As the Energy Central Community continues to thrive and evolve, it's evident that we're our collective members are truly shaping the future of the utility sector. Within this dynamic collective of professionals in the power industry, the community represents a unique and impactful spirit of sharing insights, lessons, and questions, fostering a level of collaboration that sets Energy Central apart.
Undoubtedly, the linchpin of this Community is the remarkable individuals steering the conversations and ensuring continual engagement with readers and peers. To commemorate the close of another successfulĀ year, we take a moment to acknowledge and honor those outstanding members of Energy Central who consistently went the extra mileāactively disseminating news and content, instigating discussions across the platform, and delivering truly valuable contributions throughout 2023.
Throughout the week of December 18, we will unveil articles spotlighting the Top Voices of 2023 across our 6 Networks. Continuing our tradition, these recognized community members graciously shared their perspectives on the sector in 2023, offered predictions for the year ahead, and provided personal insights into what makes them tick, allowing us to connect with the individuals shaping the Energy Central landscape.
With that, we extend our sincere appreciation and congratulations to the distinguished Top Voices in the EnergyBiz Network for 2023!
See the Top Voices in Our Other Communities:
- Energy & Sustainability Network
- Grid Network
- Generation Network
- Energy Management Network
- Intelligent Utility Network
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Russ Hissom - Principal, Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists
Recommended submission from Russ: Marginal cost electric rates - another option for large customers
What energy/utility theme of 2023 has most inspired you to connect with your peers at Energy Central?
I work with cooperatives and utilities on the ground in accounting and rates. I see the need for balance in ratemaking but running up against the current inflationary environment and balancing changes in power supply options with the cost recovery of those options. My inspiration is the day-to-day challenges addressed by the front-line finance professionals in the business.
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If you had to predict, what will be the hottest topic on Energy Central in 2024?
I think grid reliability and the change in power supply movement from traditional to renewables will be a large conversation. Renewables are getting closer, but are not quite ready for prime time for a reliable power supply portfolio.
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Outside of energy and utilities, share with us another area of interest that you are passionate about and why.
I enjoy teaching and passing along industry financial and accounting knowledge to the next group of professionals. Even though the business is in a great deal of change, the fundamentals are still the same.
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Rafael Herzberg - Consultant energy affairs, Self employed
Recommended submission from Rafael:Ā Demand Flexibility Exchange (DFE)
What is your favorite aspect of interacting with the Energy Central Community?
The possibility to have a āreality check.ā
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If you had to predict, what will be the hottest topic on Energy Central in 2024?
Risk mitigation given the volatility and unpredictability of the world economy.
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What has been a highlight of your year, personally or professionally?
Being contracted (again) to consult for a major power trader regarding a conflict associated with a client in connection with a deregulated power contract.
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Kimberly Getgen - CEO, InnovationForce
Recommended submission from Kimberly:Ā Innovating for Our Survival: Part 4 ā The Urgent Need is Now
What energy/utility theme of 2023 has most inspired you to connect with your peers at Energy Central?
Innovation. Our philosophy is that everyone innovates, and good ideas can come from anywhere and everywhere when employees are empowered to easily participate in an innovation process - whether itās contributing a new idea or being a subject matter expert to review new ideas about to be piloted, you want everyone involved. And, if everyone innovates ā especially those in the field or on the frontline, the more they are part of the process and buying in, testing ideas shouldnāt take years or millions of dollars to complete. Minimal viable experimentation with an emphasis on capturing learnings will do. Start small, go fast. Take action. That is what I loved about Energy Central: it is collaborative and peer-focused, a safe place where you can connect with experts and colleagues to share knowledge and learn about what projects or pilots they may be working on.Ā Developing these ecosystems in the energy space is key because it can help utilities who are not necessarily competing with one another innovate for the public good, our customers and our communities that we serve to drive the transition to clean energy and modern grid advancements faster.
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If you had to predict, what will be the hottest topic on Energy Central in 2024?
I think a lot of people are going to answer āAIā on this one. It was the hottest topic and trend we saw in 2023. I did not have a single day go by where I did not hear AI being discussed. You canāt put that genie back in the bottle. Itās not going away, so we have to face it. In the energy industry, we reviewed multiple R&D plans as well as grid modernization or infrastructure upgrade plans in North America, the UK, and the EU, and we are starting to see utilities develop challenge statements around AI for pilots to test how they can better plan or forecast the grid as it becomes more distributed and flexible. We are also seeing a lot of ideas in nuclear plants and workforce automation that can improve human safety and save valuable time in areas where we are seeing a high level of retirement. If done safely, the utility space could be a natural home to much AI innovation, where we can capitalize on its potential to modernize the grid and workforce. Clearly, utilities will need to start coming up with how they want to govern the use of AI to their particular needs, policies, regulatory posture or jurisdiction, and IT teams. But, if you are curious to learn more about the real validated challenges we found, you can take a look at our InnovationWorks Hangar, which has many AI Test Flights submitted in the last year that could unleash the potential of AI for utilities and I predict these use cases will only increase in 2024.
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What has been a highlight of your year, personally or professionally?
Itās been a pretty exciting year for InnovationForce working with utilities coming together to drive industry-wide change, so I have many highlights, but I want to call out two. Earlier this year, InnovationForce participated in EPRIās Incubatenergy Lab (IEL) program, and we were able to work with Portland General Electric, Fortis Inc., and Central Hudson to really learn what utilities need to accelerate innovation.Ā We have been in prototype for two years, and IEL cohort helped us have confidence in building the type of platform that could benefit the industry to drive the ripple effect that is at our core - to āinnovate for goodā and help energy innovators be a part in driving the clean energy transition faster.
Which leads me to our second accomplishment -Ā launching our InnovationWorks Hanger - an ecosystem open to anyone and everyone in the energy industry working on a challenge and trying to connect with others to lead transformation. By offering The Hangar free to anyone in energy it allows us to fulfill the purpose of InnovationForce, which is helping drive industry transformation to meet decarbonization goals faster.
We are so grateful for the feedback we received from our customers and the industry, I appreciate the feedback to make The Hanger is at the heart of everything we do. I am inspired every time I see a new challenge or meet a new innovator who is joining the platform. InnovationForceās mission is to be of service to the ecosystem as it evolves and meets the worldās most pressing infrastructure needs together. The Hangarās sole purpose is to accelerate innovation to achieve decarbonization and grid modernization goals faster. The Hangar is free to join, and we like to describe it as where āPinterest meets LinkedInā for the energy industry with a library of utility-based verified industry challenges, along with solutions to solve those challenges - all easy to swipe and share from the comfort of your couch! We hope The Hangar provides inspiration but, most importantly, saves valuable time that our front-line innovators donāt always have because they canāt give up their day job of keeping the grid safe and reliable to innovate. With InnovationForce and the Hangar, they can now do both.
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Mark Wilkinson - SVP Products, Ibex Digital
Recommended submission from Mark:Ā From Outdated to Outstanding: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Utility CX
Is there a post or exchange on Energy Central that youāre most proud of from the past year?
We really paid attention to some of the most difficult challenges in the industry this year, and Iām proud of a couple of items facing LMI and at-risk customers.Ā We try to advocate for a āwhole walletā approach to these difficult topics because energy bills are just one of the big expenses facing our most challenged customers.Ā I posted an article about how utilities can look differently at delinquencies and collections by adopting a pre-emptive engagement model.Ā Itās an approach grounded in best practices for both customer engagement and managing the sensitive issues surrounding billing delinquencies and the collections process.Ā All utilities have a communication āpackageā on the shelf for delinquent accounts or collections assignments.Ā We advocate for adding a data dimension to the equation in order to get ahead of the curve for at-risk customers with a message of payment assistance and support instead of collections. Plenty of other industries have been very successful with this model, and utilities have all of the data and outreach required to turn around the unfortunate trend of increasing delinquencies.Ā If the economy tips into even a soft recession next year, it could amplify the pressure on customers and utility collections.Ā Time to think a bit differently about that whole process just in case.Ā That article got some buzz and a few discussions started as readers asked for more details about how we support those LMI customers for better outcomes.Ā Ā
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Outside of energy and utilities, share with us another area of interest that you are passionate about and why.
Iām a bit of a gear head and enjoy anything with a motor in it.Ā I love convertibles and sports cars, so pay great attention to the latest trends in the industry.Ā Iāve been watching the evolution of EVs and the trials and tribulations among electric utilities about how to engage on this topic with customers.Ā Brian Lindamood at Questline Digital has become the angel on my shoulder about all things EV, and has helped me see the industry differently.Ā I contribute occasionally on the topic to Energy Central, more specifically about how utilities can connect with customers about EVs and charging because it remains a confusing challenge for EV owners to overcome.Ā Itās such a great way to engage and educate, two things utilities do well, on a topic thatās only going to grow in importance in the future.Ā Whatever our individual opinions about fleet electrification and EVs, they are coming and coming much faster than most people expected just a few years ago. Iām still not quite ready to go all electric, but love what manufacturers are doing with hybrids, which work a bit better for the typical residential consumer.Ā Weāll see what happens with commercial fleet electrification, which gives utilities a chance to concentrate the charging infrastructure and work out the logistics as consumer EVs continue to gain market share.Ā For car people, itās been an exciting and interesting transition.Ā Ā
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If you had to predict, what will be the hottest topic on Energy Central in 2024?
Iām lousy at predictions, else my stock portfolio would look a lot better, but Iām guessing weāll all be taking AI and Machine Learning more seriously in 2024, and all of the privacy, security, and workforce implications of that exciting technology.Ā AI, more specifically generative AI, offers incredible capabilities for revolutionizing customer operations, service delivery, and the CX if utilities can find safe and effective paths to embrace the new technologies.Ā Iām excited to see how we can translate leaps ahead in AI into safe and supportive new customer experiences that help Customer Service Representatives help customers faster and more easily, or accelerate the development and deployment of new self-service experiences to meet customer expectations.Ā Companies are incorporating generative AI into data analysis to find better ways to personalize customer experiences and deliver value pro-actively to customers, and it will be terrific to see how those new CX capabilities adapt to the energy industry.Ā Much to watch, Iām sure.
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Cristin LyonsĀ - Partner and Energy Practice Leader, ScottMadden, Inc.
Recommended submission from Cristin:Ā Denmark Explores Clean Energy Leadership by Land, Sea, and Air
If you had to predict, what will be the hottest topic on Energy Central in 2024?
I think weāre going to see and hear a lot about increasing load growth both from electrification and from new, large loads connecting to the system. These loads may be data centers or new industrial customers and depending on the location where they want to interconnect, we may face backlogs in getting the infrastructure built to accommodate them. This has the potential to exacerbate challenge the industry is facing in planning a system that meets reliability, affordability and clean energy objectives.
What has been a highlight of your year, personally or professionally?
I had the opportunity to travel to Denmark on a fact-finding mission in June and wrote about our findings in a recent Energy Central post. It was inspiring to see a country (and its many stakeholders) so aligned behind the clean energy transition.
Whatās the best bit of career advice youāve gotten that you would like to pass on?
I received this advice recentlyā¦ to look for my mission or purpose in whatever situation that Iām in. It could be that I have a unique perspective that can be helpful to a colleague or client or a skill that can help untangle a particular issue. Regardless, when Iām thinking about how I can best be of service in whatever situation Iām in, Iām a better colleague and friend.
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Congratulations once again to our Top Voices in the EnergyBiz Network, and thanks to all Energy Central Community Members for enabling the community and platform to thrive this year! And keep an eye out for the next Top Voices Articles to come as this week unfolds