All Things DER: Combining IT & Engineering to Improve Demand and Response Energy Efficiency Programs
Welcome to the All Things DER podcast! In this podcast, we’ll be digging in, defining, and discussing where the new energy economy is heading with electric industry leaders, and explore all the ways that distributed energy resources can modernize and improve our ever-evolving power grid.
In today’s episode, we’re talking with Dr. Daniel Haughton, Director of Technical Engineering Support at Arizona Public Service (APS). We discuss the impact of evolving customer expectations and why they lead to more growth opportunities for utilities. From transitioning consumers away from fossil fuels to educating consumers on the difference between DER and DERMS, we dig into a variety of ways that utilities can better respond to customers’ needs and ultimately modernize our power grid.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
- How being a vertically-integrated utility has been an advantage for APS
- Why consumers and other electricity users have higher expectations of utilities in terms of innovation, reliability, and service
- How APS rapidly transitioned thousands of residential customers to solar-powered rooftops in order to achieve state energy mandates
- How customer needs and expectations can influence the design and adoption of emerging technologies, including DERs
- Why taking a holistic approach that balances multiple stakeholder perspectives can help utilities provide safer, more affordable services