Undergrounding: Dave Plusquellic
TECO Energy
“The program required a comprehensive look at benefits versus costs, with a focus on extreme weather events, so we conducted a thorough and robust data-driven analysis.”
Law & Lawyers
N. Dakota PSC: Chair Julie Fedorchak
Chair
“As we transition to more renewables, we have to recognize the need for dispatchable resources to maintain reliability. If those are largely gas, then we need more pipelines.”
Fortnightly Top Innovators 2021
Innovation Imperative
Conversations with this year’s Extraordinarily Inspiring Innovators: Arizona Public Service’s Jim Holbrook, Miguel Bravo and Christine Helmuth, California Public Utility Commission’s Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma, Leuwam Tesfai and Forest Kaser, CenterPoint Energy’s Eric Easton and David Mercado, PPL’s Horst Lehmann and Eric Rosenberger, Southern California Gas’ Eric Coene, Matt Gregori and Ron Kent, and Xcel Energy’s Nadia El Mallakh.
PG&E's Landmark RFI to Underground Ten Thousand Miles of Lines
Pacific Gas & Electric
PG&E met with firms that responded to its Request for Information, each of which presented their approaches to accomplish this unprecedented project. Herein are key excerpts of the RFI.
N. Dakota PSC: Commissioner Randy Christmann
Commissioner
“One of the issues I campaigned on was my background with coal reclamation and my desire to make sure we have something similar in place for wind farms. We have 4,000 MW of wind in North Dakota. Someday, those need to be cleaned up too.”
Top Innovators: Miguel Bravo, Jim Holbrook, Christine Helmuth
Arizona Public Service
APS introduced a targeted fast-track emergency air conditioning program in 2020 to support vulnerable customers with heat relief and partnered to help provide various heat-relief assistance.
N. Dakota PSC: Commissioner Brian Kroshus
Commissioner
“Who wouldn’t want carbon-free electricity? It sounds great, but we can’t ignore the cost and impact that has on consumers, especially low-income households.”
Top Innovators: Genevieve Shiroma, Leuwam Tesfai, Forest Kaser
California PUC
The Microgrids and Resiliency Team develops and executes regulations, tariffs, and programs for microgrids to enhance resiliency of the electric grid and reduce barriers for microgrid deployment. Their work has streamlined the interconnection process to ease customer burdens for microgrid installation while maintaining the safety of customers and utility workers, and empowered local and tribal governments looking to leverage microgrids as part of their resiliency planning.
N. Dakota PSC: Dean Moos
Directors
A conversation with the Director of Reclamation and Abandoned Mine Lands Division.
Top Innovators: Horst Lehmann, Eric Rosenberger
PPL
Their contributions helped PPL to use Dynamic Line Rating technology successfully to address congestion and market efficiency issues.