On The Grid

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Episodes

165

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Oct 2026

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About the show

On The Grid is a podcast produced by Zpryme about important issues regarding energy and cities. Hosted by Jason Rodriguez, we dive into topics and bring on guests to discuss issues affecting utilities, customers, solution providers, and much more.

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60 recent

November 5, 202643 min

Humanizing Affordability Episode 8: Heat or Eat

In Episode 8 of On The Grid: Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Jay Knott, President & CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, to talk about what Jay describes as the “heat or eat” reality facing many low-income households. They discuss rising energy burdens, the disconnect between massive investment in the energy system and what customers feel at home, the communication gap utilities are trying to close, and why stronger community participation and workforce investment have to be part of the solution.

October 28, 202649 min

Humanizing Affordability Episode 7: The Grid Can’t Outbuild Inefficiency

In Episode 7 of On The Grid: Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Liz John, COO of SPEER, and Todd McAlister, CEO of SPEER, to talk about the role energy efficiency can play in easing pressure on customers and the grid. They explore weatherization, heat pumps, stronger building codes, workforce challenges and what rising data center demand means for communities across Texas and Oklahoma. The conversation comes back to a simple idea: some of the most effective affordability solutions are the ones that reduce the amount of energy we need in the first place.

October 23, 202640 min

Humanizing Affordability Episode 6: Finish the Rest of the Equation

In Episode 6 of On The Grid: Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Jen Szaro, President & CEO of AESP, to discuss what happens when the industry moves faster than the communities it serves. They explore data center growth, demand flexibility, customer-centric program design and why affordability has to remain part of every grid investment conversation. Jen also shares what utilities and policymakers can do differently, from designing large loads as flexible resources to asking a bigger question before new infrastructure is built: What does the community get back?

October 14, 202638 min

Episode 5 Humanizing Affordability: Can Quantum Make the Grid More Affordable?

In Episode 5 of On The Grid: Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Robert Long, President of Strategic Initiatives of EPB to talk about Chattanooga’s quantum journey, from activating a commercially available quantum computer to exploring applications for grid optimization, line loss and better utilization of existing infrastructure. They also discuss what it takes to introduce new technology without losing sight of the community it is ultimately meant to serve, and why utilities don’t need to become quantum experts to start exploring where it could create value.

September 17, 202646 min

Humanizing Affordability Episode 4: You Can't Brute Force Trust

In Episode 4 of Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Emeka Anyanwu, CEO of Lincoln Electric System, to talk about how his upbringing in Nigeria shaped the way he approaches infrastructure, leadership and the responsibility utilities have to the communities they serve. From data centers and speed to power to customer bills, transparency and community trust, Emeka makes the case for a more deliberate approach to growth, one that brings customers into the conversation and ensures the infrastructure we build delivers value to the people ultimately paying for it.

September 11, 202645 min

Humanizing Affordability Episode 3: The Frontline Difference

Affordability isn’t somebody else’s problem. In Episode 3 of Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Vanessa Edmonds, Gretchen Stanford and Chris Hilborne of Utility 2030 to explore how utilities can put people back at the center of transformation. From reducing friction in assistance programs and empowering frontline employees to rebuilding customer trust and rethinking how investment decisions are made, the conversation asks a critical question: can the people we serve afford the future we’re building?

August 27, 202639 min

Humanizing Affordability: What If We Don't Need To Build More?

In Episode 2 of On The Grid: Humanizing Affordability, Jason Rodriguez sits down with Anissa Rodriguez Dickerman, CEO of Pecan Street, to explore how utilities can rethink affordability by looking beyond simply building more infrastructure. From EVs and smart thermostats to batteries and water heaters, Anissa discusses the untapped flexibility already inside customers’ homes and how better data can help turn those resources into value for both the grid and the people paying the bill. The conversation also explores why affordability should be measured by more than the price of electricity, and what Anissa calls “the cost of living well.”

August 13, 202645 min

Humanizing Affordability Episode 1 with H.G. Chissell

On The Grid is back with a new series, Humanizing Affordability, exploring one of the biggest challenges facing energy today through the people experiencing it. For our first episode, Jason Rodriguez sits down with H.G. Chissell, Founder & CEO of Advanced Energy Group, to talk rising costs, eroding trust, data center growth and the leadership needed to make sure opportunity outpaces risk.

February 5, 202624 min

People Power: Rethinking Utility Leadership in 2026

In the latest episode of Zpryme on the Grid, Jason Rodriguez, CEO and Co-Founder of Zpryme and Froliq, sits down with Carlos Ayala, Founder and Managing Partner of Mentora. Carlos shares his career journey in the energy industry, the inspiration behind launching Mentora, and why leadership, culture, and personal growth are critical to building high-performing utility organizations. The conversation explores blind spots in executive leadership, the role of diversity and AI, and what it really means to lead with purpose as the industry heads into 2026.

August 12, 202533 min

Smart Enough? Building a Grid That Can Think for Itself

Zpryme CEO and Co-Founder Jason Rodriguez sits down with Matthew Smith, Grid Management Executive at Itron, to unpack what AMI 2.0 really means for utilities. They dive into intelligent connectivity, edge computing, and how utilities can move beyond meter-to-cash to orchestrate a smarter, more resilient grid. This podcast builds off the The AMI Low-Voltage Landscape Revisited at the Grid Edge research done by Itron and Zpryme. Download the report here: https://zpryme.com/media/infographics/the-ami-low-voltage-landscape-revisited-at-the-grid-edge/