Electric Perspectives

Hawaiian Electric Testifies in Maui Wildfire Hearing

In late September, the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations held a hearing on the role of electric infrastructure in the wildfire that occurred in Lahaina on Maui on August 8. Hawaiian Electric President and CEO Shelee Kimura, along with Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair Leo Asuncion, and Hawai’i State Energy Office Chief Energy Officer Mark Glick, provided testimony and answered questions from the committee members, who had launched an investigation into the wildfire and each entities’ response.

This hearing was a significant step in initiating a broader, national conversation about what needs to be done to make electric companies, and the communities they serve, more resilient against increasing climate risk and extreme weather events. The growing threat created by wildfires is a problem that challenges not only Maui, but the nation and the world. The hearing raised questions about how electric companies, regulators, private property owners, and other stakeholders can take a holistic, collaborative approach to address these increasing risks.

The entire hearing ran around two hours, but this episode features key audio segments, including Shelee’s responses about Hawaiian Electric's application for a grid hardening project that had been pending with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission since last year, Hawaiian Electric’s wildfire protocols, and the obstacles to undergrounding power lines. You can watch the entire hearing on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's YouTube page: https://youtu.be/Jc2SIl6kiY4.

Know the Signs to #StopScams

November 15 is Utility Scam Awareness Day, and we’re raising awareness of tactics being used by utility impostor scammers that target customers of electric, gas, and water companies. Customers of all ages and backgrounds should be vigilant because anyone can be a target of this type of scam, but scammers especially target low-income or elderly customers. On this episode, Monica Martinez, executive director of Utilities United Against Scams, and Chris Peters, vice president and chief security officer of Entergy, discuss utility impostor scams, new scam tactics that customers should know about, what to do if you suspect you’re being scammed, and more. 

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month With EEI Chair Pedro J. Pizarro

EEI is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and on this episode, we have a special guest to help us recognize this cultural observance. EEI Chair Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, joins Courtney Peterson, EEI vice president, chief diversity officer, and chief human resources officer, to discuss what it means to be EEI’s first Hispanic board chair, how he stays connected to his culture, the leadership lessons he has learned as head of one of the largest electric companies in the country, and more!

EEI 2023 Highlights: IRA, Natural Gas, Financing Transmission, and Clean Energy Transition Equity

This episode is part of our EEI 2023 highlights series. In this episode, you will hear conversations about topics including Inflation Reduction Act customer tax incentives and rebates, the future of natural gas, new approaches to financing transmission, and keeping the clean energy transition equitable and affordable. The speakers are:

• Dan Hahn, Partner at Guidehouse,
• Dr. Michael Webber, Chief Technology Officer at Energy Impact Partners and Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources, Author, and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas,
• Duke Austin, president and CEO of Quanta, and
• Mary Sprayregen, Global Head, Regulatory Affairs and Market Development at Oracle/Opower.

You can also visit EEI's website to read EEI 2023 recap newsletters, see photos from our annual thought leadership forum, and watch videos of the keynotes.

Jigar Shah on Investing in Clean Energy Infrastructure

The Inflation Reduction Act established the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) Program under the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Loan Programs Office and appropriated $5 billion to help fund certain clean energy and carbon reduction projects through fiscal year 2026. In June, the Loan Programs Office released new guidance for the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, which includes the EIR Program.

On today’s episode, Jigar Shah, director of DOE’s Loan Programs Office, joins Alex Bond, EEI deputy general counsel of clean energy and climate, to discuss this guidance and to address some of the most common questions about the program. Listen to our episode “Reinvesting in Energy Infrastructure,” which also featured Jigar, to learn more about the program.

EEI 2023 Highlights: Clean Energy Policy, Workforce Development, and Grid Resilience

This episode is part of our EEI 2023 highlights series. In this episode, you will hear conversations about topics including clean energy policy and implementation, workforce development, and grid resilience featuring:

• Breakthrough Energy Senior Director, U.S. Policy and Advocacy, Robin Millican,
• Carolyn Amon, Research Leader, Power, Utilities & Renewables at the Deloitte Research Center for Energy & Industrials and Karen Cunningham, Managing Director of Human Capital Power, Utility & Renewables, and leader of the Global Sustainability, Climate and Equity practice at Deloitte,
• Arron Lewis, Vice President and Energy Utility West Region Leader at Black and Veatch, and
• GridX Vice President of Marketing Brad Langley.

You can also visit EEI's website to read EEI 2023 recap newsletters, see photos from our annual thought leadership forum, and watch videos of the keynotes.

Elon Musk and Pedro Pizarro on the Future of Electric Transportation

EEI 2023 featured a lineup of exceptional keynote speakers. On this episode, you'll hear the full-length EEI 2023 keynote conversation between renowned technologist Elon Musk and EEI Chair Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International. The discussion spans topics such as electrification across the economy, the future of electric transportation, Tesla’s decision to open up its Supercharger network to other automakers, and much more. You also can watch the keynote on EEI's YouTube channel.

Saluting America’s Lineworkers

Lineworkers maintain and enhance the energy grid and play a critical role in delivering America’s resilient clean energy future. They also work around the clock and in dangerous conditions following extreme weather events to ensure that the customers and the communities they serve have access to safe and reliable electricity. On July 10, EEI will join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association in celebrating National Lineworker Appreciation Day to honor these dedicated workers.

 

On this episode, we hear from IBEW Local 47 Business Manager Colin Lavin and Southern California Edison (SCE) Senior Vice President of Transmission and Distribution Heather Rivard about why we celebrate National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10, how a culture of safety has been ingrained in lineworkers, how lineworkers are modernizing and maintaining SCE’s energy grid, and more.

After EPA’s Section 111 Proposal, What Comes Next?

On May 11, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, which targets carbon pollution standards for fossil-fuel based plants. Over the past several months, EEI has engaged constructively with EPA and outlined several important priorities for these regulations that are consistent with the ongoing clean energy transition that EEI's member companies are leading.

On this episode, Emily Fisher, EEI executive vice president of clean energy and general counsel, and Alex Bond, EEI deputy general counsel of clean energy and climate, discuss the proposed rule, the potential implications for electric companies and their customers, and what comes next for this proposal. 

 

Editor's note: This conversation was recorded in late May.

Investing to Enhance Grid Reliability

EEI's member companies make significant investments to enhance the energy grid every year. One of many grid modernization and improvement projects that is underway to ensure reliable and resilient clean energy can be delivered to customers now and in the years to come is Georgia Power's Grid Improvement Plan.

On this episode, Georgia Power Vice President of Strategy and Support Cleve Fann and Pike Electric President Matt Fisher dive into the details of Georgia Power's Grid Improvement Plan. They discuss specific projects underway as part of the plan and how they are benefitting customers.

This episode is sponsored by Pike Electric, the company that is providing engineering and construction services to help make Georgia Power's Grid Improvement Plan a reality.