AEIC
Elizabeth Cook is Vice President for Technical Strategy at the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.
We hear a lot of talk these days about grid modernization and digital transformation in the electric utility industry. But it’s important to remember that these are not just empty catch phrases. They are very real, dynamic, data-driven processes grounded in service, foresight, and collaboration between utilities and customers.
One AEIC member at the forefront of reshaping how we generate, distribute, and consume electricity through real-time data and customer-centric innovation is Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC). Unlike investor-owned or municipal utilities, electric cooperatives like BEC are member-owned.
“That changes everything,” says Thilo Janssen, Director of Engineering at BEC. “When we talk about solving grid challenges or deploying new technology, we’re not just serving customers, we’re working for our fellow members. That changes how we approach problems.”
Janssen emphasizes how this cooperative structure supports a more intimate, responsive approach to innovation. And that innovation is increasingly taking center stage as grid modernization becomes an essential utility priority.
Grid modernization is often used as an umbrella term that captures many evolving industry priorities, from resilience and decarbonization to customer empowerment and operational efficiency.