About
This panel is organized by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Pratt School of Engineering.
The increasing adoption of Distributed Energy Resources (i.e., renewables, electric transportation, etc.) has sparked a significant activity in the modernization of electric Transmission & Distribution grids. One of the main objectives of these modernization initiatives is to make the grids ready to have these new technologies connected and integrated. Not only electric utilities have to adapt their grids for the integration of these new technologies, but do so in a reliable and operationally safe way. The panelists will be sharing the current and short-term plans for this grid modernization in their respective utilities as well as will present what their plans are to fully embrace the inevitable transition to clean energy. Finally, the panel will address what major market activities are underway in the industry.
Panelists:
- Jennifer Schilling (MBA '01) - VP, Grid Modernization @ Eversource Energy
- Jacob Tetlow - Sr. VP of Operations @ APS (Arizona Public Service)
- Mark Browning - CIO Utilities @ EXELON
- Venkat Bahl - Sr. VP of Sentient Technologies @ KES (a unit of Koch Industries)
About the moderator:
Rafael Ochoa recently retired from Accenture after a 14-year consulting career focused in the Electric Utility area. While in Accenture, Rafael was the global lead for the Distributed Energy Resources and the Distribution Operations practices. During his consulting work, Rafael led several grid modernization and smart grid initiatives at electric utilities in North America and abroad. Prior to his tenure as consultant, Rafael was with ABB for 16 years where he held several positions from conducting/leading research at ABB's Transmission Technology Institute to being the North America VP of Marketing & Sales in ABB's Network Management Group. Rafael has authored/co-authored several papers in the electric utility industry and has led/participated in several panels in the areas of electric grid modernization, power systems reliability, smart grid, power quality and reliability-centered maintenance. Rafael has a B.S. in EE from the Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico, and a M.S. and a Ph.D. in EE from the University of Manchester's Institute of Technology in the UK.