Electric Perspectives

Meeting Demand With Flexible Generation

As America’s electric companies work to meet growing electricity demand driven by AI, data centers, manufacturing, and electrification, mileage from flexible generation is increasingly playing a critical role in supporting a diversified energy mix.   

 

On this episode, Eric Holdsworth, who leads the Edison Foundation, is joined by Andrew Phillips, business development manager for Wärtsilä, and Dylan Bearce, senior director of energy resources operations for Tucson Electric Power. They explore how electric companies can get more mileage with flexible, reciprocating internal combustion engines, how these engines differ from traditional models, and their role in supporting grid reliability. 

 

This episode is sponsored by Wärtsilä; learn more about maximizing mileage and flexible generation here.

EEI 2025 Highlights: Mission-Critical Networks, Meeting Demand Growth, and AI Innovation

This episode is part of our EEI 2025 Highlights series. In this episode, you will hear conversations about demand growth, mission-critical networks, and the intersection of energy and artificial intelligence. The speakers are:

• Chris Rogers, Partner, Communities, Energy, & Infrastructure, Guidehouse
• Michelle Fay, Global Energy Providers Practice Leader, Guidehouse
• Charlie Sanchez, President, Infrastructure Advisory, Black & Veatch
• Hans Kobler, Founder and Managing Partner, Energy Impact Partners

You can also visit EEI's website to read EEI 2025 recap newsletters, see photos from our annual thought leadership forum, and watch videos from some of the keynotes.

EEI 2025 Highlights: How Advanced Nuclear, Drones, and New Technologies are Strengthening the Grid

This episode is part of our EEI 2025 Highlights series. In this episode, you will hear conversations about keeping costs as low as possible for customers, how drones are enhancing electric company operations, advanced nuclear, and new technologies that are strengthening grid resilience. The speakers are:

• Mary Sprayregen, Global Head of Regulatory Affairs & Market Development, Oracle Utilities
• Tom Keefe, Vice Chair and Power, Utilities & Renewables Sector Leader for Deloitte
• Chris Levesque, President and CEO, TerraPower
• Duke Austin, President and CEO, Quanta 

You can also visit EEI's website to read EEI 2025 recap newsletters, see photos from our annual thought leadership forum, and watch videos from some of the keynotes.

Smart Grid Tech and Connecting Power to First Nations Communities

During EEI 2025, Edison International and Southern California Edison (SCE) were recognized as the winners of this year's Edison Award. Fortis Inc. and Wataynikaneyap Power were recognized as the winners of this year's International Edison Award. We were joined live at EEI 2025 by leaders from each company to learn more about their innovative projects.

On this episode, Edison International President and CEO Pedro J. Pizarro and Southern California Edison Vice President of Transmission, Substations & Operations Vik Trehan discuss the Advanced Waveform Anomaly Recognition system. Then, Fortis Inc. Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology Gary Smith and Wataynikaneyap Power CEO Margaret Kenequanash talk about the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission System, which connects 17 rural and remote First Nations communities to the Ontario provincial energy grid.

Delivering a Reliable, Secure, and Affordable Energy Future

On this episode, Tyler Anthony, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, discusses Pepco’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the energy grid through the Capital Grid Project and how the company is building the workforce that will support the rapid growth of electricity demand from AI and data centers. Anthony also talks about why partnerships are essential to delivering a secure and resilient energy future and how Pepco's Customer Relief Fund is just one part of Pepco's strategy for supporting customers.

EEI 2025 Highlights: Grid Resilience, Energy Affordability, and Demand Growth

This episode is part of our EEI 2025 highlights series. We were thrilled to be joined live at our annual thought leadership forum by EEI Chair Calvin Butler, president and CEO of Exelon; Entergy Chair and CEO Drew Marsh; and Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May. These leaders discussed how America's electric companies are enhancing grid resilience while working to meet the growing demand for electricity. Efforts to keep customer bills as low as possible also were front and center throughout the conference.

Visit the Electric Perspectives website to read recaps and see photos from EEI 2025.

Partners in Wildfire Prevention

In early May, EEI and several energy industry partners, along with organizations that represent firefighters, scientists, tech innovators, and other stakeholders, joined together to form the Partners in Wildfire Prevention coalition. The goal is to advance actionable, evidence-based policy solutions that will make communities and the nation more prepared to handle the growing wildfire threat. 

On this episode, EEI Managing Director of Public Affairs Jeff Ostermayer is joined by Partners in Wildfire Prevention Communications Director Chet Wade to discuss the new coalition, federal policy that can support efforts to prevent wildfires, and how we can work together to mitigate wildfire risks and protect vulnerable communities. 

Visit the Partners in Wildfire Prevention coalition website to learn more and sign up for updates: https://preventwildfires.org/.

This episode also is available on The Current, a podcast produced by EEI's We Stand for Energy platform: https://westandforenergy.com/.

Enhancing Grid Resilience for a Reliable, Secure Energy Future

Grid resilience remains a top priority for investor-owned electric companies as extreme weather events become more frequent and electricity demand continues to rise. On this episode, Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May and ScottMadden Partner Marc Miller discuss efforts underway to strengthen grid infrastructure. They also highlight how customers benefit from resilience investments and share insights on how to keep electricity costs for customers as low as possible. 

This episode is sponsored by ScottMadden, which provides consulting services ranging from strategic planning through implementation across industries. With more than four decades of expertise in transmission and distribution, ScottMadden brings a deep perspective of how electric company functions are evolving to integrate grid edge technologies. Learn more here. 

Pat Vincent-Collawn on EEI's 2025 Policy Priorities

EEI interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn, who also serves as chairman and CEO of TXNM Energy, has been a leader in the electric power industry for more than 30 years. As one of the longest-serving directors on the EEI board, she has helped to shape EEI’s strategy for more than a decade. 

On this episode, Vincent-Collawn discusses some of today’s most pressing industry issues, including rising demand for electricity, the efforts underway to enhance grid resilience, and our sector’s role in strengthening America’s energy security. She also discusses how our sector works with new presidential administrations and handles the flurry of executive orders and cabinet appointments that follow inauguration day. 

This episode is sponsored by Sense, a company that embeds its software in next-generation smart meters, unlocking real-time insight into the home and grid. Learn more here.

Data-Driven Approaches for Effective Storm Responses

Electric companies are adopting advanced data analysis tools that provide more accurate predictions before a weather event to help optimize preparation efforts and support a faster response if outages occur. 

 

On this episode, Pacific Gas and Electric Vice President of Emergency Preparedness and Response Angie Gibson; Southern Company Enterprise Data Analytics Director Shane Powell; and E Source Data Science Director Kyle Decker  discuss their experiences with storm response analytics. They share valuable lessons learned while developing and deploying data-driven forecasting and restoration models.

 

This episode is sponsored by E Source, a utility-focused solution partner; learn more about their research, consulting, and data science offerings here.