Energy Central

Energy Central
  • 4.6 (12)
  • Technology
  • Updated Daily

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. 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.

  1. Can DERs save the power grid?

    2d ago ·  Video

    Can DERs save the power grid?

    Over 80% of installed DER capacity isn't enrolled in a virtual power plant. The technology is ready. The economics are increasingly compelling. What's missing is the regulatory alignment and system-wide planning to bring it all together. In this episode, host Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Audrey Zibelman—former CEO of the Australian Energy Market Operator, former Chair of the New York Public Service Commission, and former executive at Alphabet's X moonshot factory—to talk about what it will actually take to get distributed energy resources from promising concept to essential grid tool. From the S-curve of solar adoption in Australia to rethinking how utilities make money, this is a blueprint for what a smarter, more flexible grid can look like. Check out the Pew report Audrey mentions throughout the episode here: https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2026/04/distributed-energy-can-unleash-the-resilient-affordable-grid-of-the-future

    37 min
  2. How to build a smarter grid on a tighter budget

    4d ago ·  Video

    How to build a smarter grid on a tighter budget

    Utilities have more data than ever before—AMI readings, drone footage, transformer sensors, SCADA signals. The question is no longer whether to collect it. It's how to actually turn it into decisions that keep the lights on. In this roundtable, host Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Christina Park of Skydio, Mark Gabriel of United Power, Trevor Stiles of ATC, and Sean Vanslyke of SEMO Electric to explore how utilities are evolving their approach to asset management in real time—moving from gut-call prioritization to condition-based maintenance, getting their teams on board with new technology, and building toward a future where failures get caught before they happen. This episode is brought to you by Skydio. Skydio helps utilities move beyond outdated time based maintenance to smarter, safer and more scalable condition-based maintenance. Powered by autonomous remote operated drones, over 280 utilities trust Skydio. Because with real time aerial data and remote inspection, utilities can spot issues early, reduce forced outages and make confident, efficient, cost effective decisions. Learn more about Skydio here: https://www.skydio.com/solutions/utilities

    49 min
  3. Why data centers should run on solar—not gas

    Jun 16 ·  Video

    Why data centers should run on solar—not gas

    Renewables are now the cheapest source of electricity in history—cheaper than gas, cheaper than coal, and with prices still dropping fast. So why are utilities still planning like the economics haven't changed? In this episode, host Kinsey Grant Baker speaks with Ramez Naam, climate tech investor and one of the most rigorous trackers of clean energy cost curves, about how solar and batteries won on price, what it will take to rewire utility incentives to reflect that reality, and why hyperscale data centers should be looking at renewables (not behind-the-meter gas) to solve their speed-to-power problem.

    40 min
  4. Inside the biggest utility corruption scandal in decades

    Jun 9 ·  Video

    Inside the biggest utility corruption scandal in decades

    Ohio’s House Bill 6 scandal has become one of the most consequential utility corruption cases in US history, and its fallout is still shaping politics, regulation, and public trust in the energy sector. In this episode, host Kinsey Grant Baker speaks with investigative journalist Kathiann Kowalski about how a bill that was designed to support nuclear plants became the center of a $60 million bribery scheme, the conviction and 20-year sentence of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, and the broader web of utility, lobbying, and regulatory influence that followed.

    41 min
  5. Why utility vegetation management needs a new playbook

    Jun 5 ·  Video

    Why utility vegetation management needs a new playbook

    Vegetation management is often treated like routine maintenance, but for utilities it is really about keeping the grid safe under real operating conditions. And on the modern grid, clearance planning has become more complex than ever, while utilities can no longer rely on “blue sky” assumptions when assessing vegetation risk. To dive deeper into the topic, host Kinsey Grant Baker is joined by Otto Lynch of Bentley Systems to discuss how myriad factors impact the engineering realities of keeping the grid constantly operational. Including considerations like conductor sag, high operating temperatures, wind blowout, ice, and structure deflection all change the real distance between a line and nearby vegetation. Too often, utilities underestimate risk and simply clearing an entire right-of-way is not always the smartest or safest answer. Instead, Otto makes the case for more selective, engineering-driven vegetation management that balances reliability, cost, and public trust. The episode also takes a close look at compliance and standards, including what can go wrong when utilities ignore the finer details of wire movement, altitude, or “determined by designer” language in the rules. For utility leaders looking to reduce wildfire risk, improve reliability, and avoid unnecessary maintenance spend, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for building a more mature vegetation-management program over the next five years. Thanks to Bentley Systems for making this episode possible. Bentley Systems is the infrastructure engineering software company delivering innovative solutions that advance and sustain the world's infrastructure. Trusted globally, Bentley's energy portfolio, including Power Line Systems, SPIDA, OpenUtilities, and EasyPower, empowers energy professionals to design, build, and operate smarter, more resilient systems. Signup for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: https://energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    34 min
  6. Utilities are getting their messaging all wrong...here's how to fix it

    Jun 2 ·  Video

    Utilities are getting their messaging all wrong...here's how to fix it

    California has long been the proving ground for America’s energy transition, and it’s also where the politics, culture, and storytelling around that transition are being tested in real time. Messaging comes from all corners of the public landscape, including movies, sports, and video games, in addition to the institutions like utilities. Where is there potential to do more with that storytelling? In this episode, host Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Sammy Roth, former climate columnist at the Los Angeles Times and voice behind the Climate-Colored Goggles substack, to explore how renewable industries are selling their story in a fraught political moment, why affordability and reliability are increasingly central to the climate conversation, and how rising demand is reshaping the debate around clean energy. Sammy argues that the energy transition is not just about economics, technology, and regulation, it’s also about culture. The conversation digs into how utilities, policymakers, and clean energy advocates talk about tradeoffs, where messaging often falls short, and what successful storytelling looks like when the public is skeptical. From climate framing to the role of movies, sports, and media, the episode examines why clean energy progress may depend as much on narrative as on infrastructure. The discussion also looks at California as a case study for broader national politics. With energy and climate increasingly shaping elections and policy debates, Sammy shares what the state’s governor’s race reveals about voter priorities, how data centers are changing the conversation, and what lessons utilities and candidates should take into 2026. Register for Energy Central’s live happy hour in DC on June 23: https://luma.com/hw57eoea Climate-Colored Goggles: https://www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/ The obvious choice for California governor: https://www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/california-governor-climate Vattenfall commercial with Samuel L. Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uEpdIKzspA Signup for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: https://energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    42 min
  7. Can this tech fix the data center interconnection dilemma?

    May 29 ·  Video

    Can this tech fix the data center interconnection dilemma?

    Data centers are arriving faster than the grid can be built to serve them, creating real risk for developers, utilities, and customers alike. This won’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention, but one potential solution that isn’t making the headlines is worth a deeper dive: bridge power. In this episode, Kinsey Grant Baker chats with Jim Smith, President of PowerSecure, to explore how bridge power helps data centers come online while they wait for utility service and larger infrastructure buildouts to catch up. Jim explains why bridge power represents a timely market response,and how natural gas microgrids can provide continuous prime power for several years before transitioning into long-term resiliency and flexibility assets. The conversation also digs into why this model is different from traditional backup generation, where battery integration fits in, and how these systems can help manage load ramps and grid congestion during the interconnection process. Jim shares what good coordination looks like between utilities, developers, and providers, what mistakes bridge power can help avoid, and why the post-bridge value of these assets matters. For utility leaders and data center developers alike, this episode offers a practical look at how to keep projects moving without waiting years for the grid to catch up. Thanks to PowerSecure for making this episode possible. PowerSecure is the nation's leading provider of microgrids and energy solutions. With over 25 years of experience, PowerSecure has developed, installed, and managed more than 3 Gigawatts of microgrid capacity and saved companies over $1 billion in energy efficiency upgrades. To learn more about PowerSecure and bridge power solutions, visit PowerSecure.com. Signup for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: https://energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    32 min
  8. Why are utility customers so angry? Here's the $7B answer

    May 26 ·  Video

    Why are utility customers so angry? Here's the $7B answer

    A new Pew survey suggests the public is drawing some sharp conclusions about why electricity bills are rising, and not all of them are flattering to utilities. But does public perception match reality, and how much does it actually matter when trust is broken either way? To dive into that survey and a subsequent poll of the Energy Central audience, this episode brings together the Energy Central team of Kinsey Grant Baker, Molly Glick, and Matt Chester to unpack the survey results, including the eye-opening finding that 64% of Americans say utility companies raising profits is the main reason their bills are going up. The conversation digs into what is actually driving rising bills, how utilities are responding, and why the public trust gap may be bigger than many leaders realize. The team also breaks down the reactions from Energy Central readers and how utilities are balancing the need for massive capital investment with the challenge of serving both hyperscalers and everyday customers. This context naturally leads to a discussion on communication, strategy, and regulation. What does good messaging look like when utilities are trying to explain why they are spending more? Is this simply a communications problem, or something deeper in the structure of the business? Signup for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: https://energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

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. 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Energy Central
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    307
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Energy Central

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