Why Telecom Is the Backbone of Modern Utilities
Elizabeth Cook is Vice President for Technical Strategy at the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.
The power grid is transforming. Across the country, utility companies are under pressure to integrate renewables, meet growing electrification demands, and modernize outdated systems. But while much of the conversation focuses on solar panels, batteries, and AI-driven forecasting, there is another critical piece that often gets overlooked: telecom.
I recently sat down with Aaron Dutney, Senior Manager of Telecom, at Arizona Public Service (APS), to explore the real work that goes into building the communication backbone of the modern grid.
Aaron brings decades of experience to the table. From his early days in the military working in IT, to his current role leading communications engineering and network integration at APS, he has seen the telecom landscape evolve dramatically.
As Aaron described it, when he started in the industry, communication was relatively simple. Point-to-point systems dominated. Routing was deterministic. You could trace every connection from end to end.