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.

Piloting the Future: There’s no innovation without community buy-in, ft. BuildingLens & Prosper Portland

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 geospatial 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 Adrian draws from more than two decades of experience in utility software to explain why outdated systems and poor field connectivity are dragging down the potential of advanced grid technologies—and how forward-thinking utilities are fixing it.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 geospatial 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: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/the-grid-s-secret-weapon-smarter-field-data-vxBI0qelPHARnHf

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

The Grid’s secret weapon? Smarter field data

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

Field crews of the future are here

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

The last frontier of the digital utility

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

The utility emergency playbook gets a makeover

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

How this utility CEO helped land Amazon’s $16 billion power investment

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

The utility leader’s modern playbook for GIS

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: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/can-ai-modernize-nuclear-this-ceo-thinks-so-HXAZ6xmDCb3561h

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/

Can AI modernize nuclear? This CEO thinks so

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

How to be an energy leader—no matter your job title

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.

Moving beyond the map: How GIS takes utility leaders from reactive to proactive

Welcome to the Energy Central Podcast Network—your ultimate resource for the biggest ideas, boldest perspectives, and best insights from across the electric power industry.

We publish…

Power Perspectives. From CEOs of major utilities to founders of energy tech startups pushing the envelope, Power Perspectives curates the news, thought leaders, and big picture conversations most important to modern power professionals—every week on Tuesdays, hosted by Jason Price and Matt Chester.

Piloting the Future. Hosts Kim Gergen and Lee Krevat go deep with the leaders, innovators, and forward thinkers responsible for not just imagining where our power future is headed…but building it day by day.

The GISt. This action-packed limited series demystifies the rapidly evolving world of Geographic Information Systems through focused, expert-led deep dives into the most future-defining GIS topics.

And there’s even more to come.

Energy Central is a community where 250K electric power professionals share, learn, and connect in a collaborative environment. Want to join in? Visit www.EnergyCentral.com to register for free.

Piloting the Future: There’s no innovation without community buy-in, ft. BuildingLens & Prosper Portland

Energy Central

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