Energy Central

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328

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Oct 2026

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About the show

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. The Watt & Why. Dive deep into utility business strategies, straight from the minds of the leaders deciding what comes next. Host Mike Smith leverages his own decades of power utility industry experience and leadership to get to the bottom of what inspires, drives, and challenges utility decision makers. 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.

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60 recent

October 27, 202628 min

Robot Dogs Are Coming to the Power Grid

Robot dogs are coming to America's power grid, and they're doing more than just looking futuristic. At Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), three robot dogs named Astro, Judy, and Elroy are helping inspect substations, detect equipment problems, and prevent costly failures. With more than 270 substations and 400 large transformers to monitor, SMUD is exploring how robotics can improve grid reliability while keeping utility workers safe. In this episode, SMUD's Director of Substation Telecommunications and Metering Assets, Eric Poff, explains how the utility is deploying these robots, why catching a faulty $2,000 component could save a $4 million transformer, and what it takes to turn an innovative pilot into a practical utility solution. We also explore how robot dogs could eventually patrol substations for security and inspect hazardous hydroelectric infrastructure, all without replacing the humans who keep the grid running.

October 23, 202619 min

The Real Risks Behind the Data Center Boom

The data center boom is creating enormous opportunities for utilities, but what happens when the grid can't keep up? In this episode, Chris Sturgill, Partner at ScottMadden, talks about the financial and operational risks behind soaring data center electricity demand. They explore why data centers can be built in just 18–26 months while grid infrastructure can take 5–10 years, whether data centers could actually lower electricity bills, and how utilities can distinguish serious development projects from speculation. Sturgill also explains why promises of flexible data center electricity consumption remain largely unproven and what utility leaders should do to avoid costly infrastructure mistakes. Thank you to our partners at ScottMadden for making this episode happen. To learn more about ScottMadden visit: https://www.energycentral.com/ScottMadden

October 20, 202626 min

What The Rise of Plug-In Solar Means for Your Utility

Plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar, is gaining popularity as homeowners look for affordable ways to generate their own electricity. But could this growing technology pose unexpected risks to consumers and the power grid? Ken Boyce, Vice President of Engineering at UL Solutions, talks about the hidden safety concerns surrounding plug-in solar and what utilities need to know as adoption accelerates. Boyce explains why none of the plug-in solar products UL tested met its new safety requirements, how these systems could create electrical shock and fire hazards, and why utilities may struggle to manage thousands of small solar installations connected to the grid without their knowledge. With nearly 40 states having considered legislation addressing plug-in solar, the conversation explores the tension between making renewable energy more accessible and ensuring the safety and reliability of the electric grid.

October 13, 202622 min

What political candidates are getting wrong about the climate conversation

Energy costs, AI data centers, and grid reliability are becoming major issues in the 2026 midterm elections. But some of the most consequential decisions about America's energy future aren't being made in Washington. They're happening in state legislatures, local elections, and public utility commissions. Matt Chester speaks to Caroline Spears, founder of Climate Cabinet, about why energy has become a defining political issue, how rising electricity bills and data center development are influencing voters, and which overlooked elections could have the biggest impact on energy policy. Spears also explains how Climate Cabinet uses data science and AI to identify influential political races, why utility commission elections deserve more attention, and what the 2026 election results could mean for a new wave of data center legislation in 2027.

September 29, 202625 min

Should your utility be using AI agents?

What could AI agents actually do for a utility today? Power Perspectives host Matt Chester talks to AI strategist Jeff Wilser about the work beyond the buzzword. They explore how AI agents could search years of filings, and turn interviews with retiring employees into searchable institutional knowledge. Jeff also explains why human judgment remains essential when mistakes carry real consequences for customers and the grid, and highlights the limitations of the technology. For utility leaders ready to experiment, he offers practical starting points that you can start implementing today even if you’ve never used AI agents before.

September 25, 202627 min

Why Utilities Are Turning to DERs as Power Demand Surges

Electricity demand is rising fast, and utilities are looking for new ways to add capacity without waiting years for traditional grid upgrades. Distributed energy resources (DERs) are becoming an increasingly important part of that equation. In this episode of Power Perspectives, Energy Central’s Matt Chester sits down with Todd Jackson of PowerSecure to explore how utilities are using DERs to manage peak demand, support large loads like data centers, improve resilience during extreme weather, and gain more flexibility in how they invest in the grid. They also discuss what makes a successful utility DER program, why customer participation matters, and how distributed resources could play a much bigger role as electricity demand continues to grow. Thank you to PowerSecure for partnering with us on this episode.

September 22, 202634 min

How Clean Energy Became a Republican Issue, Too

Heather Reams spent about a decade working to bring more Republicans into the conversation around climate and clean energy policy. In this episode of Power Perspectives, she shares what she learned from working directly with lawmakers, why clean energy politics often depend on local economics and geography, and how rising electricity costs and demand are changing the conversation. We also explore where bipartisan agreement exists—and where it breaks down—on issues including permitting reform, grid modernization, nuclear energy, renewables and emerging technologies. Plus, Reams explains why she believes affordability and energy abundance are becoming increasingly important forces in U.S. energy politics.

September 15, 202622 min

The Clean Energy Transition, Explained Through Football

in this episode of Power Perspectives, Ahmed Moussa, founder of Electric Bridge Consulting, uses football to break down the path toward 100% clean energy. He explains why utilities can’t rely on a “Hail Mary” approach and instead need to move strategically down the field, balancing reliability, resilience and affordability along the way. We also explore where utilities are today, how AI and data centers are changing the game, and what utility leaders should prioritize next.

September 8, 202623 min

What Alaska Can Teach Us About the Future of the Grid

What can a remote Alaskan town teach the rest of the power industry about building the grid of the future? In this episode, book editor Peter Asmus takes us inside Cordova, Alaska—a community with no road connecting it to the outside world that has turned its isolation into a testing ground for grid innovation. We explore how Cordova gets roughly 75% of its electricity from hydropower, uses battery storage and underground power lines to strengthen its system, and even built a small data center designed to take advantage of excess renewable energy. Asmus explains why Alaska’s unique challenges have forced its utilities to innovate and what much larger utilities across the country can learn from them.

September 3, 202632 min

Google’s Energy Head Says We’re Thinking About AI All Wrong

AI is transforming the utility industry rapidly, but does that mean it’s going to eliminate all utility jobs? Google’s Global Head of Power and Energy for Cloud, Raiford Smith, joins us to explain why he thinks that’s the wrong way to look at AI. We explore how utilities are using AI to accelerate grid planning and infrastructure construction, what it could mean for engineers and other utility workers, and why even smaller utilities can take advantage of these tools. Plus, Smith shares real-world examples of AI cutting planning and construction timelines, explains where human expertise remains essential, and offers advice for utilities wondering where to start.

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