackling the energy transition, electrification, and grid resilience challenges. For any utility professionals looking to modernize operations while keeping costs manageable, this episode provides actionable insights and guidance. Join host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester as they uncover how GIS innovation is empowering utilities of every size to thrive in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/power-perspectives-podcast-gis-smaller-utilities-grid-modernization-here-brought Mike Goggin's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/mike-goggin-0/about SSP Innovations on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/o/ssp Think Differently: Why GIS and Modern Network Management are Intertwined by Mike Goggin: https://energycentral.com/o/ssp/think-differently-why-gis-and-modern-network-management-are-intertwined 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

Nov 30, 2024 • 37min

Navigating Energy's Post-Election Crossroads in 2024 and Beyond (w/Amy Myers Jaffe)

In this episode, Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, joins the Power Perspectives Podcast in the wake of the November 2024 elections to discuss the most pressing issues shaping the energy landscape. With her expertise in energy geopolitics, climate risk, and sustainability, Amy offers invaluable insights into how utilities can adapt to evolving challenges while pursuing a more resilient and sustainable future. Listen in as Amy explores: - The intersection of federal energy policies and state climate goals amidst political changes - Why small modular reactors (SMRs) may not be the universal solution some hope for - How digital solutions for demand management remain an underutilized opportunity - The role of supply chain resilience in ensuring reliable energy amid geopolitical tensions Join host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester as they get a crash course into these critical topics with Amy Myers Jaffe. Whether you’re a utility executive, policymaker, or energy enthusiast, this episode provides actionable strategies for tackling today’s energy challenges and securing a sustainable future. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-navigating-energys-post-election-crossroads-2024-and Energy's Digital Future: Harnessing Innovation for American Resilience and National Security by Amy Myers Jaffe: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/energys-digital-future/9780231216753 Five Ways to Disaster-Proof the Energy Grid by Amy Myers Jaffe: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/climate-environment/energy-grid-extreme-weather-power-outages-c77e97e2 Amy's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/amy-jaffe 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

Nov 18, 2024 • 30min

Using AI to Predict & Protect: Grid-wide Storm Resilience

In this episode, Rob Brook, Senior Vice President and Managing Director – Americas at Neara, joins the Power Perspectives Podcast to discuss a pressing challenge for the energy sector: the growing impact of severe weather on energy infrastructure. As storms increase in frequency and intensity, Rob shares how utilities must enhance their resilience strategies and what Neara is doing to harness the power of AI and simulation to help utilities predict, prepare for, and respond to these extreme weather events. Listen in as Rob discusses: - How AI-driven simulations model the impacts of severe weather on utility networks - The types of data required to build accurate simulations and how utilities manage data quality - Insights from Neara’s collaboration with CenterPoint Energy, focusing on storm preparation post-Hurricane Beryl - Applications of AI in utility operations beyond storm resilience, including asset management and grid modernization - Overcoming regulatory and cost challenges to implement cutting-edge technology For any utility stakeholders aiming to make our grid more resilient, this episode is for you. Join host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester as they explore the future of storm preparedness and grid resilience with Rob Brook. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-using-ai-predict-protect-grid-wide-storm-resilience Rob Neara's Energy Central profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/robert-brook 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

Nov 4, 2024 • 23min

How Can Utilities Build a More Inclusive Workplace?

In today’s episode of the Power Perspectives Podcast, Sam Hartzman, Chief Diversity Officer at Duquesne Light Company (DLC), joins to guide a much-needed discussion of the energy industry's current state of transformation—not only in technology and sustainability but also in workplace culture. Specifically, the growing focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) sees some utilities at a crossroads, and Sam joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to discuss how DLC is leading this DEI charge. Listen in as Sam shares insights into the company's initiative, A Duty to One Another, which emphasizes a collaborative, grassroots approach to fostering inclusion. The discussion covers: - How Duquesne Light's DEI efforts differ from traditional, top-down approaches. - Overcoming challenges in a climate where companies are facing pressure to adjust their DEI initiatives. - The connection between DEI and corporate performance, including financial and operational metrics. - The role of DEI in advancing Duquesne Light’s mission for a clean energy future. If you're curious about how a utility company is navigating the complexities of DEI while staying committed to its broader mission, this episode is a must-listen. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/power-perspectives-podcast-how-can-utilities-build-more-inclusive-workplace-sam 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

Oct 20, 2024 • 27min

183. 'How this utility CEO balances innovation + reliability' w/Frank Reynolds, United Illuminating

To modernize infrastructure or optimize for reliability—that's the question utility leaders like Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of United Illuminating, are facing on a daily basis. The need to transition to cleaner energy sources and address the challenges of aging infrastructure are often at odds with utilities' efforts to maintain reliable power delivery. So which do you choose? And can you have it all? Today on Power Perspectives, Frank guides host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester through key topics impacting his work in Connecticut, including... - The relationship between utilities and regulators - The impact of performance-based regulation - How United Illuminating is navigating financial and operational hurdles If you want to learn how this utility leader is steering a company through unprecedented times—all while embracing innovation and the future of clean energy in Connecticut—this episode is for you. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/episode-183-how-utility-ceo-balances-innovation-reliability-frank-reynolds 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

Oct 14, 2024 • 16min

181. ‘Breaking Down Silos with GIS and Advanced Modeling’ with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, ESRI

Oct 14, 2024 • 17min

182. 'Access, Collaboration, & Data Quality' with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, ESRI

As the final episode in the three-part special Esri takeover series on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan-- Directors at Esri-- bring their conversation to a conclusion by focusing on two essential areas: enterprise access and collaboration, as well as the essential (and sometime frustrating) areas of data quality and governance. Pat and Bill will bring their experience to the listener in breaking down silos and improving communication across departments are critical for utility success. They share real-life examples from their experiences, like the consequences of hoarding information and how modern tools and technologies can foster collaboration both within companies and with external stakeholders such as regulators. Listen in as this episode also touches on the role of effective data governance in ensuring data quality, discussing the importance of maintaining high accuracy and ensuring data integrity across systems. Pat and Bill explore the exciting innovations and technologies currently taking hold in the sector to automate and streamline these processes, reducing the burden on employees and allowing utilities to focus on delivering efficient, reliable services. Given how enterprise access and data quality governance are key to running a successful, modern utility, you won't want to miss this discussion. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-182-access-collaboration-and-data-quality-keys-modern-utility-pat-hohl Latest Esri E-Book: "Successful Digital Utilities Enabled by Modern Network Information Management": go.esri.com/UN_eBook_EC Episode 1 of this three-part series, "Episode #178: "Breaking Boundaries: Cross-Industry Innovation at IMGIS 2024" with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, Directors at ESRI [Special Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast Presented by ESRI]": https://energycentral.com/c/iu/episode-178-breaking-boundaries-cross-industry-innovation-imgis-2024-pat-hohl-and Episode 2: "Episode #181: "Breaking Down Silos with GIS and Advanced Modeling in the Utility Sector" with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, Directors at ESRI [Special Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast Presented by ESRI]": https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-181-breaking-down-silos-gis-and-advanced-modeling-utility-sector-pat-hohl GIS for Electric Utilities from ESRI: https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/electric/overview 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 the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast? Do you want to hear your voice on a future episode? Well starting in 2024, we’re offering you that opportunity! Head to this link where you can leave us a recorded message, including a question you’re eager to have answered on a future episode of the podcast. We’ll listen through them, pick out the right guests in our upcoming lineup to address them, and you’ll hear yourself as a part of the conversation! Energy Central on SpeakPipe: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

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