Energy Central

When we look to the future of the electric utility industry, what do we see? Better data. More efficiencies. Smarter grids. Simpler asset management. At least—that’s what we’re all hoping for. To make it happen? It’s all about location, location, location. And that’s where GIS comes in: Moving into the future of power, GIS will be instrumental in challenging the status quo, improving utilities’ understanding of where things are (from outages to assets to customers), leveling up what regulatory compliance really means, and breaking down siloes across the power org. Today on our finale of The GISt, we hear from Dr. Comfort Manyame, director of geospatial R&D at EMPACT Engineering and an expert in GIS for nearly 30 years. Dr. Manyame covers it all, from the intersection of GIS and AI to the skillset of the next generation of remarkable power professionals. Accessible GIS is the key to bringing this industry into its next era. Today, we’re talking about how that happens, who stands to benefit the most, and where we’re headed next.

Being a leader is about more than just knowing electrons. It’s about showing up every day ready to set the pace and tone for your team—this episode is the playbook for doing just that. Today on Piloting the Future, Kim & Lee tackle the idea of influence beyond authority—how energy leaders are becoming change champions, no matter their titles, budgets, or team sizes. We’ve got two experts leading the charge: Jody Allison (VP of Customer Transformation at Xcel Energy) & Brandy Bolden (Chief Customer Officer at SMUD). Jody and Brandy are serving up an insightful look at how they drive change in their orgs—managing ambiguity, driving strategic efforts, leveraging AI as a teammate, finding the value prop in customer expectations, winning community support, getting comfortable with risk, navigating authenticity vs. reality…and so much more. This conversation is a great listen for anyone eager to learn how to navigate the non-technical aspects of their jobs (because those matter, a lot). Want to know what leadership in the modern utility world looks like? Hit play. Learn more about Utility2030 here: https://www.utility2030.org/leadership

The conversation around AI in energy often centers on what it consumes. But what about what it can contribute? Nowhere is that question more relevant than in nuclear power — a resource that is both critical to decarbonization and too often slow to adopt new tools. In this episode of Power Perspectives, podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester sit down with Trey Lauderdale, Founder & CEO of Atomic Canyon, a startup pioneering the first on-premise AI platform designed for nuclear power plants. Trey shares his unconventional journey from healthcare startups to energy innovation, and how his company is already helping modernize operations at Diablo Canyon, one of the country’s most critical nuclear facilities. He highlights the challenges (and surprising wins) of bringing AI to conservative utility environments, while laying out the playbook for how AI can cut reactor engineering timelines by years. If you’ve been watching the parallel hype cycles around AI and nuclear and wondering where they truly intersect, then buckle up and enjoy this conversation that cuts through the noise with a vision from inside the control room. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: TBD Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yyMuQkEluA8 Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast Atomic Canyon: http://www.atomic-canyon.com/

The Esri Utility Network is more than a technology upgrade. It’s a strategic leap forward that helps utilities transform asset modeling, improve data security, and enhance operational decision-making…while enabling real-time visibility and better data sharing across departments to solve problems with less friction and greater interconnection. Making the jump to the Utility Network isn’t easy, though. That’s where today’s episode comes in—a detailed guide to the why, how, and when of making the leap to this new framework for mapping and planning. David Miller, Executive Consultant at SSP Innovations, leverages 20 years of expertise to help utilities migrate to the UN—and establish priorities, game plans, ambitions, and systems needs. Today on The GISt, he’s breaking down his process for utilities of all shapes and sizes. This episode is brought to you by SSP Innovations. SSP Innovations is a leading Esri Platinum Partner serving the electric and gas utility industries. Electric and gas utilities across North America trust SSP for strategic consulting, GIS and data managed services, Utility Network migrations, system integration, and long-term support. From the introduction of the Utility Network platform, SSP has led the way with strategic consulting, data preparation, and implementation services. Many of the largest utility companies in North America have chosen SSP for their Utility Network migration projects and celebrated their successful completion. Want to learn more about SSP Innovations? Right this way: https://www2.sspinnovations.com/utility-network-podcast

When a tech giant comes knocking, how does a utility say make room for them in a way that ensures the best outcomes for its existing customers? That’s the question at the heart of Mississippi’s leap into the global spotlight, as Amazon Web Services chose the state for one of its largest-ever data center investments. And for Entergy Mississippi, this wasn’t just about plugging in servers — it was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize the grid, replace retiring generation, invest in community infrastructure, and keep rates affordable for customers, including the 20% living below the poverty line. In this episode of Power Perspectives, podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester are joined by Haley Fisackerly, President and CEO of Entergy Mississippi. In this conversation, Haley outlines how this deal came together after years of effort, what it means for clean energy and resiliency in the region, and how his team manages to balance the demands of hyperscale data centers with the realities of local communities. From navigating regulatory hurdles to ensuring affordability and equity, Haley shares lessons every utility leader should hear before the next big tech partnership lands on their doorstep. Key Links: Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: https://energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/how-this-utility-ceo-helped-land-amazon-s-16-billion-power-investment-HPe8T88l2ugWwIg Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RLEYYpco_ws Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

Wildfires, hurricanes, cyberattacks—utilities are under siege from extreme events. But what if there were a better, calmer, and smarter way to handle them? In this episode of Power Perspectives, host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester are joined by Matt Schnugg, Chief Product Officer at Schneider Electric’s Digital Grid business to talk about a transformative new framework called Holistic Event Management. It’s an approach that moves beyond siloed solutions and reactive decision-making—toward unified, proactive digital platforms that support operators in both blue-sky and black-sky conditions. Drawing from his experience leading the rollout of Schneider Electric’s One Digital Grid Platform, Matt shares how utilities can reduce the **c**ognitive burden on their teams during moments of chaos and build a response strategy that’s not just reactive—but anticipatory. From wildfire preparation to grid restoration, we explore how digital transformation is becoming a lifeline for resilience. Listen in to learn how today’s utility event management got so fragmented and reactive, and how culture, alignment, and digital integration are key to successfully addressing emergencies moving forward. Key Links: Energy Central Post: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/the-utility-emergency-playbook-gets-a-makeover-2NtReLZGxsmg5zb Schneider Electric on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/SchneiderElectric Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lg_1xxFAai8 Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

So you’ve got a lot of data…now what do you do with it? How do we turn a patchwork of energy technologies into a single cohesive model—one that’s scalable, reliable, and ready to deploy? That’s what we’re talking about today: filling in digital gaps with GIS technology. Because doing so doesn’t just mean improving workflows—it can also mean optimizing gains for utilities across the board. Our guest today is Matt Zimmerman, UDC Vice President of Systems Integration. Matt is giving an expert POV on the current state of digitalization, including an impactful case study showing how one utility is pulling off an end-to-end retirement of their paper asset construction—with UDC’s help. This episode is packed with intel on how the design fabric of high-tech utility workflows operates in the real world. This episode is brought to you by UDC. As a GIS-centric systems integrator, UDC specializes in supporting its clients' projects and programs throughout the entire lifecycle—from conception to implementation. UDC’s services are tailored to utilities and infrastructure companies worldwide, offering geospatial technology solutions designed to maximize the return on enterprise digital investments. Celebrating 20 years, UDC is proud to have achieved Platinum status in the Esri Partner Network program and has served over 75 utility organizations on projects related to Digital Design and Construction; Data Readiness and Maintenance; Data Acquisition; Enterprise Architecture; GIS Technology Stack Implementation; Utility Network Transformation; Utility Compliance Management; and Grid Modernization, including ADMS planning and implementation. You can connect with Matt Zimmerman and his UDC team on Energy Central or at udcus.com to explore how to unlock the full potential of your organization’s enterprise digital investments. Read more about UDC’s work mapping the last frontier of the digital utility right here: https://www.energycentral.com/home/post/last-frontier-digital-utility-r-O6rqeouzuP16R9X

How can you build the grid of the future when your field crews are still relying on paper and clipboards? For utilities across the country, that question has become urgent—especially as extreme weather events become more frequent and the demand for accurate, real-time data skyrockets. To help podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester dive into that topic on this episode of Power Perspectives, the podcast welcomes Bob Schultz, a veteran utility data expert and Electric Utility Industry Specialist at Locusview. Drawing from decades of experience—from the era of 90-day GIS lag times to today's near-instant data capture—Bob shares how utilities can modernize field operations, embrace barcode scanning and mobile apps, and meet the expectations of a new generation of digital-native lineworkers. If you’re still managing your assets with manila folders, it’s time to hear what’s next. Key Links: Energy Central Post: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/field-crews-of-the-future-are-here-PruvhWxaRKcgJuV Robert Schultz on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/member/CBdPIxdafG Locusview on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/LocusView Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1XWnk3w-4gU Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

The biggest threat to grid modernization? It might be hiding in your GIS. Utilities are racing toward smarter, more dynamic grid systems—layering on DERs, EVs, ADMS, and DERMS. But there’s a hidden bottleneck holding everything back: the massive disconnect between field data and back-office systems. In this episode of Power Perspectives, Adrian McNulty, Vice President of Utility Solutions at IQGeo, joins to dig into why real-time, mobile-first GIS systems are the unsung heroes of the modern grid. Adrian draws from more than two decades of experience in utility software to explain why outdated systems and poor field connectivity are dragging down the potential of advanced grid technologies—and how forward-thinking utilities are fixing it. Tune in to learn why traditional GIS platforms are falling short in the DER era, what it means to truly unify the field and the office around a single source of truth, and how utilities can streamline tools into one spatial solution. Key Links: Energy Central Post: TBD Adrian McNulty on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/member/Hij9uuGDVf IQGeo on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/IQGeo Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mr-52iczOUc Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

“As long as we have the data, the sky is the limit.” The transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy reality is a massive undertaking—and we all know by now that massive undertakings require a LOT of data. So today on The GISt, we’re exploring how utilities and energy innovators are leveraging GIS to help integrate renewables into the existing grid to make it more diverse and more reliable. We want to get the most out of our renewables investments…and GIS could be the key to doing so. About our guest: Anthony Saylor is GIS Manager for The Ray, a company that aims to transform the transportation infrastructure of the future by building net-zero highways. They’re utilizing solar-powered EV charging, right-of-way solar, climate modeling, a vehicle-to-everything data ecosystem, and more—tons of cool tech powering the future, and much of it brought to life by GIS.

As utilities race to modernize the grid, too often the communication systems needed to communicate with the grid are overlooked. From DER integration and wildfire mitigation to smart meters and real-time situational awareness, none of it functions without robust telecom infrastructure. That reality is why the power utility and telecom nexus is being brought more into the spotlight with each passing year. In this episode, we’re joined by Rusty Williams, President & CEO of the Utilities Technology Council (UTC), a global trade association advocating for the telecom needs of critical infrastructure providers. Rusty brings 30+ years of experience in utility telecom and IT—and he’s here to pull back the curtain on why communications infrastructure is no longer a side topic for utility executives, but instead it must be a a central pillar of the energy transition. From battles over wireless spectrum to debates on pole attachments, this Power Perspectives conversation unpacks the regulatory, policy, and operational issues utilities must navigate to ensure secure, real-time communication across their systems. Key Links: Energy Central Post: TBD Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y5L05dJZtGM Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

How are utilities supposed to balance 1) strategic grid planning with 2) strong stewardship of the tree canopy we all rely on? It requires a new approach to vegetation management—one rooted in global information sharing that transcends competitive bounds. That’s what today’s guests—Dennis Fallon, Executive Director of the Utility Arborist Association, and Justin McQuistan, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the Arbor Day Foundation—are building. And this week, Kim & Lee getting the inside scoop on how they’re doing it. Because trees and vegetation certainly can work in favor of utilities…it’s just about the right tree in the right place. This episode serves as a roadmap for utility leaders who want to redefine their vegetation management approach to go from reactive to proactive. PLUS: The Arbor Day Foundation is giving away free trees. They’ll plant one free tree for the first 200 Piloting the Future listeners who go to this link: https://get.arborday.org/innovationforce Thanks for listening, and go claim your tree now. See you soon.

We’re building the grid of the future today, but how can we do so without fully knowing what’s already underground? That’s the uncomfortable truth facing utilities, city planners, and infrastructure developers as they charge ahead with clean energy, broadband, EV charging, and transmission upgrades. In today’s episode of Power Perspectives, we confront the chaos beneath our feet, and introduce one leader’s bold vision to fix it. This episode’s guest is Itzik Malka, CEO of 4M Analytics, the company currently using AI, satellite imagery, and geospatial analytics to create the first scalable, dynamic map of underground infrastructure. Think “Google Maps” for what’s buried underground—built without boots on the ground, at global scale. In this conversation, we dive into the risks of outdated or missing subsurface data and the cascading costs of uncertainty in construction. And we explore how AI is not just a shiny new tool—but a necessary lens for utilities and contractors to see clearly, collaborate better, and avoid catastrophe. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: TBD Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MDtkoKef1c4 Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

At the core of running an efficient, resilient power system, there’s one singular need: interoperability. Do you have one place where everyone, across teams and structures, can go to get the real-time information they need when they need it? Without that, utility leaders are setting themselves up for failure to meet the rising expectations from consumers. But the good news? Maps make interoperability like second nature. And this week on The GISt, we have a step-by-step how-to for utilities that want to strengthen their collaboration. In the last of three top-notch episodes of The GISt with our partners at Esri, we’re joined again by Director of Electric Utility Solutions Bill Meehan & Director of Electric Industry Solutions Pat Hohl. And these two? They’re breaking down some of the coolest ways utilities are sharing information in real time—as it’s happening—to avoid redundancy, become more effective across teams, and nail the three Cs of power: collaboration, coordination, and communication. This episode is brought to you by Esri. Esri is the global market leader in GIS software, location intelligence, and mapping. With Esri software you can add the power of location to modernize how you work. Esri helps to digitally transform utilities by enabling users to create, discover, share, and use maps anywhere, anytime, on any device. The Esri ArcGIS system is a comprehensive GIS allowing organizations to analyze and share their data across the organization. Operators and managers access ArcGIS for improved operational awareness and decision making. Field and office staff use ArcGIS to manage, update, and analyze information about customers, network assets, and work orders. To find out how to digitally transform your utility visit [www.esri.com/electric] to learn more.

Artificial Intelligence promises to revolutionize the utility industry, from predicting outages to integrating distributed energy resources. But between headlines and hype, a dangerous pattern is emerging: AI fatigue. Too many pilots, too many proof-of-concepts, and not enough actual results. Utilities risk getting lost chasing the “next shiny object” instead of tackling the biggest, most urgent operational challenges staring them in the face. In this episode, we’re joined by Kim Getgen, Founder & CEO of InnovationForce, who has made it her mission to cut through the noise and help utilities focus. Kim’s team has analyzed more than 600 grid modernization plans to identify critical challenges hidden in plain sight — and she’s on a mission to help utilities match those challenges with real, utility-grade solutions. If you care about real progress — not just buzzwords — this is an episode you won’t want to miss. And if you’re pulled in by Kim’s inspired perspective on innovation, you can catch more on the ‘Piloting the Future’ podcast she hosts, part of the Energy Central podcast network. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: TBD Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8EZkaTqC3d0 Kim Getgen on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/member/7aue97w7Ti Latest Episode of Piloting the Future, Co-Hosted by Kim Getgen: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/piloting-the-future-how-to-scale-with-simplicity-ft-it-s-electric-9uYSJNa0LuJgRoR Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

The first step to creating widespread change in energy? Know the problem you need to solve. For Tiya Gordon, cofounder & COO of It's Electric, that problem was this: More people would get EVs if they were easier to charge in big cities. So? She got to work creating a solution in the first curbside EV charging system built for metro areas. This week on Piloting the Future, Tiya and Mike Lake, President & CEO of Leading Cities, join Kim and Lee to share the nitty gritty on building their partnership and the first behind-the-meter public curbside charger solution. The episode is packed with insights on building ideas into startups and startups into scalable businesses. Tiya explains how It’s Electric avoided the logjams of direct utility connection for charging infrastructure. Mike explains how he evaluates startups for investment and backing, from innovation to leadership. And Kim and Lee lead us through tons more. This conversation is loaded with real-world insights into the process of creating change, one city and one idea at a time. Learn more about It’s Electric here: https://www.itselectric.us/ And learn more about Leading Cities here: https://leadingcities.org/home

Behind the energy transition’s headlines about megawatts and microgrids lurks a quiet but critical crisis: a severe shortage of skilled trade workers. These electricians, technicians, lineworkers, and other trade professionals keep the power flowing, yet they’re retiring faster than they’re being replaced — leaving an enormous talent gap just as the grid needs to expand and modernize. In this episode of Power Perspectives, Ruchir Shah, Founder and CEO of SkillCat, joins the conversation to break down how we can rescue the skilled trades pipeline, attract new talent, and modernize training for a rapidly evolving energy industry. Whether you’re a utility executive, HR leader, regulator, or simply someone concerned about energy’s future, this episode will give you a fresh look at why skilled trades matter more than ever, what you can do to help keep this essential workforce strong, and how to attract new, young talent to our sector. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: TBD Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DWhYps7-Wto Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

When you see relationships and patterns, you don’t just take a peek at opportunities—you get a preview of risks…and a chance to get out in front of changes that need to be made. That’s the power of GIS as a tool for discovery. Why? Because looking at your reality in a spatial context opens up a new world of discoverability—and that can quite literally take utilities from “I hope so” to “now I know what to do.” Creating that tapestry of high-value information can change everything for power pros. In the second of three top-notch episodes of The GISt with our partners at Esri, we’re joined again by Director of Electric Utility Solutions Bill Meehan & Director of Electric Industry Solutions Pat Hohl. And these two? They’re breaking down some of the coolest ways utilities are leveraging GIS and mapping to do better business—including how one Esri client quadrupled their asset renewal program effectiveness in just one year. This episode is brought to you by Esri. Esri is the global market leader in GIS software, location intelligence, and mapping. With Esri software you can add the power of location to modernize how you work. Esri helps to digitally transform utilities by enabling users to create, discover, share, and use maps anywhere, anytime, on any device. The Esri ArcGIS system is a comprehensive GIS allowing organizations to analyze and share their data across the organization. Operators and managers access ArcGIS for improved operational awareness and decision making. Field and office staff use ArcGIS to manage, update, and analyze information about customers, network assets, and work orders. To find out how to digitally transform your utility visit [www.esri.com/electric] to learn more. Don’t miss the next episode of The GISt ft. Esri—covering GIS for utility collaboration. See you next time.

For decades, utility performance has been judged by how well companies met regulatory requirements—but is that enough for the energy transition ahead? In this episode of Power Perspectives, we look at what it means for a utility to evolve beyond compliance, as we’re joined by Guy Chalkley, CEO of Endeavour Energy in Australia, and Richard McIndoe, Executive Chairman of Edge Zero. Together, they’re helping utilities shift from a risk-averse, regulation-driven mindset to one rooted in customer outcomes, DER integration, and future-focused innovation. Australia has faced a rapid influx of distributed energy resources (DERs) and customer-driven change, forcing utilities to respond years ahead of their global peers. U.S. utilities now have an opportunity to learn from that experience—before the disruption lands at their doorstep. That need for transformation means this episode is essential listening for utility executives, regulators, planners, and customer engagement teams alike. It’s not just about the technology—it’s about rethinking the entire framework of utility success. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: TBD Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/M7M8w3QfGmA Richard McIndoe on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/member/BBML0B8KoT Edge Zero on Energy Central: https://www.energycentral.com/edgezero Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

Tackling energy’s biggest problems requires true innovators to start somewhere—small solutions turn into enormous ones, faster than you might think. This week on Piloting the Future, hosts Kim Getgen and Lee Krevat hear from David Burchfield, Cofounder of BuildingLens, and Katherine Juengel, Green Cities Industry Liaison at Prosper Portland, about the way Portland is supporting energy innovation—and making community a cornerstone of power programs—one step at a time. We cover distributed energy (the lowest hanging fruit for innovators, as our guests put it), the role of risk taking for utilities that truly want to think for the future, and how to work backwards from the customer to create solutions worth adopting—along with so much more. Listen in for an up-close look at how Portland and the innovators who call it home are proving that transformation is just one relationship away.