Session 1: Change Drivers, Market Trends and Business Models for Grid Modernization
| 8:00 - 9:30 am | Tuesday, January 19, 2016 |
This opening session sets the stage with a discussion of current technology, regulatory, and market trends behind the drive toward grid modernization, with particular focus on the impact of increasing distributed energy resources (DER) penetration. Panelists will discuss emerging disruptive technologies, strategies for accommodating and integrating these developments, and how utilities can best position themselves for success going forward.
The session will explore fundamental challenges to the legacy utility business model, and how different utilities are proactively taking steps to evolve to more of a market-based approach to utility operations rather than the "top-down style planning of the 20th century". As these market changes are happening at different rates across the globe, the discussion will focus on "no regrets" steps that can be taken now and suggest signposts that can be considered to inform when market shifts are occurring.
Speakers:
The session will explore fundamental challenges to the legacy utility business model, and how different utilities are proactively taking steps to evolve to more of a market-based approach to utility operations rather than the "top-down style planning of the 20th century". As these market changes are happening at different rates across the globe, the discussion will focus on "no regrets" steps that can be taken now and suggest signposts that can be considered to inform when market shifts are occurring.
Speakers:
Wanda Reder
Chief Strategy Officer
S&C Electric Company
An IEEE Fellow, Wanda Reder is the Chief Strategy Officer at S&C Electric Company, where she oversees S&C's corporate strategy and leads the company's global efforts to engage with governments, regulatory agencies and industry institutions. Prior to her current role, she was Vice President, Power Systems Services at S&C for over 10 years, where she provided leadership for consulting, engineering, field services, and project management and positioned the company for solution-based offerings, effectively incorporating services with equipment sales.
A member of Electricity Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Energy, Wanda is also a dedicated volunteer leader and power engineering expert whose initiatives as president of the IEEE Power and Energy Society helped establish a successful scholarship fund and positioned IEEE as the source for expert information on smart grid technology. She was honored with the 2014 IEEE Richard M. Emberson Award, and has been serving on the IEEE Board and on the IEEE Foundation Board since January 2014.
Chief Strategy Officer
S&C Electric Company
An IEEE Fellow, Wanda Reder is the Chief Strategy Officer at S&C Electric Company, where she oversees S&C's corporate strategy and leads the company's global efforts to engage with governments, regulatory agencies and industry institutions. Prior to her current role, she was Vice President, Power Systems Services at S&C for over 10 years, where she provided leadership for consulting, engineering, field services, and project management and positioned the company for solution-based offerings, effectively incorporating services with equipment sales.
A member of Electricity Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Energy, Wanda is also a dedicated volunteer leader and power engineering expert whose initiatives as president of the IEEE Power and Energy Society helped establish a successful scholarship fund and positioned IEEE as the source for expert information on smart grid technology. She was honored with the 2014 IEEE Richard M. Emberson Award, and has been serving on the IEEE Board and on the IEEE Foundation Board since January 2014.
James Mazurek
Managing Director, Utilities Practice
Accenture Strategy
Jim is a Managing Director leader for Accenture's Midwest Utilities Strategy practice and is based in Chicago. In this role, he works with the senior leadership teams of North American electric and gas utilities to address the critical issues facing their businesses. Most recently, he has been focused on addressing the impacts of disruptive change through grid modernization programs as the utility industry model evolves from a traditional load-serving model (i.e., "usage") to a future services-oriented model (i.e., "uses").
Jim has more than 20 years of years of experience in the utilities, energy, communications, and clean tech industries. Prior to joining Accenture in 2000, he was with Sargent & Lundy in Chicago where he was a leader in the asset performance consulting team working with dozens of utilities in achieving step-change value creation in generation, transmission, and distribution businesses. Jim began his career as a U.S. Army combat engineering company leader.
Jim has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Northwestern University. He serves as an advisor to the Notre Dame School of Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer and a LEED Certified Professional.
Managing Director, Utilities Practice
Accenture Strategy
Jim is a Managing Director leader for Accenture's Midwest Utilities Strategy practice and is based in Chicago. In this role, he works with the senior leadership teams of North American electric and gas utilities to address the critical issues facing their businesses. Most recently, he has been focused on addressing the impacts of disruptive change through grid modernization programs as the utility industry model evolves from a traditional load-serving model (i.e., "usage") to a future services-oriented model (i.e., "uses").
Jim has more than 20 years of years of experience in the utilities, energy, communications, and clean tech industries. Prior to joining Accenture in 2000, he was with Sargent & Lundy in Chicago where he was a leader in the asset performance consulting team working with dozens of utilities in achieving step-change value creation in generation, transmission, and distribution businesses. Jim began his career as a U.S. Army combat engineering company leader.
Jim has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Northwestern University. He serves as an advisor to the Notre Dame School of Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer and a LEED Certified Professional.
Barbara Bauman Tyran
Director, Washington & State Relations
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Barbara Tyran is Director, Washington & State Relations, in EPRI's office in Washington DC. She serves as the principal liaison between EPRI executive management, and Congress, the Administration, the national trade associations, the national leadership of the state public utility commissions, state legislators/regulators, and the Washington energy community. Ms. Tyran joined EPRI in 1998 after serving for several years as Manager of Federal Government Affairs for two electric utilities, Kansas City Power & Light (now Great Plains Energy, Inc.) and Empire District Electric Company. Previously, she was the Washington Representative for the Detroit Edison Company (now DTE Energy).
Prior to that, Ms. Tyran worked as a management consultant, initially with Booz Allen & Hamilton in their Institutional Management Consulting Division and subsequently, with Pace Global, where she was engaged with energy-related clients in both the private and public sectors. In recognition of her electricity industry expertise and knowledge, she was appointed in 2005 by the Secretary of Commerce to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Energy and Energy Services, elected Chairman in 2010, and re-elected in 2014.
In 2015, Ms. Tyran was elected Treasurer of the Women's Council on Energy & the Environment. She is Co-Chair, National Association of State Energy Officials Affiliates; Vice President--Research, Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions Board of Directors, and serves on the Advisory Council of the Maryland Clean Energy Center. She is a member of the Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council and the Executive Council of the annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club. In 2014, Ms. Tyran was General Chairman of the IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting Local Organizing Committee, hosting 3000 delegates from over 50 nations. Ms. Tyran holds a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Yale University.
Director, Washington & State Relations
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Barbara Tyran is Director, Washington & State Relations, in EPRI's office in Washington DC. She serves as the principal liaison between EPRI executive management, and Congress, the Administration, the national trade associations, the national leadership of the state public utility commissions, state legislators/regulators, and the Washington energy community. Ms. Tyran joined EPRI in 1998 after serving for several years as Manager of Federal Government Affairs for two electric utilities, Kansas City Power & Light (now Great Plains Energy, Inc.) and Empire District Electric Company. Previously, she was the Washington Representative for the Detroit Edison Company (now DTE Energy).
Prior to that, Ms. Tyran worked as a management consultant, initially with Booz Allen & Hamilton in their Institutional Management Consulting Division and subsequently, with Pace Global, where she was engaged with energy-related clients in both the private and public sectors. In recognition of her electricity industry expertise and knowledge, she was appointed in 2005 by the Secretary of Commerce to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Energy and Energy Services, elected Chairman in 2010, and re-elected in 2014.
In 2015, Ms. Tyran was elected Treasurer of the Women's Council on Energy & the Environment. She is Co-Chair, National Association of State Energy Officials Affiliates; Vice President--Research, Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions Board of Directors, and serves on the Advisory Council of the Maryland Clean Energy Center. She is a member of the Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council and the Executive Council of the annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club. In 2014, Ms. Tyran was General Chairman of the IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting Local Organizing Committee, hosting 3000 delegates from over 50 nations. Ms. Tyran holds a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Yale University.
Moderator:
Dale Pennington
Managing Director
UtiliWorks Consulting, LLC
Dale Pennington is the Managing Director of UtiliWorks, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in providing professional services in the electric, water, and gas utility space. By utilizing proven workflow and asset management techniques that he has practiced over the last 30 years, Dale is able to assist utilities in maximizing the benefits of their technology investment. Dale facilitates discussions with vendor and client resources, studies the latest developments with technology applications, and provides strategy and implementation advice both in the U.S. market and internationally.
Dale Pennington
Managing Director
UtiliWorks Consulting, LLC
Dale Pennington is the Managing Director of UtiliWorks, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in providing professional services in the electric, water, and gas utility space. By utilizing proven workflow and asset management techniques that he has practiced over the last 30 years, Dale is able to assist utilities in maximizing the benefits of their technology investment. Dale facilitates discussions with vendor and client resources, studies the latest developments with technology applications, and provides strategy and implementation advice both in the U.S. market and internationally.