The Current: Recent Episodes
We Stand For Energy
We Stand For Energy, a project of the Edison Electric Institute, presents The Current, a podcast focused on providing policymakers with insights into the electric energy generation and distribution industry.
How do we ensure families can keep the lights on, and how can electric companies lead the charge? Jonathan Hirte, Director of Federal Affairs at DTE Energy, joins The Current to unpack how energy providers can play a pivotal role in expanding access to critical assistance programs like LIHEAP and Michigan’s MEAP. As August marks LIHEAP Action Month, this episode offers timely insights into how DTE supported a major expansion of the MEAP program, doubling funding, raising eligibility thresholds, and capping monthly customer fees.
How do lineworkers keep our electric grid resilient, reliable, and ready for the future? Drew Stover, Director of the Utility Department at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and a second-generation journeyman lineworker, joins host Kristine Telfer to discuss the critical role lineworkers play as energy demands and challenges continue to evolve.
Show your appreciation for lineworkers by signing the petition: https://www.westandforenergy.com
Learn more about IBEW: https://ibew.org
Subscribe to The Current podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1030480
We’re joined by Chet Wade, Communications Director of Partners in Wildfire Prevention, to discuss the coalition’s efforts to reduce the devastating impacts of wildfires through prevention and preparedness. As wildfires increasingly threaten communities nationwide, our guest highlights the need for a comprehensive national strategy focused on community protection, responsible investment, and rapid recovery, providing a valuable conversation on how we can work together to mitigate wildfire risks and protect vulnerable communities.
Learn more about Partners in Wildfire Prevention: https://preventwildfires.org/.
In this episode of The Current, we speak with Tony Clark, the executive director of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), an organization that represents state utility regulators across the nation. Our discussion focuses on the significance of energy security, both now and in the future. We explore how energy policies for electric companies, policymakers, and regulators are continually evolving to meet the needs of electric customers. As a subject matter expert, Tony explains how regulation and coordination are essential for building a strong and resilient electric grid.
In this episode of The Current, we reconnect with Eric Grey, Vice President of Government Relations at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Our conversation explores how the priorities of the new administration will affect the electric power industry. Eric elaborates on important legislation that Congress is currently addressing, improvements to infrastructure, grid resiliency, and key wildfire policies.
On this episode of The Current, we connected with Kregg Arntson, Executive Director of the Portland General Electric Foundation. He leads Project Zero, an initiative to inspire the next generation to explore clean energy challenges in the greater Portland community. Since 2020, they have shown more than 175K students how to combat climate change, earning them the EEI’s 2024 Corporate Citizen Program award.
Participants:
- Kristine Telford, Executive Director of External Affairs, EEI – Moderator
- Kregg Arntson, Executive Director Portland General Electric Foundation
In this episode of The Current, we delve into the vital topic of cybersecurity in the energy sector. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to explore how electric utilities are safeguarding the nation's electric grid from cyber threats. Our guests will share insights into the evolving threat landscape, the steps companies are taking to secure their systems, and how these efforts ultimately protect electric customers.
Participants:
- Kristine Telford, Executive Director of External Affairs, EEI – Moderator
- Eileen Figone, Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Security, Risk and Compliance for Puget Sound Energy
- Sharla Artz, Security and Resilience Policy Area Vice President, Xcel Energy
Notes:
- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Threat Analysis Center (ETAC) pilot led by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), is a public-private partnership that convenes experts from the federal government and the U.S. energy sector, joining analytic capabilities from the national laboratories with real-world threat insights to secure critical infrastructure and support the nation’s response to energy system threats. (Energy Threat Analysis Center | Department of Energy)
- The Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) reduces cyber and physical security risk to the electric industry across North America by providing unique insights, leadership, and collaboration. (About the E-ISAC)
- The National Laboratories conduct research and development that addresses the Department of Energy’s core missions in energy, science, national security, and environmental stewardship. (What We Do - The National LaboratoriesThe National Laboratories)
- The CEO-led Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) serves as the principal liaison between the federal government and the electric power industry on efforts to prepare for, and respond to, national-level disasters or threats to critical infrastructure. The ESCC works across the sector, and with the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), to develop actions and strategies that help protect the North American energy grid and prevent a spectrum of threats from disrupting electricity service. (ESCC - Home)
August is LIHEAP Action Month, which recognizes the importance of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This federally funded program provides qualifying customers with bill payment and energy assistance options.
Veronica Stober, a seasoned Customer Care Advocate at Alliant Energy, joins us to spread awareness about LIHEAP, how the program works for customers, and why you should support this critical assistance program. She has over 25 years of experience in the energy sector. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to supporting low-income customers, ensuring they can access essential energy services in their area.
his week, EEI's Electric Perspectives Podcast and The Current are partnering for an episode to discuss the impacts of Hurricane Beryl and the tremendous restoration efforts that are underway. On this episode, you'll hear from StormGeo Meteorologist Justin Petrutsas — who is based in the Houston area— and Scott Aaronson, EEI Senior Vice President of Security and Preparedness, about the intensity of this hurricane as well the complex work that is underway to safely restore power to impacted customers.
In this episode of The Current, EEI Executive Director of External Affairs Kristine Telford is joined by PPL Corporation President and CEO Vince Sorgi. They have an in-depth conversation about resource adequacy within the shifting energy landscape and company innovations to sustainably meet high customer demand for today and future generations.
In this week's episode of the Current, Edison Electric Institutes, Kristine Telford is joined by Richard T. Thigpen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Citizenship at PSEG company. Rick provides insight into PSEG's commitment to a diverse workforce, philanthropy, and its role in helping solve serious challenges.
On this episode of The Current, our guests discuss the state of electric transportation in the U.S. Joining us are Kellen Schefter, Senior Director of Electric Transportation at EEI, and Scott Barrios, Manager of Electric Mobility at Entergy.
On this episode of The Current, Edison Electric Institute's Executive Director of External Affairs Kristine Telford interviews the Utilities United Against Scams Executive Director Monica Martinez, where these industry leaders discuss utility scams and the ways that consumers can protect themselves as part of their effort to #StopScams ahead of Utility Scam Awareness Day on November 15th.
EEI Executive Director of External Affairs Kristine Telford interviews Jose Perez, President of Hispanics in Energy on how the organization continues to grow and is working to educate & engage the Hispanic community on critical energy issues across the country.
EEI Executive Director of External Affairs Kristine Telford interviews Puget Sound Energy Director of Electric Operations Ryan Murphy on wildfire mitigation efforts and measures the company is taking this wildfire season.
This week, Mark Quinlan, the Senior Vice President of Wildfires & Emergency Operations at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, joins The Current. Kristine and Mark discuss the upcoming peak of wildfire season and how the company is preparing for this through its proactive mitigation program.
This week, Mark Wolfe, the Executive Director National Energy Assistance Directors' Association and an expert on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), joins The Current. Jeff and Mark discuss key issues facing the LIHEAP program and the recent action day in Washington, D.C.
This week, Ed Hirs an energy fellow at the University of Houston and a world renowned expert on deregulation joins The Current. Jeff and Ed explore the challenges and risks—including higher prices and less reliability—of deregulated electricity.
This week on The Current, Phil Cox, a nationally renowned political operative, joins your host Kristine Telford to talk about the key takeaways from the midterm elections and what that means for upcoming policy debates at the state and federal level.
This week on the Current, Phillip May, President and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, and Deanna Rodriguez, President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, join us to highlight the ways Entergy is supporting customers throughout Louisiana from bill assistance to resiliency investments.
This week on The Current, join your host Kristine Telford as she deep dives into the new technologies the Department of Energy is utilizing to help mitigate against wildfires and other potential threats. To better explain these technologies and their capabilities Kristine is joined by this week's guest Stewart Cedres, Senior Technical Lead and Strategist of Electric Grid Resilience Capabilities at the Office of Electricity at the Department of Energy.
Join the conversation to learn more about summer reliability, wildfires and how the electric grid as a whole is being impacted. To help provide unique insights into these issues Brad is joined by John Moura, Director of Reliability Assessment and Performance Analysis at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Scott Aaronson, Senior Vice President of Security and Preparedness at Edison Electric Institute and also part of the Secretariat at the Electric Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC).
This week on The Current, Matthew Jaramillo, Director of Government Affairs at PNM Resources, joins us to discuss the fire mitigation practices being used by the electric power industry as New Mexico faces its largest wildfire in state history.
In recent years, the number of wildfires in Idaho has grown exponentially. Join the conversation as Brad hosts an expert in wildfire mitigation. John Axtman, the senior manager of transmission and distribution engineering reliability at Idaho Power. Listen in too learn more about the wildfire mitigation efforts being taken in Idaho and how the increased threat of wildfires have been impacting the Electric power industry as a whole.
Join the discussion this week to learn about energy transition, just transition and what the energy industry is doing as it adapts. Brad discusses what is currently happening within the industry and what is coming on the horizon. To provide expert industry insights Brad is joined by Mallory Huggins, a senior project director at the Keystone Policy center.
This week, Brad dives into the world of crypto mining and how energy plays a critical role in the rise of this technology. To understand how blockchain and cryptocurrencies work, and their relationship with electricity use, Brad is joined by Thomas Mapes, Sr. Policy Analyst at the Chamber of Digital Commerce, and Fred Thiel, Chairman & CEO at Marathon Digital Holdings.
Over the course of the pandemic, we all became familiar with the saying “we're in this together.” Power companies stepped up in unexpected ways to support customers and invest in communities they serve. One company that stood out was DTE Energy. The Current highlighted DTE’s partnership with Detroit early in the pandemic to provide Detroit school students laptops and internet connections to support their virtual lessons. Brad revisits that and other initiatives by DTE to support communities across Michigan. Joining this week’s conversation is Lynette Dowler, Vice President of Public Affairs at DTE Energy and President and Chair of the DTE Energy Foundation.
Transportation electrification is undergoing a revolution as demand increases for private and commercial EV options. However, expanding access to charging infrastructure will require untangling a web of regulatory hurdles spanning different states and different regulatory jurisdictions. In this episode of The Current, Brad unpacks how the electric power and transportation industries are collaborating to plan for rising demand for charging tools, the ways in which the industries educate regulators, and the challenges that must be overcome to accelerate EV adoption. Joining the discussion are Kellen Schefter, Director of Electric Transportation at the Edison Electric Institute, and Phil Jones, Executive Director of the Alliance for Transportation Electrification.
LIHEAP, or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, has helped millions of Americans struggling to pay electricity bills, especially since the pandemic. Joining Brad to explain LIHEAP’s importance for struggling families and how the program has evolved is Katrina Metlzer, Executive Director of the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC), and Theresa Kullen, Manager of the Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).
As a note to our audience, Katrina, Theresa and We Stand For Energy are joining thousands of advocates on Feb. 23 for a virtual LIHEAP Action Day. You can get involved by signing our petition to #ProtectLIHEAP here.
Can Democrats save the Build Back Better plan? Supreme Court politics and other legislative priorities are taking up precious time in the legislative calendar before the midterms, but President Biden and Democrats remain hopeful that components of BBB can pass. EEI’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Eric Grey, sits down with Brad to discuss what vehicles are available to pass the energy components of that bill.
In our first episode of 2022, Brad talks about nuclear energy with Beverly Marshall, Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). Nuclear energy is at an inflection point, as policymakers and companies increasingly rely on its potential to decarbonize the economy and meet ESG goals. Bev talks about recent developments in nuclear and how federal and state action are poised to expand its role in America’s electricity market.
This week, Brad sits down with Lon Huber, Vice President of Rate Design and Strategic Solutions at Duke Energy. Lon and Duke Energy recently entered into The South Carolina Solar Choice Settlement. The settlement – and the proceeding that led to the settlement’s outcome – was unique compared to others. Lon lays out how parties were able to put aside differences and formulate an innovative rate design for DERs.
We all grew up hearing “think globally, act locally” when it comes to environmental issues. Who is better positioned to do that than our own mayors and local officials? This week, we have the honor of being joined by the mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Melvin Carter, who has pushed building code updates and transportation electrification projects in his city. Mayor Carter discusses those and other ways that local leaders can fight climate change while protecting low-income residents.
This week, we’re celebrating National Drive Electric Week by sitting down with Dan Bowerson, Senior Director of Energy and Environment at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. Dan shares with us the car industry’s perspectives on the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, what needs to happen on the policy and consumer levels to accelerate EV deployment, and how the automotive and electric power industries can work together.
Congress returns from the August recess with an eye toward passing the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, which received overwhelming bipartisan support in August, and the more controversial $3.5 trillion budget. This week, Brad sits down with Capitol Hill expert Bob Russell, Partner at the Simmons & Russell Group, to help break down the infrastructure bill, budget reconciliation, and the politics surrounding both.
From expanding cleaner energy resources to enhancing grid reliability, state policymakers are at the center of shaping how electricity is generated and delivered. Tim Fox, Vice President & Research Analyst at ClearView Energy Partners, sits down with Brad this week to walkthrough the different policy approaches red and blue states are implementing toward the electric power industry.
July 10 is Lineworker Appreciation Day. To celebrate the men and women who brave the elements in and around hazardous conditions to keep the power on, Brad sits down with three guests to discuss the training and day-to-day work that confront lineworkers and the ways the trade is evolving and diversifying. Joining Brad is a panel of experts on the trade:
- Shannon Skinner – Foreman with NV Energy and President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 396 in Las Vegas
- Eppie Martinez – Leads training at the IBEW and is Executive Director of the National Utility Industry Training Fund
- Missy Henriksen – Executive Director at Center for Energy Workforce Development
Lineworkers are essential to delivering energy to homes and businesses. We hope you will join us in thanking our nation’s lineworkers for their dedication to powering our lives each day by signing our petition here.
On this week’s episode, The Current sat down for our very first interview on the social media platform Clubhouse to discuss the February winter storms that struck the South. Texas electricity consumers were particularly hit hard, with millions of Texans going without power in freezing temperatures for days. It could have been worse. The grid was just minutes away from being wiped out. The storm renewed focus on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and its failure to prepare for and respond to the disaster. Ed Hirs, Distinguished Professor of Economics at the University of Houston and a bona fide expert on energy markets, sits down with Brad to discuss what happened and how to prevent this disaster from happening again.
Cyberattacks are expanding and becoming ever more sophisticated, and the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline in May highlighted the scale to which these attacks can penetrate critical infrastructure and upend millions of Americans’ lives. Joining Brad this week to discuss the attack and what policymakers – and companies – need to be doing to prevent and respond to cyberthreats is former Texas congressman and cybersecurity expert Will Hurd.
In this special edition of The Current, Brad sits down with three guests to discuss the different ways that government agencies and electric power companies prepare for and respond to wildfires. Jessica Gardetto, Chief of the Office of External Affairs at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), gives insights into the challenges of firefighting and how local and federal agencies coordinate with one-another. Then, two electric power industry experts join the conversation to discuss ways their companies address the threats from wildfires on their infrastructure and to customers: John Lee, Senior Director for Electric Distribution at Colorado-based Xcel Energy, and Jonathan Woldemariam, Director of Wildfire Mitigation and Vegetation Management at San Diego Gas and Electric.
Brad sits down this week with Ralph Cleveland, Interim President and CEO of American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), to discuss AABE’s policy focus and its upcoming national conference, taking place virtually on May 25-27. The theme of this year’s conference is “Connecting the Dots,” and speakers include an array of experts from business, academia, and politics to speak about emerging policies, technologies, and trends in the energy industry. Learn more and register for the conference here.
Todd Manuel, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Transformation at EEI, joins Brad to discuss what initiatives member companies are taking to strengthen diversity and inclusion in the ranks of the electric power industry, and how last summer’s racial justice events impacted the industry.
Bhavani Amirthalingam, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer at Ameren Services, joins Brad to discuss the intersection between the electric power industry and telecommunications and what steps the industry is taking to boost access to broadband and the evolving smart grid.
This week, Brad discusses the electric industry’s priorities with the new Congress and the Biden administration, particularly as they relate to clean energy. Joining Brad is Emily Fisher, General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Clean Energy at EEI, who will discuss the issues facing the larger industry. Sarah Venuto, Vice President of Public Policy at Duke Energy, will provide perspective on how Duke is looking at these issues and how her company is setting long-term plans for clean energy and grid investments – despite the constantly shifting policy priorities in Washington.
This week, Brad sits down with Brian Wolff, Executive Vice President of Policy & External Affairs at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), to discuss the top policy priorities the electric power industry is watching with the new Biden administration and Congress, including Covid relief, infrastructure, broadband, clean energy legislation and much more.
In our first episode of 2021, The Current dives deep into the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, a framework that factors into which companies investors support. To talk about ESG, Brad is joined by Steve Fleishman, Managing Director and Senior Analyst at Wolfe Research, and Richard McMahon, Senior Vice President of Energy Supply and Finance at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
This week, Brad sits down with Sandra Safro, Partner at K&L Gates LLP. Sandi recently launched a hydrogen practice at her firm, and she joins The Current to discuss hydrogen as a source of energy and how it’s transforming industries.
This week, Brad is joined by Eric Grey, Managing Director of Government Relations at EEI, to discuss the 2020 elections and what impact divided government may have on the Biden administration and federal policy-making.
This week, Brad is joined by Lawrence Jones, Vice President of International Programs at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), to discuss COVID-19’s global impact and how the electric industry is responding around the world.
This week, Brad sits down with Clint Odom, Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League , to discuss issues related to social justice and race relations. Clint talks about what companies can – and should – be doing to promote dialogue on these issues and what role the electric industry and smart city policies have for bettering the lives of Black Americans and minorities.
To help explain how electricity providers are expanding the use of electric vehicles, Brad is joined by James Campbell, Director of Innovation and Sustainability Policy at Rocky Mountain Power. Rocky Mountain Power and its partners are helping to make Utah an attractive place for EVs. James shares how his state can become a model as companies and policymakers in other states pursue expanding EVs.
In August, an historic heatwave resulted in rolling blackouts that left hundreds of thousands of Californians without electricity. To help explain what happened and how we got to this point, Brad is joined by Philip D. Moeller, Executive Vice President of Business Operations Group and Regulatory Affairs at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
Millions of Americans resorted to working and studying from their homes as COVID-19 shut down offices and schools. The dramatic shift underscored that many families still lack access to basic broadband services, leading to businesses struggling and students falling behind their peers. Brad speaks with Houston Smith, Vice President of Government Affairs at Alabama Power, to discuss the electric power industry’s role in expanding access to broadband services.
This week, Brad speaks with Donnie Colston, Director of the Utilities Department at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Donnie discusses how IBEW members, including 250,000 utility workers, are operating safely during the pandemic and what support membership would like to see from Congress.
This week, Brad sits down with Roshan Patel and Marie Sanderson, Partners at 50 State, a bipartisan strategic government relations firm, to share their perspectives on how successful governors have been so far in responding to the coronavirus crisis and what challenges remain.
As state governments face the financial shock due to COVID-19, Brad digs into the tools available for federal and state policymakers to offset their budget shortfalls. He is joined this week by Ben Ritz, Director of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Center for Funding America's Future, and his colleague, Brendan McDermott, Fiscal Policy Analyst at the center, to discuss the fiscal challenges that states must tackle.
It’s been nearly four months since utility companies suspended disconnections and bolstered their customer support programs in response to COVID-19’s economic impact. This week, Brad speaks with Tara Oglesby, Vice President of Customer Experience for Ameren, to review how the St. Louis-based company serviced its customers’ evolving challenges and what lessons it is applying to its customer support model.
This week, Brad speaks with Emily Sanford Fisher, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for EEI, about trends in emissions related to COVID-19 and efforts throughout the electric utility industry to reduce carbon emissions while keeping rates affordable for customers.
As electric utility companies across the U.S. brace for summer storms, hurricanes and other disaster events, Brad sits down this week to discuss the mutual assistance program and how companies offer one another resources during times of crises to get the power back on. Wally Mealiea, Director of Preparedness & Recovery Policy at EEI, and Willie Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Entergy Corp., discuss the mutual assistance program and how it was activated during the Easter Day storms that hit the South.
This week, Brad sits down with two guests to discuss what state commissions and the federal government are doing to address COVID-19. Adam Benshoff, Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs at EEI, and Stan Wise, former Georgia Public Service Commissioner, share their perspective on the shifting regulatory landscape and what to expect moving forward.
This week, Brad speaks with Scott Segal, Partner at Bracewell, LLP, where he leads their government relations and communications group. Brad and Scott discuss federal COVID-19 stimulus funding, how it impacts the utility industry and what additional actions we can expect from Congress in the upcoming months.
This week, Brad speaks with Richard McMahon, Senior Vice President of Energy Supply and Finance at EEI, to discuss COVID-19’s impact on customers, electricity usage and on states’ economies. Brad and Richard also discuss what lessons policymakers may take away from this crisis and how to prepare for the next.
This week, Brad speaks with Katrina Metzler, Executive Director at the National Energy Utility & Affordability Coalition, or NEUAC. Katrina discusses the importance of the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and how state policymakers can help families struggling financially due to COVID-19.
In this week’s episode, Brad talks with Nancy Moody, Vice President of Public Affairs at DTE Energy, to discuss DTE Energy’s partnership with Detroit public schools to bring internet and 51,000 laptops to students learning from home amid COVID-19 school closures.
In this episode Brad speaks with Monica Martinez of Utilities United Against Scams (www.utilitiesunited.org) about some of the fraudulent activities that citizens should be wary of particularly under the various shelter at home orders and how people can protect themselves and their loved ones.
In the inaugural episode of ‘The Current’ our host, Brad Viator has a discussion with Scott Aaronson about what the electric industry is doing to respond to the COVID-19 crisis to ensure electricity is available as America moves to working at home.