What Does "Utility as a Platform" Really Mean?
Several factors are converging to make it an interesting time to think about the future of utilities. With increased energy efficiency, little growth in electrical demand is expected. More and more renewable and distributed resources are being added to the grid. New applications of technology enable better tracking, management and operation of our grid's constraints and resources. And, state regulators are starting to grapple with some of the implications of these changes and test out new business and regulatory approaches.
The stage is set for significant changes to the way our grid and utilities operate; at the same time, we need to make investments to modernize the grid and make it more resilient, without knowing exactly where things will end up.
In this conversation, experts from a variety of perspectives, from a utility, to a research institute, to a utility software solutions provider, will shed light on how utilities may operate as platforms in the future, what actions must be taken today to make this a reality, and what the implications of a 'utility as a platform' are for the grid as a whole.
Speakers:
Phil Nevels is director for ComEd's new Utility of the Future organization. In this role, Phil is responsible for identifying, evaluating and prioritizing potential investments in operating, information and customer-side technology which is consistent with the company's Utility of the Future strategic plan. Additionally, he is responsible for assessing these technologies to determine feasibility, availability, economics, market potential and customer receptivity. The Utility of the Future organization is tasked with exploring and facilitating ComEd's transition into the future.
Prior to his role at ComEd, Phil was a managing director at NextGen Venture Partners, a network-driven venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C. While at NextGen, Phil executed seed stage investments across a variety of industries including healthcare, consumer web, and cybersecurity. Phil's experience at NextGen was the latest in a series of roles over the last 13 years, that saw him contributing to Chicago's burgeoning tech/entrepreneurship ecosystem. He holds an Master's in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.
The stage is set for significant changes to the way our grid and utilities operate; at the same time, we need to make investments to modernize the grid and make it more resilient, without knowing exactly where things will end up.
In this conversation, experts from a variety of perspectives, from a utility, to a research institute, to a utility software solutions provider, will shed light on how utilities may operate as platforms in the future, what actions must be taken today to make this a reality, and what the implications of a 'utility as a platform' are for the grid as a whole.
Speakers:
Phil Nevels
Director, Utility of the Future
ComEd
Director, Utility of the Future
ComEd
Phil Nevels is director for ComEd's new Utility of the Future organization. In this role, Phil is responsible for identifying, evaluating and prioritizing potential investments in operating, information and customer-side technology which is consistent with the company's Utility of the Future strategic plan. Additionally, he is responsible for assessing these technologies to determine feasibility, availability, economics, market potential and customer receptivity. The Utility of the Future organization is tasked with exploring and facilitating ComEd's transition into the future.
Prior to his role at ComEd, Phil was a managing director at NextGen Venture Partners, a network-driven venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C. While at NextGen, Phil executed seed stage investments across a variety of industries including healthcare, consumer web, and cybersecurity. Phil's experience at NextGen was the latest in a series of roles over the last 13 years, that saw him contributing to Chicago's burgeoning tech/entrepreneurship ecosystem. He holds an Master's in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.
Stephen Stella
Advisor, Emerging Technology
EPRI
Advisor, Emerging Technology
EPRI
Stephen is a senior product and business development leader with diverse industry and technical experience across alternative energy, automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics markets. Prior to his current position at EPRI he was in marketing and business development at GLF Integrated Power, and for four years was global product marketing manager at Microchip Technology. Prior to that, Stephen was senior technical marketing manager at Fairchild Semiconductor, and team leader / senior engineer at Ballard Power Systems. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business, an MS in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University, and a BS in electrical engineering also from Ohio State.
Tim Stojka
Chief Executive Officer
Agentis Energy
Chicago entrepreneur and businessman Tim Stojka founded Agentis in 2009 with President John Lux. The company provides electric utilities with a software platform for their C&I business customers.
Tim has been at the helm of several start-up technology companies as well as CEO of an international manufacturing firm. He was a finalist for the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year award, and is a frequent guest speaker at tech industry conferences. He serves on the Board of Directors of many organizations including the Young Presidents Organization, the Chicago Entrepreneurial Center, Northwestern University Farley School of Entrepreneurship and Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Illinois Institute of Technology and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago.
Chief Executive Officer
Agentis Energy
Chicago entrepreneur and businessman Tim Stojka founded Agentis in 2009 with President John Lux. The company provides electric utilities with a software platform for their C&I business customers.
Tim has been at the helm of several start-up technology companies as well as CEO of an international manufacturing firm. He was a finalist for the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year award, and is a frequent guest speaker at tech industry conferences. He serves on the Board of Directors of many organizations including the Young Presidents Organization, the Chicago Entrepreneurial Center, Northwestern University Farley School of Entrepreneurship and Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Illinois Institute of Technology and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago.
Ian Adams
Chief of Staff
Clean Energy Trust
Ian Adams is the Chief of Staff at Clean Energy Trust, where he is responsible for program execution and oversees strategic projects for the organization. In addition, Ian serves as a board observer for five companies in the organization's investment portfolio. Prior to joining CET, Ian served as an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Energy and worked at the White House. He began his career on former President Obama's first presidential campaign. Ian received his MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and completed his undergraduate studies in economics and political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Chief of Staff
Clean Energy Trust
Ian Adams is the Chief of Staff at Clean Energy Trust, where he is responsible for program execution and oversees strategic projects for the organization. In addition, Ian serves as a board observer for five companies in the organization's investment portfolio. Prior to joining CET, Ian served as an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Energy and worked at the White House. He began his career on former President Obama's first presidential campaign. Ian received his MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and completed his undergraduate studies in economics and political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.