Shows
Public Power UndergroundAfterparty: Frontlining Energy Justice[recorded August 28, 2024] Tony Reames and Salma Elmallah discuss their work and research on energy justice in a special episode recorded after the season and series finale.In a much anticipated episode recorded on August 28, 2024, Dr. Tony Reames and Dr. Salma Elmallah join Paul Dockery and Dr. Ahlmahz Negash to discuss their paper on frontlining energy justice.Elmallah, S., Reames, T.G. and Spurlock, C.A., 2022. Frontlining energy justice: Visioning principles for energy transitions from community-based organizations in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 94, p.102855.The episode is audio-only and un-edited available on...
2024-12-171h 08
Public Power UndergroundEleventy-first episode & Energy System Analogy World Cup ChampionshipA party of special significance to celebrate the eleventy-first and final episode with an energy system analogy world cup championship tournament, celebrity guests, and stump speechesFriends-of-the-Underground participated in a special, in-person recording of the eleventy-first and final episode of Public Power Underground celebrating our community of electric utility enthusiasts. The episode includes a live performance of Roll On, Enthusiasts with special musical guest Daryl Wayne Dasher joining Arin Guillory and Ian Bledsoe. It also closes the Season 6 Energy System Analogy World Cup with celebrity judges Debra Smith and Daniel Kirschen picking winners in an 8-analogy, single...
2024-10-111h 30
Public Power UndergroundEnergy Justice with Prof. Erin BakerA discussion of the building blocks of a just energy transition with Professor Erin Baker, the Faculty Director of the Energy Transition Institute at UMass Amherst.Professor Erin Baker visited with Ahlmahz Negash and Paul Dockery in-person at the office of the Pacific Northwest Utility Conference Committee (PNUCC) about energy justice, meaningful metrics, and the Holyoke Community Energy Project. The discussion is wrapped by insightful commentary on energy justice from hosts Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, Paul Dockery, and Ahlmahz Negash.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts...
2024-09-271h 38
Public Power UndergroundCommissioner Ann Rendahl & the Eras of the Electric SectorThe electric sector is evolving like the eras of Taylor Swift; at least that's the hypothesis that Commissioner Ann Rendahl and Gen-Z-Swiftie Scholar, Sherry Zuo, consider in a special episode.Commissioner Ann Rendahl and Sherry Zuo join hosts Paul Dockery and Crystal Ball to consider how the electric sector is evolving like the eras of Taylor Swift. Paul and Crystal joined Commissioner Rendahl at the offices of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and Sherry joined remotely from Cornell University where she is a PhD candidate in the Mays Group.Agreeing on the eras of...
2024-09-201h 27
Public Power UndergroundBig Synchronous Generators, Popular Fallacies, and Unpopular OpinionsA trip to the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project to talk about power system inertia with Seattle City Light operators, plus a discussion of popular fallacies and unpopular opinions with the hosts.To experience the visceral sounds and sights of big synchronous generation, an interview with Mike Haynes, Will Andersen, and Brandt March was recorded in-person at Seattle City Light’s Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. To start the episode Ahlmahz, Paul, Farhad, and Conleigh discuss popular fallacies of the energy system and share some of their own unpopular opinions.You can find the podcast on Apple Po...
2024-08-301h 38
Public Power UndergroundBen Serrurier & the Lighting Design LabBen Serrurier returns to Public Power Underground to share some maybe-good-maybe-bad-but-definitely-not-thought-out ideas with Ahlmahz Negash, Paul Dockery, and Farhad Billimoria in a returning segment, Half-Baked Ideas. Then Irina Rasputnis, Madeline Kostic, and Eric Strandberg from the Seattle City Light’s Lighting Design Lab sit down to talk with Paul Dockery about innovation in building electrification. 13:19 - Half-Baked IdeasInspiration for the segment comes from the Bill Simmons PodcastBen’s prior appearances on the podcast52:51 - The Lighting Design Lab1:30:25 - Invitation to the Eleventy-First and Final episode of Public Power UndergroundPubli...
2024-08-191h 36
Public Power UndergroundLynne Kiesling, Congestible Public Goods, and Common Pool ResourcesA discussion about public goods and what classifying services as common pool resources, congestible public goods, or club goods means for grid planning and market design.Lynne Kiesling joins Ahlmahz Negash, Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, and Paul Dockery to discuss the classification system used in economics to distinguish public goods from private goods and what classifying some services as common pool resources means for grid planning and market design.Lynne Kiesling is an economist focusing on regulation, market design, and the economics of digitization and smart grid technologies in the electricity industry. She is Director...
2024-07-241h 50
Public Power UndergroundAri Peskoe Ranks Governance, Footprint, and Market DesignAri Peskoe describes himself as an electric utility critic and has advice for electric utility enthusiasts.Ari Peskoe is the Director of the Electricity Law Initiative at the Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program and a prolific writer about regulation of the U.S. power sector on issues ranging from constitutional challenges to states’ energy laws to interstate transmission development. The interview is wrapped in commentary from co-hosts Paul Dockery, Ahlmahz Negash, and Farhad Billimoria.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends th...
2024-07-111h 39
Public Power UndergroundRich Glick on FERC Order 1920Rich Glick initiated the proceedings that led to Order 1920 as Chair of FERC, he returns to Public Power Underground with experts Prof. Jacob Mays and Pamela Quinlan to reflect on its adoption--------------------Paul Dockery and Crystal Ball bring their curiosity to an in-depth discussion of transmission planning, transmission investment, and transmission policy with Rich Glick, Pamela Quinlan, and Prof. Jacob Mays.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are energy enthusiasts, like us!08:48 - Rich, What were you...
2024-06-211h 25
Public Power UndergroundResource Adequacy, Tail Risk, and Institutional CapabilityConleigh, Farhad, Ahlmahz, and Paul debrief on coverage of FERC Order 1920 then discuss resource adequacy, hedging tail risk, and preview business capability models.Ahlmahz Negash, Conleigh Byers, and Farhad Billimoria scan news stories after FERC’s release of Order 1920, then Conleigh Byers explains Resource adequacy, and Farhad Billimoria explains Hedging & Tail Risk in Electricity Markets.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are energy enthusiasts, like us!03:17 - Short-to-Ground (FERC Order 1920 Edition)On May 13th the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission app...
2024-06-101h 14
Public Power UndergroundApoorv Bhargava on the GridApoorv Bhargava discusses his work at WeaveGrid optimizing electric vehicle charging within distribution systems. The interview is wrapped by context and insights from the regular hosts: Ahlmahz Negash, Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, and Paul Dockery.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are energy enthusiasts, like us!01:21 - 30 seconds of TheoryFarhad Billimoria on Distribution System Operators (DSOs)Conleigh Byers on Transactive EnergyAhlmahz Negash on the Energy Equity Gap10:28 - Apoorv Bhargava on WeaveGrid and the Grid
2024-05-291h 35
Public Power UndergroundWhat it means for America's power grid w/ Katherine BluntKatherine Blunt joins Crystal Ball and Paul Dockery to discuss her reporting at the Wall Street Journal on the energy industry and her book, California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid.Matthew Schroettnig joins Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, and Paul Dockery for the rest of the episode to cover utility risks, load growth, and the current landscape of America’s power grid.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are energy enthusiasts, like us!...
2024-05-131h 19
Public Power UndergroundDr. Kyri Baker on AI & OPFDr. Kyri Baker, an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Colorado, makes a return visit to discuss the use of artificial intelligence for power grid optimization. Plus, Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, Ahlmahz Negash, and Paul Dockery wrap the interview with an explanation of AI and all its acronyms.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are energy enthusiasts, like us!01:19 - 30 second theoryFarhad Billimoria on “What is OPF?”Conleigh Byers on “What’s the difference between artifici...
2024-04-291h 30
Public Power UndergroundBONUS: Eras of the Electric Sector (Taylor's Version)Katherine Blunt, author of California Burning, joins Crystal Ball and Paul Dockery to discuss the eras of the electric sector (Taylor's Version).To celebrate Taylor Swift’s April 19th release of The Tortured Poets Department (and Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology), Katherine Blunt, Crystal Ball, and Paul Dockery recorded a special, bonus, episode dedicated to the Eras of the Electric Sector.Katherine Blunt is the author of California Burning; The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid which is the most approachable introduction to the history of the electric se...
2024-04-1942 min
Public Power UndergroundDistribution Hardwareexploration of approaches to distribution systems from microcontrollers and software to MOAR HARDWAREDistribution infrastructure, microcontrollers in everything, hardware vs software solutions, and prices-to-devices get covered in a distribution systems episode with Ahlmahz Negash, Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, and Paul Dockery featuring an interview with the enthusiastic Francis Sammy! A discussion that manages to navigate the nuances of MOAR HARDWARE as an actionable energy transition strategy while articulating the benefit of deploying smart, controllable, and price-responsive devices.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends...
2024-04-011h 25
Public Power UndergroundThe Transmission Expansion Era w/ John HairstonJohn Hairston returns to discuss what BPA is doing to navigate an era of transmission expansion for the grid.John Hairston, the CEO and Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, shares his enthusiasm for transmission and people in an interview with Paul Dockery and Crystal Ball. The interview is wrapped in informative discussion on energy industry news, research, and reflection by Ahlmahz Negash, Conleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, and Paul Dockery. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are energy enthusiasts, like us!
2024-03-131h 21
Public Power UndergroundGrand Analogies of the Energy SystemConleigh, Farhad, Ahlmahz, and Paul start season six with a discussion of ways to understand the energy system and analogies that can be used to explore its complicationsConleigh Byers, Farhad Billimoria, Ahlmahz Negash, and Paul Dockery discuss various ways of understanding the energy system in the Season 6 Premiere of Public Power Underground. The episode starts with “Short-to-Ground,” a TL;DR segment where the hosts run through summaries of topical news from around the world and then have a short discussion of trends in the industry. Paul then introduces the ground rules for a season-spanning Energy System Anal...
2024-03-011h 18
Public Power UndergroundSeason 6 Preview & Sisterhood Merch!The next season of Public Power Underground is coming soon with a new format and new regular hosts. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss the season premiere!After a short break, Public Power Underground is coming back for its sixth season of energy enthusiasm! This season Paul Dockery and Ahlmahz Negash will be joined by world-renowned energy researchers Conleigh Byers and Farhad Billimoria to investigate energy industry and energy-industry-adjacent topics by bringing together expert insights with practitioner perspectives. The episode format for Public Power Underground has evolved for Season 6, which will i...
2024-02-1203 min
Public Power UndergroundOffice Hours w/ Professor Jacob Mays“This paper argues for the centrality of real-time markets, which are cleared sequentially with a single binding interval.”Prof. Dr. Jacob Mays and Paul Dockery have an in-depth discussion in Hollister Hall at Cornell University about Prof. Mays recently released working paper on Sequential Pricing of Electricity. The discussion is only available as a podcast and is published uninterrupted and unedited.Mays, J. (2023). Sequential Pricing of Electricity. Working Paper, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that...
2023-11-151h 26
Public Power UndergroundSeason Finale: Hot Takes on TransmissionInspired by the YouTube series *Hot Ones*, Whitney Muse (Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation), Mark Lauby (Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer at North American Electric Reliability Corporation), and Jordan White (Executive Director, Development at GridLiance) join co-hosts Paul and Crystal to discuss increasingly controversial topics while eating a series of increasingly spicy wings. The conversation triangulates hot topics in the energy industry from engineering, policy, and business perspectives.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that...
2023-11-0655 min
Public Power UndergroundElectrification is Happening w/ Steve Pantano and Danielle WalkerSteve Pantano from Rewiring America and Danielle Walker from the Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs join Ahlmahz Negash, PhD and Paul Dockery for a discussion of electrification. The crews discuss the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebates, Rewiring America’s IRA Savings Calculator, best practices in building electrification, and the newly announced American Climate Corp!You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are electric utility enthusiasts, like us!08:41 - Hierarchy of Electrification17:53 - Home Energy Rebate...
2023-10-061h 16
Public Power Underground*buzzed history* with Mark Ohrenschall, Shauna McReynolds and Crystal Ballthree energy historians join public power underground for an infotaining and slightly irreverent discussion of the major milestones for the electric industry in the northwest--------------------Mark Ohrenschall, Shauna McReynolds and Crystal Ball join and Paul Dockery to discuss the history of the electric industry in the Northwest from acronyms to statutes and a myriad of institutions along the way. There were three primary texts used for the conversation.NewsData’s list of Western Energy AcronymsPublic Power Council’s excellent guide to Public Power in the Pacific Northwest, the Public Power ChroniclePublic Generating Pool’s famo...
2023-09-211h 24
Public Power UndergroundLorenzo Kristov and Josh Keeling on Maximizing DER DeploymentLorenzo Kristov and Josh Keeling join Ahlmahz and Paul to talk about maximizing the deployment of distributed energy resources but first we make them say something nice about electric utilitiesLorenzo Kristov and Josh Keeling join Ahlmahz Negash, PhD and Paul Dockery for a discussion of FERC 2222, maximizing the distribution-level customer value of distributed energy resources, international examples of unbundling the functions of distribution utilities, and 80/20 advice on how to make the most progress toward DER deployment. First, we make them compliment electric utilities.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever...
2023-09-081h 13
Public Power UndergroundBest Practices in Power Planning w/ Ric O'Connell and Anna SommerRic O’Connell and Anna Sommers join Ahlmahz Negash, PhD and Paul Dockery for a deep dive into power planning best practices including planning for extremes, open source models, and best in class computational techniques.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are electric utility enthusiasts, like us!09:41 - how to explain power planning to a five year old19:00 - best practices in power planning58:10 - Ahlmahz’s unfair question of the week: what about AI?1:03:50 - PUC...
2023-08-171h 13
Public Power UndergroundBONUS: 3Ps of transmission in the WestTransmission experts talk about horror stories from permitting Idaho Power's Boardman to Hemmingway transmission line and react to a regional planning organization scorecard--------------------Adam Richins, Christina Hayes, and Pam Sporborg join Paul Dockery at Paddy’s Bar & Grill for an after-hour conversation about transmission in the West. The recording starts with another edition of Energy Enthusiasm, Distilled where the experts distill complicated topics in infotaining ways while on a clock. The conversation then tackles the 3Ps of transmission policy (Planning, Permitting, and Paying-for) and closes out with a new, unscripted game: FERC-for-a-Day.Permitting: Ho...
2023-08-071h 15
Public Power UndergroundUtility Maximization, Community Input, and Solarpunk Stories with Prof. Dr. Destenie NockProf. Dr. Destenie Nock joins Dr. Ahlmahz Negash and Paul Dockery for a conversation about what the grid of the future *should* look like. The discussion dives deep into (1) the energy equity gap, (2) a methodology for finding the optimal expansion of a power system under the objective of maximizing social benefit, (3) the Gini coefficient, and (4) how to use the Strategic Objective Hierarchy combined with the expertise of social scientists to translate community input into rigorously measurable inputs into an optimization model!You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share...
2023-07-201h 29
Public Power UndergroundDebra Smith hosts Randy Hardy, Bill Drummond and Steve WrightDebra Smith, Randy Hardy, Bill Drummond, and Steve Wright recorded an info-taining conversation live on-stage at NWPPA’s 83rd Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Debra hosts the three former Administrators of the Bonneville Power Administration who continue to engage in energy policy. The discussion ranges from greatest regrets to reasons for optimism, and proudest moments. At the end Paul Dockery joins to facilitate an energy inspired game called Energy Enthusiasm Distilled.The episode was edited prior to the news of Debra Smith’s surgery. For updates on her recovery you can find updates on Cari...
2023-07-061h 07
Public Power UndergroundRisk perspectives; from strategy to execution with Kevin Nordt and Paul DietzWe discuss how utility risk management is a lot like dungeons and dragons: creatively managing risk by leveraging strengths to maximize the likelihood of beneficial outcomes when solving problems.Kevin Nordt, Paul Dietz, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery talk about managing market risk from utility risk managers perspectives. Including (1) putting uncertainty in perspective, (2) organizational and customer risk tolerance, (3) translating risk tolerance strategies for risk management, and (4) risk based thinking in the context of power supply. Plus the crew answers an insightful question from Ahlmahz and they discuss the set up of an energy inspired dungeons and...
2023-06-201h 29
Public Power UndergroundBONUS: Windowless Conference Room EditionBen Serrurier, Lea Fisher, Matt Schroettnig, and Paul Dockery share some energy themed maybe-good-maybe-bad-brainstorming ideas during a special windowless conference room in-person recording.Ben Serrurier, Lea Fisher, Matthew Schroettnig, and Paul Dockery were all in Anchorage, Alaska for NWPPA’s 83rd Annual Conference and Membership Meeting so they decided to borrow a windowless conference room for an informal brainstorming session about energy and energy-adjacent ideas. The format for the bonus episode is inspired by a Bill Simmons segment with Kevin Wildes on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” called “Half-Baked Ideas”1. You can find the podcast on Apple Podca...
2023-06-011h 03
Public Power UndergroundDebriefing from a Markets+ Leadership ForumPam Sporborg, Spencer Gray, Joe Taylor and Paul Dockery debrief and synthesize the discussion from an SPP Markets+ Leadership Forum hosted by Tacoma Power, NV Energy, and the Bonneville Power Administration on May 12th, 2023.05:04 - Benefits, Opportunities and Barriers to Market Expansion18:18 - Long-run resource portfolios adapted to market design30:00 - Seams41:49 - The toughest outstanding issues for market expansion in the west56:13 - Final PredictionsYou can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are electric...
2023-05-181h 03
Public Power UndergroundMarket Design, Slinkies, and Synchronous Condensers with Farhad Billimoria and Conleigh Byers, PhDlearning lessons about deeply decarbonized electricity markets from around the world including optimal prices in non-convex markets, reliability insurance, and system securityFarhad Billimoria, Conleigh Byers, PhD, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery discuss adaptation of market design for the energy transition including fat tails and increased exposure to extremes; batteries and price responsive demand; natural gas fragility and marginal pricing; and inverter-driven resources and system security. Then the team plays a new game where they synthesize expert explanations of convex vs non-convex pricing and reliability insurance. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, S...
2023-05-081h 36
Public Power UndergroundA conversation about a just mid-transition w/ Dr. Emily Grubert and Dr. Frank IncroperaEmily Grubert, PhD, Frank Incropera, PhD, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery discuss natural gas distribution system obsolescence, energy security during the transition away from fossil fuels, the magic of heat pumps, increased reliance on electric utility reliability, and the wickedness of the problem of a just energy transition.You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are electric utility enthusiasts, like us!07:03 - Discussion of what constitutes a wicked problem and whether the mid-transition qualifies - Climate Change: A Wicked Problem by Fra...
2023-04-271h 24
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: Power Contracts in TransitionLaura Trolese, Tyler Wolford, Matt Johnson, and Paul Dockery recorded an episode at a spas about how power contracts could change during a transition from bilateral to centrally dispatched markets.In a special, bonus episode recorded at the One Ocean Resort & Spas in Atlantic Beach, Florida during The Energy Authority’s 2023 Energy Symposium, Laura Trolese, Tyler Wolford, Matt Johnson, and Paul Dockery discuss the impact of transitioning from bilateral markets to centrally dispatched day-ahead markets on long-term wholesale power supply agreements.Caution: it gets extremely wonky.You can find our merch on shopify. Yo...
2023-04-141h 06
Public Power UndergroundA conversation about transmission w/ Rob Gramlich and Kathleen StaksRob, Kathleen, Ahlmahz, and Paul discuss the transmission expansion: it's importance, it's barriers, and it's path forward.Rob Gramlich, Kathleen Staks, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery discuss transmission policy, planning, and funding in light of the increased need for an interconnected grid due to electrification of end-uses, new generator interconnections, and increasing footprint of extreme weather events.07:34 - Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office release of a draft National Transmission Needs Study23:43 - The Quagmire of Transmission Investment and Cost RecoveryRob’s 3 Ps of Transmission Policy ReformRob’s tweets about...
2023-04-041h 18
Public Power UndergroundDebriefing from a Regional Expansion SummitWith quotes from the hit comedy “Shrinking”, Paul navigates the vibes after a Regional Expansion Summit hosted by Seattle City Light, Portland General Electric, and the Bonneville Power AdministrationJan Smutny-Jones, Mary Wiencke, Jim Shetler, and Chris Robinson join Paul Dockery to debrief and synthesize the participants shared understanding after a California/Northwest Regional Expansion Summit hosted by Seattle City Light, Portland General Electric, and the Bonneville Power Administration on March 10th, 2023.In true Public Power Underground fashion the topics were introduced with quotes from the first two episodes of the new Apple TV comedy Shri...
2023-03-271h 20
Public Power UndergroundMarket Disruptors - LIVE from the Main StageLIVE! from the main stage at The Energy Authority's 2023 Energy Symposium, Paul and Laura moderate a panel on market disruptors with energy executives and leadersPaul Dockery and Laura Trolese moderate a panel on disruptors to resource adequacy, day-ahead, and real-time markets at The Energy Authority’s 2023 Energy Symposium with Melie Vincent, Richard Dillon, and Jamie Mahne. After a serious discussion of disruptors, they tackle less serious energy analogies in a game called “Disruptors or Duds”.07:34 - Large weather patterns changing evaluation of resource adequacy21:40 - Accounting for new uncertainty in day-ahead market...
2023-03-141h 02
Public Power UndergroundSarah Edmonds on Grid Integration ServicesSarah Edmonds, Crystal Ball, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery discuss a how resource adequacy design theory applies to resource adequacy program design, why FERC asked questions about market based rate authority, what it means for a program to be interoperable, and where inter-regional transmission is coming from. 06:08 - Reminder for friends and fans of Therese Hampton to RSVP for her Celebration of Life and information about the Therese Hampton Endowed Scholarship for Economics and Business1at Portland State University.09:53 - translating theory into a program, debriefing from the interview with Prof. Jacob Mays
2023-02-021h 18
Public Power UndergroundProf. Jacob Mays on Electric Markets & Resource AdequacyJacob Mays, PhD, Matt Schroettnig, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery discuss a paper Prof. Mays co-authored on contractual form in electricity reliability obligations, how it applies to the program getting developed in the Northwest, and what perspective he has on electric market development in the Northwest.06:52 - discuss recently published article by Professor Mays and Han ShuShu, Han, and Jacob Mays. "Beyond capacity: contractual form in electricity reliability obligations." arXiv preprint arXiv:2210.10858 (2022).episode from the last time Prof. Mays was on Public Power Underground23:54 - applying Prof. Mays insights to the Western Power...
2023-01-271h 24
Public Power UndergroundDistribution Systems w/ Prof. Kyri BakerKyri Baker, PhD, Karen Heim, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery address topical energy issues and share stories in the latest episode of Public Power Underground.06:36 - hot takes and lessons to be learned from Winter Storm Elliottoral history of the winter storm elliott takes on #energytwitter compiled by Brian BartholomewTVA and Duke Energy notices of level 3 Energy Emergency AlertsPJM, MISO, and SPP energy emergency alertspaper co-authored by Prof Baker on the Texas freeze of February 202119:26 - debrief from White House Electrification SummitRTO Insider coveragerecording of the eventDafoe, S., Krarti, M., and...
2023-01-121h 01
Public Power UndergroundLIVE from the Lounge!!LIVE from the Lounge at NWPPA’s Power Supply Conference hosts Paul Dockery, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Dan Catchpole play an energy-themed analogy game; Arne Olson and Laura Trolese make sports analogies to electric markets in a continuation of Season 4’s Electric Market Enthusiasm Series; and Debra Smith joins to rant about energy and energy-adjacent topics in a rant wheel segment inspired by Lovett or Leave It.03:22 - the Underground vs OpenAI: a game of energy-adjacent analogies with contestants Doug Gilmore and Matt Schroettnig16:30 - Electric Market Enthusiasm pt 5.1: sports analogies for electric markets w/ Arne...
2022-12-2256 min
Public Power UndergroundSnowtel w/ Nicole HughesNicole Hughes, Karen Heim, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, and Paul Dockery address topical energy issues and share stories in the latest episode of Public Power Underground.06:43 - debrief from The NY Times article on the opportunities awaiting electric utilitiesHow utilities can maximize IIJA and IRA benefitsa new way to reference the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (aka the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)24:34 - another run at transmission siting reformSEEC releases Policy Brief on Permitting Reform for the Clean Energy FutureREPEAT project report on Electricity TransmissionMichael Cembalest’s 12th an...
2022-12-091h 11
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: Original Cast, Nostalgia PodGoodbyes are hard and tend to be cringeworthy. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SPECIAL EPISODE!!! The original cast of Public Power Underground gets together for a nostalgic recording with a throwback script to celebrate Ian Bledsoe's promotion to Senior Power Analyst, and acknowledge Paul Dockery's last day at Clatskanie PUD.3:48 - Celebration of Ian Bledsoe's promotion to Senior Power Analyst!8:06 - Conveyance of Anadromous Championship smelt belts for best friends of the underground because they kept coming back12:03 - Paul gives a pep talk on the difficulty of transitions while Ian plays the ukelele
2022-12-0515 min
Public Power UndergroundPrograms and Markets w/ Lea FisherLea Fisher, Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, Dan Catchpole, and Paul Dockery cover electric utility and electric-utility-adjacent news in Season 5, Episode 3.06:32 - introduce Ahlmahz Negash, PhD as new co-host for Public Power UndergroundAhlmahz has been a recurring guest on Public Power Underground and even accepted the designation of a Special Correspondent during earlier seasons. She has a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington, was recently the Chair of the Pacific Northwest Utility Conference Committee’s System Planning Committee, is a recipient of PNUCC’s “Albert Einstein Award”, and is currently on sabbatical from Tacoma P...
2022-12-011h 10
Public Power UndergroundPolitics and Policy w/ Travis KavullaTravis Kavulla, Abigail Sawyer, Dan Catchpole, and Paul Dockery cover electric utility and electric-utility-adjacent news in Season 5, Episode 2.05:51 - energy angles to election coverageAbigail Sawyer coverage of elections in the Southwest in California Energy MarketsAnne Ernst coverage of California elections in California Energy MarketsDan Catchpole’s coverage of NW election results in Clearing Up21:15 - Travis Kavulla acts as the Underground’s Special Correspondent from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) Annual Meeting in New OrleansWhite Paper on approaches to State-Federal Cooperation in a Decarbonizing Electricity SectorTwitter Wager between Rob Gramli...
2022-11-211h 09
Public Power UndergroundClean Dispatchable Resource Enthusiasm w/ Kieran ConnollyKieran Connolly, Dan Catchpole, Abigail Sawyer, and Paul Dockery kick off the Season 5 premier of Public Power Underground.06:11 - what evolution into a centrally dispatched market means for a hydro-centric regionSPP Sees Markets+ as Potential Path to Full RTO in the WestCarrie Simpson to serve as Southwest Power Pool’s director of western services developmentCalifornia Independent System Operator released its draft final proposal for the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM)18:42 - how does increased deployment of wind and solar in the Northwest impact hydro operationsBiden Signs Inflation Reduction Act; Permitting Reform Next StepRural El...
2022-11-111h 14
Public Power UndergroundFERC Chair Richard Glick! featured in part 4 of our Electric Market Enthusiasm seriesRichard Glick, the Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), joined Crystal Ball, Matt Schroettnig, and Paul Dockery for the fourth installation of our Electric Market Enthusiasm series. We try to keep it light while discussing transmission, batteries, price formation, the incremental approach to market expansion, governance, and FERC’s recently published five year strategic plan. To close it out we played an outro game called "Which FERC is the best FERC?".06:02 - Discuss elements of FERC’s FY22-26 Strategic PlanFERC FY22-26 Strategic Plan | Federal Energy Regulatory CommissionFact Sheet | Stra...
2022-08-1141 min
Public Power UndergroundSeason 4 Finale: Listener MailbagPaul Dockery, Jason Fordney, Abigail Sawyer, and Dan Catchpole field listener submitted questions from all types of energy enthusiasts. Plus, we have a Bluey Inspired intermission game with the Honorable Katie Mapes, Matt Schroettnig, and Jon Hart.03:12 - Dan Campbell wonders about the DER value proposition for Public Power13:24 - Dr. Kyri Baker pitches an airline idea for electric utilities27:13 - Travis Kavulla has a contracting question34:46 - Mary Wienke wants to know how we think about new technology developmentBen Serrurier’s work on A Fair Green Deal for th...
2022-08-051h 33
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting, pt. 8: Bear PrairieBear Prairie, the General Manager of Idaho Falls Power, is the last interview in our Electric Utility Recruiting series! In this 8th and final episode Bear reminds Humaira, Brian, and Paul that public power is a movement, and encourages all of us to spread the message throughout or communities.Idaho Falls Power is a municipal electric utility that has served the city of Idaho Falls, Idaho since 1900. The utility owns and operates five hydropower plants that deliver about one-third of the city’s electricity needs. In addition to the electric utility they offer high-speed, affordable, internet capability fo...
2022-07-2112 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting, pt. 7: Crystal BallCrystal Ball is bringing the power of good ideas to Public Power Underground with her appearance in our Electric Utility Recruiting series. The entertaining conversation with Crystal Ball, Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery includes Crystal’s recruiting pitch that “Electric utilities are sexy again.” Public Power Underground is an origin story for the Humaira Falkenberg → Crystal Ball friendship and the duo talk about the way community brought them together.PNUCC is a not-for-profit trade association of consumer-owned and investor-owned electric utilities and other power industry partners that share a common interest in the efficacy and reliabil...
2022-07-1908 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting, pt. 6: Marc FarmerMarc Farmer, Clatskanie PUD’s General Manager, joins Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery on Public Power Underground to participate in our Electric Utility Recruiting video series. Marc also gives a great pitch for joining Clatskanie PUD.Clatskanie PUD is an Oregon electric utility serving the communities and surrounding areas of Clatskanie, Rainier, and Westport. With Marc’s support, Clatskanie PUD’s Power Department started Public Power Underground while finding ways to cope with remote work during the pandemic. Marc’s enthusiasm and support for the program continues.Electric Utility Recruiting video seriesAtt...
2022-07-1307 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting, pt. 5: Sarah EdmondsSarah Edmonds, the Western Power Pool’s President and Chief Executive Officer, join Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery on Public Power Underground to participate in our Electric Utility Recruiting video series. Before kicking off the interview she encouraged us to broaden our approach to include all electric utilities in our target audience. We capture some of that conversation as well.The NWPP Corporation, doing business as the Western Power Pool, is based in Portland, Oregon. Having evolved from its informal origins of three engineers on loan from member utilities in 1941 to the existing staff today, th...
2022-07-0611 min
Public Power UndergroundEmpathy and NuanceKurt Miller, Dan Catchpole, KC Mehaffey, and Paul Dockery get together for a regularly formatted episode to talk about electric utility and electric-utility-adjacent news from a Power Department’s perspective. The crew covers the Murray-Inslee draft report, Australia’s electric market getting suspended, natural gas price slump after a fire, transfer of management of a fish hatchery to the Nez Perce Tribe, and Falconry at the Dalles Dam.19:10 - A draft report developed for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray to examine the impacts of breaching the four lower snake river damsCoverage by KC M...
2022-07-011h 17
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting pt. 4: Four Scotts of Public PowerScott Corwin, Scott Simms, Scott Rhees and Scott Coe joined Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery on Public Power Underground to participate in our Electric Utility Recruiting video series.Scott Corwin is the Executive Director of NWPPA.Scott Simms is the Executive Director of Public Power Council.Scott Rhees is the General Manager and CEO for Franklin Public Utility District.Scott Coe received a lifetime achievement award at the 2022 NWPPA Annual Meeting.Electric Utility Recruiting video seriesAttracting a new workforce into electric utility professions is...
2022-06-2914 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting pt. 3: Sarah GiomiSarah Giomi recruits college students for Energy Northwest’s Public Power Internship program. Thankfully, she agreed to join Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery on Public Power Underground to participate in our Electric Utility Recruiting video series.Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency formed by the Washington state legislature in 1957, representing the convergence of small and big public power. Their consortium of 27 public utility districts and municipalities across Washington takes advantage of economies of scale and shared services that help utilities run their operations more efficiently and at lower cost, to the benefit of more th...
2022-06-2109 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Market Enthusiasm, pt. 3: Professor Frank Wolak on Market Design and an Energy Market GameProfessor Frank Wolak, the Holbrook Working Professor of Commodity Price Studies in the Department of Economics at Stanford University who also works as the Director of the Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, joins Paul Dockery for the third installation of our Electric Market Enthusiasm series. 04:13 - my lede for Professor Wolak’s working paperWolak, Frank A. "Long-term resource adequacy in wholesale electricity markets with significant intermittent renewables." Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy 3.1 (2022): 155-220.10:22 - the Reliability Externality and it’s relation to the Missing Money problem16:48 - suspe...
2022-06-1658 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting pt. 2: Mark JohnsonMark Johnson, the General Manager of Flathead Electric Cooperative, joins Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery on Public Power Underground to participate in our Electric Utility Recruiting video series.Flathead Electric Cooperative serves over 56,000 members in and around the area of Kalispell and Libby, Montana. It has grown from 82 miles of line serving 117 farm homes in December of 1938 to what is now the second largest electric utility in Montana.Electric Utility Recruiting video seriesAttracting a new workforce into electric utility professions is going to be one of the...
2022-06-1407 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Utility Recruiting pt. 1: John HairstonJohn Hairston, CEO and Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, joins Humaira Falkenberg, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery on Public Power Underground to participate in our Electric Utility Recruiting video series.Before John’s recruiting pitch, Humaira Falkenberg opens with a message of change, a message of hope, and a message of inclusion in her cold open as the episodes celebrity guest host.Electric Utility Recruiting video seriesAttracting a new workforce into electric utility professions is going to be one of the key challenges of the next 20 years, and electric utility enthusiasts ne...
2022-06-0918 min
Public Power UndergroundElectric Market Enthusiasm pt. 2: Elliot Mainzer on Governance, Transmission, and Price FormationElliot Mainzer, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Independent System Operator (ISO), joined Crystal Ball, Matt Schroettnig, and Paul Dockery for the second installation of our Electric Market Enthusiasm series. We try to keep it light while discussing governance, transmission, price formation, stakeholder engagement, and CAISO’s new five year strategic plan. To break up the heavy topics we play an intermission game!05:16 - newly released 5 year Strategic Plan14:27 - Governance, legislative change, and Concurrent Resolution 188 introduced by Assembly member Chris Holden, also, Elliot’s TEDx127:27 - an Intermission Game call...
2022-06-021h 11
Public Power UndergroundAFTER DARK: Live from the Crown & ThistleUsing the Zach Lowe podcasting technique, Crystal Ball, Humaira Falkenberg, Matthew Schroettnig, and Paul Dockery review their top-5 most interesting energy news stories from so far in 2022 . . . . at a pub . . . together . . . in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on the eve of NWPPA’s Annual Meeting.The stories they covered are listed in a google sheet they used to talk from. Rather than translate the google sheet into bullet points, we’re just including a hyperlink to the working doc.If you have an interesting story from 2022 you’d like to contribute, just add it to the sheet un...
2022-05-241h 14
Public Power UndergroundElectric Market Enthusiasm, pt. 1: Professor Jacob Mays on Electric Market DesignJacob Mays, Assistant Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, answers Paul’s remedial questions on how electric markets function and what the Pacific Northwest should be considering when approaching market expansion incrementally in a wide ranging and engaging conversation. Since Professor Mays is an academic, it feels fitting to include citations for the materials referenced. Please excuse any errors in citation.Mays et al., Private risk and social resilience in liberalized electricity markets, Joule (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2022.01.004Mays, Jacob and Jenkins, Jesse, Electricity Markets under Deep Decarbonization (April 19, 2022). USA...
2022-05-191h 13
Public Power UndergroundMore Wealth, Better Living, and Greater HappinessBen Serrurier, Jason Fordney, Arin Guillory, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power, public-power-adjacent news and exciting acronyms, including BPA in the EIM, CREPC-WIRAB, all-things Tx, NuScale IPO, and another WSJ article!04:07 - a new merch idea coming from the FDR speech Ben quotes in the cold open08:19 - Arin Reports14:21 - BPA joined the EIM on May 3rdBPA press releaseCAISO press release20:28 - Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation // Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (CREPC-WIRAB)Ben’s live tweet of the eventCREPC WIRAB agendaJason Fordney’s ar...
2022-05-121h 15
Public Power UndergroundSerenity in ServiceBill Drummond, Dan Catchpole, Karen Heim, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, including Lineworker Appreciation Day, solar developers betting on RTO development, what’s going on with the battery supply chain, and jumpstarting interregional transmission!08:45 - Arin Reports with Karen Reporting14:10 - Lineworker Appreciation Day21:11 - solar developers betting on RTO development31:08 - a bunch of battery storiesCAISO is developing a new participation model for energy storage resourcesa Southern California Edison’s energy storage project is facing delaysRivian Chief Executive Officer, RJ Scar...
2022-04-281h 01
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: electric utility enthusiast trifecta with Debra SmithDebra Smith, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer for Seattle City Light, joined the Karen, Matt, and Paul for a special bonus discussion about the electric utility enthusiast trifecta: Electrification, Markets, and People. We also get some jokes, elephant noises, an intermission game, and some new merch ideas.05:49 - what’s going well, a numbered list12:14 - Attracting, retaining, and recruiting public power people36:56 - an Intermission Game called “Fantasy Utility Draft” where we do a mock electric utility draft from the characters of Schitts Creek, Succession, Ted Lasso, and Parks & Rec5...
2022-04-211h 16
Public Power UndergroundInnovation SpaceRobert Trinnear, Abigail Sawyer, Brian Fawcett, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, including IPCC’s working group 3 report, the nationalization of National Grid, a $4.7 million fine by FERC, electrifying heavy duty trucks, and public power whitepapers!08:02 - Arin Reports with Brian Reporting16:28 - IPCC’s Working Group 3 ReportThe Guardian article on Working Group 3 conclusionsThe Guardian article on IPCC reports and what they address29:29 - UK government buys ESO from National Grid37:32 - Constellation NewEnergy pays fine for violating CAISO market rules42:25 - Ne...
2022-04-151h 14
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: all the colors of h2Matt and Paul have a meandering conversation with Chris Kroeker from NW Natural about H2’s role in the energy transition.04:01 - all the colors of hydrogen17:32 - difference between hydrogen (H2) and renewable natural gas (CH4)21:23 - How much H2 can go in CH4 transmission and distribution lines?26:58 - How much H2 can be used in natural gas power plants?29:35 - H2’s role in industrial decarbonization (include paper mills)31:50 - Infrastructure necessary to get H2 to industrial loads (and money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that may go towa...
2022-04-0747 min
Public Power Undergroundfinding the opportunitiesTherese Hampton, Jason Fordney, Crystal Ball, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, including Blue Wolf Capital, minimum pool elevation for power generation at Glen Canyon Dam, FERC’s take on ROE, innovation at Douglas County PUD, a new President and CEO at WPP, and two new members of WMEG!06:45 - Arin Reports with Crystal Reporting13:29 - Blue Wolf Capital is pursuing the restart of the Intalco aluminum smelter Larry Brown opinion piece in The Seattle TimesScott Simms rebuttal in The Seattle Times18:47 - Glen Canyon Dam approaching min...
2022-03-311h 03
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: #EnergyTwitter: Jesse Jenkins InterviewIn a wide ranging, engaging, and entertaining conversation, Humaira, Matt and Paul interview Jesse Jenkins. Jesse is an assistant professor at Princeton University with a joint appointment in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment. He is also an affiliated faculty with the Center for Policy Research in Energy and Environment at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and an associated faculty at the High Meadows Environment Institute. He leads the Princeton ZERO Lab - the Zero carbon Energy systems Research and Optimization Laboratory -- which conducts research to...
2022-03-241h 03
Public Power UndergroundBringing HopeAhlmahz Negash, Dan Catchpole, Karen Heim, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, plus a preview of an upcoming interview with Northwest Natural’s Chris Kroeker about the future of hydrogen!06:48 - Arin Reports with Karen Reporting12:13 - Ukraine and the European Union to urgently link electric grids (which successfully occurred after recording)19:13 - Columbia REA let’s employees bring dogs to work22:44 - Spring 2022 Energy Justice Speaker Series26:50 - Jason Fordney’s article debriefing Arne Olson’s presentation at the February 25th NewsData and CJB Energy Economic...
2022-03-1756 min
Public Power UndergroundBONUS INTERVIEW: Mary Wiencke talks MarketsIn this bonus episode Matt and Paul have a conversation with the Executive Director of PGP and former Vice President of Transmission Regulation and Market Policy for PacifiCorp: Mary Wiencke!Reference Materials:PGP’s Market RetrospectiveWestern States’ Market Study prepared by Energy StrategiesHandbook on Electricity Markets FERC Landmark OrdersRemember to share this with any friends you have that are electric utility enthusiasts like us!Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts! Public Power Underground, where you’re valued and appreciated. This is a public...
2022-03-031h 02
Public Power UndergroundMarket Enthusiasts, like us!Russ Mantifel, Jason Fordney, Paul Dockery, and Ludgie Gelin talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, plus a preview of an upcoming interview with PGP’s Mary Wiencke!08:08 - Arin Reports with Paul Reporting14:20 - Roundtable on rural broadband at Mason PUD #3 plus other broadband news21:38 - CAISO adopts Phase 1 of Resource Sufficiency test rule changes30:24 - The Wall Street Journal’s long-form article on the grid’s reliability44:30 - the cost of going underground51:05 - 2021 Power Plan in pre-publication, final form58:50 - Matt and Paul talk to PGP’s...
2022-02-241h 22
Public Power Undergrounddoing business as!Rebecca Sexton, Crystal Ball, Dan Catchpole, and Paul Dockery run through the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news. There are a few instances where we go off the rails - - - as it often does when discussing public-power-adjacent news.1:12 - Rebecca breaks news in her opening, Celebrity Guest, monologue11:46 - Arin Reports with Rebecca Reporting15:20 - follow up on Arin Reports with discussion on Northeast natural gas prices21:10 - CAISO issued a 20-year draft transmission outlook plan (coverage by NewsData and Utility Dive)29:40 - Hydropower’s Contributions to Grid Reliability and Re...
2022-02-101h 01
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: The Full Hairston ConversationIn this bonus episode Matt and Paul have a conversation with the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of Bonneville Power Administration: John Hairston!4:50 - One-Year Anniversary Celebration and presentation of an honorary fry-weight Anadromous Championship15:25 - Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) news20:34 - New content begins here!21:43 - A new, public power underground game: seen // heard // nothing25:45 - Fish risk (on hydro operations)37:03 - Organizational re-alignment45:52 - what electrification might mean for BPA’s transmission business unit50:25 - a promo for BPA’s Science Bowl51:05 - Administrator’s choice of top...
2022-02-031h 05
Public Power UndergroundNew Year! New Season!Karen Heim, Dan Catchpole, Ian Bledsoe, and Paul Dockery get up to speed on public power and public-power-adjacent news!04:05 - Arin Reports with Ian Reporting!08:20 - Northwest winter storm14:36 - BPA's land acquisition program 20:23 - Another electric truck25:21 - EDAM stakeholder process update30:13 - PG&E Building ‘Remote Grids’ in Fire-prone Areas, and containerized microgrid systems38:20 - Where Does Santa Go When the Arctic's Summer Ice Is Gone?You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to share this with any friends you...
2022-01-1349 min
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: Michelle Manary InterviewMichelle Manary, Bonneville Power Administration’s Chief Financial Officer who is on assignment to the Department of Energy as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Electric Delivery, joins Matthew Scroettnig (EWEB’s Power Planning Supervisor & Staff Counsel) and Paul Dockery (Clatskanie PUD’s Director of Energy Resources) to go deep into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, electrification’s impact on long-term planning, how to prepare for grant funding, SEASONAL TIME CHANGE, and how much she misses all our wonderful workshops in the Pacific Northwest.If you watched s3e10, Infrastructure Week!, you have already heard the first part of...
2021-12-0958 min
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: The COE InterviewScott Coe, a public power leader who started under the Greatest Generation, rose to leadership amongst boomers, and has led organizations with Boomers, Millenials, and, maybe even, zoomers, joins Matthew Scroettnig (EWEB’s Power Planning & Staff Counsel) and Paul Dockery (Clatskanie PUD’s Power Manager) to talk about all things public power and public-power-leadership.Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts. Public Power Underground, it’s work to watch! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicpowerunderground.substack.com
2021-11-2346 min
Public Power UndergroundLeading Innovation Week!It’s season 3, episode 9 - Leading Innovation Week! for Public Power Underground. Underground regulars (Karen Heim, Brian Fawcett, Ludgie Gelin, and Ian Bledsoe) are joined by our returning Podcast Ambassador from Clearing Up, Dan Catchpole. The episode includes conversations about blockchain technologies with NRU’s Resource Analyst, Ellyn Groves, and a preview of a longer interview by Special Correspondent Matt Schroettnig of Emerald PUD’s General Manager, Scott Coe. The full interview of Scott Coe will be in a follow-up BONUS episode, next week.02:54 - Arin Reports with Ian Reporting06:29 - Cooking, Hot Water Grew Residential Demand During...
2021-11-1845 min
Public Power UndergroundDistributed Demand Resource Response!It’s season 3, episode 8 - Distributed Demand Resource Response Week! for Public Power Underground. Underground regulars (Karen Heim, Arin Guillory, Ludgie Gelin, and Paul Dockery) are joined by our Podcast Ambassador from California Energy Markets, Jason Fordney this week. The episode includes conversations with Tacoma Power’s Ahlmahz Negash grant funding for microgrids and distributed resources, and PNUCC’s Shauna McReynolds and Tomás Morrisey about Demand Response and Distributed Generation in the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft 2021 Power Plan.05:18 - Arin Reports08:46 - The Arizona Corporation Commission is clashing with Arizona Public Service13:13 - Ahlmahz...
2021-11-111h 08
Public Power UndergroundMarkets Week!It’s season 3, episode 7 - Markets Week! for Public Power Underground. Underground regulars (Brian Fawcett, Arin Guillory, Ian Bledsoe, and Paul Dockery) are joined by our Podcast Ambassador from Clearing Up, Dan Catchpole, to get our listeners up to speed on public-power and public-power-adjacent news. The episode includes special, feature conversations with The Energy Authority’s (TEA) Chris Lewis and John Raiford to talk about the state of Natural Gas Markets, and Public Generation Pool’s Therese Hampton and Steve Kerns about PGP’s Market Retrospective.03:49 - Arin Reports06:16 - TEA’s Chris Lewis and John Raiford explain wh...
2021-10-2957 min
Public Power UndergroundBONUS EPISODE: NewsData CollaborationYour friends at the Power Department are excited to announce that we’re teaming up with NewsData to make Public Power Underground better, bigger, and more sustainable.In a special, bonus episode the friends you’ve come to know as the voices of the Underground (Karen Heim, Brian Fawcett, Arin Guillory, Ian Bledsoe, Ludgie Gelin, and Paul Dockery) reminisce a little about what we’ve enjoyed so far, we talk with NewsData’s Editor-in-Chief, Mark Ohrenschall, about the collaboration, and get insights from Mike Shepard, the CEO of NewsData’s parent company, Pioneer Utility Resources, and Marc Farmer, th...
2021-10-2233 min
Public Power UndergroundFish Risk!It’s season 3, episode 4 - Fish Risk! week for Public Power Underground. We cover everything from permafrost to Dolly Parton on this week’s episode hosted a combination of new stars (Ludgie Gelin and Betsy Bridge), returning star (Arin Guillory), and regular co-host (Paul Dockery). The highlight is a wonderful interview with the Director of BPA’s Fish & Wildlife Program, Crystal Ball, where we try to better understand fish risk for preference customer considering a post-2028 contract with BPA. We also get a visit from Special Correspondent, and star of the Underground, Matt Schroettnig. The whole thing is wonderful.04:0...
2021-09-301h 02
Public Power UndergroundCatching Up on all-the-news!We’re Catching up on all-the-news! this week on Public Power Underground! After a restful week hiatus we’re back catching up on all we missed. Joining to get us up to speed were Clearing Up’s Steve Ernst, Forth’s Erin Galiger, and NRU’s Megan Stratman!01:22 - Arin Reports06:49 - Colonial Pipeline begins restart of operations after a cyberattack 09:15 - Clearing Up's Steve Ernst joins to catch me up litigation and arbitration surrounding Colstrip15:12 - Fitch Ratings issues Rating Action Commentary on Energy Northwest and BPA16:29 - Debrief f...
2021-05-1453 min
Public Power UndergroundResource Adequacy double-feature!It’s Resource Adequacy double-feature! week on Public Power Underground! We talk about the Northwest Power Pool’s Resource Adequacy program in back-to-back interviews. First with NWPP’s Chief Operating Officer, Gregg Carrington, and the second interview with Chair of WSPP’s Operating Committee, Matthew Schroettnig. And to get caught up on the BP-22/TC-22 rate cases we talk to PPC’s Mike Deen about what’s going on!01:31 - Arin Reports05:11 - Celebration of ClearingUp’s 2000th edition07:22 - PPC’s Mike Deen joins to talk BP-22/TC-22 rate process15:06 - PG&E...
2021-04-2252 min
Public Power UndergroundCluster of Symbiotic Markets!It’s Cluster of Symbiotic Markets! week on Public Power Underground! Naming for this week’s episode came from a wonderful interview of The Energy Authority’s (TEA) Director of Power Trading - West, Tu Phan. We also got a double-feature interview with Kurt and Austin from Northwest River Partners, and continued our series of interviews by Public Power Underground’s Special Salmon War Correspondent, Matthew Schroettnig, this time touching base with Northern Wasco County PUD’s Roger Kline about the future of the federal system and Public Power Council’s Blue Sky initiative.01:43 - Arin Reports;
2021-04-1556 min
Public Power UndergroundBring Your Ideas!It’s Bring Your Ideas! week on Public Power Underground! A lot of guests and guest news this week. Arin Reports (01:16), Tacoma Power’s Ahlmahz Negash, PhD, talks about demand response (04:21), Puget Sound Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan identifies biodiesel peakers (19:30), Guest News from Oregon Department of Energy’s Blake Shelide (20:46), Brian Johnson introduces Holly Dohrman’s interview on the post-2028 Provider of Choice process (26:24), Financial Times article on the next step in battery development (41:30), Debrief from April 7th Technical Management Team discussion (47:18), Guest News from NewsData’s Mark Ohrenschall on the upcoming Grid Resilience webinar (50:00), NewsData’s News Bulletin on Po...
2021-04-091h 00
Public Power UndergroundBe Curious! not judgmentalIt’s Be Curious! not judgmental week! on Public Power Underground! We had a great conversation with Energy Northwest’s Greg Cullen about all their non-CGS, got a special guest interview by EWEB’s Matt Schroettnig of BPA’s Crystal Ball, and covered a bunch of other fun public-power and public-power adjacent topics.Arin Reports (01:55), Energy Northwest news with their Vice President for Energy Services and Development, Greg Cullen (05:15), Checking on the California Duck Curve (23:20), EWEB sponsored content in Eugene Weekly about Electric Vehicles (25:50), Clark’s Lena Wittler and Seattle’s Debra Smith profiles in Public Power Curren...
2021-04-0256 min
Public Power UndergroundBonus Episode: Public Power Crossover PodIn a special, crossover podcast the host of APPA's Public Power Now, Paul Ciampoli, and Public Power Underground's Paul Dockery interview APPA's Vice President of Strategic Member Engagement & Education, Ursula Schryver, about APPA's upcoming National Conference.https://www.publicpower.org/public-power-now https://www.publicpower.org/event/national-conference Public Power Underground, it's work to watch. Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts. https://publicpowerunderground.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pub...
2021-03-3121 min
Public Power UndergroundBest and Brightest Week!It’s Best and Brightest Week! on Public Power Underground! We have two guest co-hosts (NRU’s Megan Stratman and Clatskanie PUD’s own Sarah Johnson) and a special celebrity guest star (Libby Calnon) participate in the show where we debut a brand new public-power-adjacent show on Slummin’ w/ the Underground. I force the guest co-hosts to read ad copy I’ve written to recruit to public power. Don’t miss the great ad copy, great content, and great conversation about hiring, jobs, and recruiting for jobs in public power.Arin Reports (03:49), Electric rate design news from Tacoma...
2021-03-2658 min
Public Power UndergroundBonus Episode: SPP's Market+ ConceptSPP agreed to sit down for an interview to talk about the Market+ concept they unveiled at the March 4th Members Forum. It’s the centerpiece of this, bonus, episode of Public Power Underground – Premium!. Bookending the discussion with SPP’s Steve Johnson are conversations with public power professionals from the region to provide context. PPC’s Mike Linn sets the stage for why markets matter to Northwest public power (01:32), SPP’s Steve Johnson joins Public Power Underground as a refresher on the Market+ concept (21:47), Humaira Falkenberg (Pacific County PUD), Lauren Tenney Denison (PPC), and Robert Cromwell (Seattle City Light) joi...
2021-03-231h 36
Public Power UndergroundOne Year!It’s One Year! on Public Power Underground! We don’t do any run downs of what happened a year ago, instead we have a Ted Lasso inspired pep talk to start the episode (01:14). There is a visual bit at the end of the pep talk, so you might check out that portion on youtube. Then we got to work! We have an interview with Tacoma’s Clay Norris about CAISO’s EDAM process (16:55), talk electrification with EWEB’s Megan Capper (34:56), and cover lots of other public power and public-power-adjacent news. Public Power Underground, it’s work to watch...
2021-03-1957 min
Public Power UndergroundFriends and Neighbors WeekIt’s Friends and Neighbors Week on Public Power Underground! The crew was VERY LOOSE this week with a lot of spring sunshine vibes going on. I think you’ll really enjoy the banter, and the content. We got a guest lede from Clearing Up’s KC Mehaffey about an article she wrote (23:03), got to talk to PPC’s Executive Director, Scott Simms, about virtual events and remote work (26:17), and PPC’s Lauren Tenney Denison returned to talk about PPC's Special Meeting Series with BPA on Potential Resource Adequacy Program Participation (38:53).Public Power Underground, it’s work to watc...
2021-03-1245 min
Public Power UndergroundBonus Episode: The Scourge of Seasonal Time ChangeIn a special, bonus, episode the Underground tackles The Scourge of Seasonal Time Change. Joining the Underground to tackle the issue is the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), Shauna McReynolds, the Power Resource Manager for PUD No 2 of Pacific County, Humaira Falkenberg, and the Executive Director of the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA), Scott Corwin. We manage to have great banter while doing a deep-dive into the practice of transitioning between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time twice a year in an even less serious, more-happy-hour-ish version of Public Power Underground we...
2021-03-1050 min
Public Power UndergroundBREAKING NEWSWe’re Breaking News this week on Public Power Underground! Arin Reports (03:04), APPA's profile of women in high-voltage trades (06:06), RMG Financials’ Reid Grossman joins to talk about counterparty credit in the aftermath of the winter freeze event (07:19), Debrief from BPA’s IRP 2 Workshop (23:03), Idaho Power’s Customer Growth (25:52), Guest Lede by PPC’s Aaron Bush on the March 1stPublic Power / BPA Carbon Forum (32:18), Debrief from the NWRFC’s Water Supply Briefing (32:40), Snohomish County PUD’s Brian Booth joins to talk electric rates (34:20), BREAKING NEWS: SPP unveils Markets+ concept at PPC Members Forum w/ special guest lede by PPC’s Lauren Tenney De...
2021-03-0556 min
Public Power UndergroundUse Your Illusions of ChoiceIt’s Use Your Illusions of Choice week on Public Power Underground! We’re excited to be joined by a slew of celebrities of the region this week to spice things up. Karen Heim joined as a guest co-host, (07:02) Matt Schroettnig interviews Bo Downen about the Simpson Concept, (32:52) Greg Mendonca talks about the NW Power Pool’s Resource Adequacy program, and (43:44) Kurt Miller does a special guest readout about NOAA Fisheries Science Center’s recent report.Public Power Underground, it’s work to watch. Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts.to sign up for the...
2021-02-2654 min
Public Power UndergroundExtreme Weather and Extreme AdventurerPower markets are a hot topic this week, and we didn’t shy away from diving into the conversation. It’s Extreme Weather and Extreme Adventurer week on Public Power Underground! On the first half of the episode we’re serious (for us) as we talk about Northwest power markets (02:34), have Ansergy’s Mike Griswold on to talk about next week’s market outlook (05:14), debrief on the current state of the extreme weather events (13:03), and cover some other northwest public power news (16:00). The second half (18:10) we loosen up with NRU’s John Francisco on this month’s edition of “Slummin’ with th...
2021-02-1946 min
Public Power UndergroundEVs and Great StoriesIt’s EVs and Great Stories week on Public Power Underground! This week we were joined by D&R International’s Sr. Director Electric Transportation, John Morris to talk about what electric vehicle manufacturers have in store for us(10:24), and we got an Oral History of the Energy News Digest (25:41) from Joel Myer (it’s Publisher) and Sarah Johnson (Clatskanie PUD’s Customer Relations & Services Manager).As always we started by covering northwest market indicators with Arin Reports (04:02) and cover other public power and public-power-adjacent news on Public Power Desktop (08:51).04:02 - Arin Reports08:51 - Public Power Desktop1...
2021-02-1250 min
Public Power UndergroundIt Takes a ProcessIt’s It Takes a Process week on Public Power Underground! This week we were joined by Snohomish County PUD’s Manager of Power Supply, Garrison Marr to talk about IRPs, and returning champion, Friend of the Underground, and Rates and Policy Director for NRU, Megan Stratman to talk about revenue financing in BP-22. And in true Public Power Underground fashion, we’re debuting a brand new innovation in Northwest Public Power infotainment: Zoom Duels!02:40 - Arin Reports; 07:30 - Public Power Desktop; 10:24 – Garrison Marr on IRPs; 25:41 – Megan Stratman on Revenue Financing; 38:39 – Zoom Duel!: Ranting Power Manager vs...
2021-02-0544 min
Public Power UndergroundCoalition of the WillingIt’s Coalition of the Willing week on Public Power Underground! This week we were joined by BPA’s Rachel Dibble to talk about Resource Adequacy and PNGC’s Roger Gray to talk about a investigating a Northwest RTO/ISO. As always we started by covering northwest market indicators with Arin Reports and cover other public power and public-power-adjacent news on Public Power Desktop.05:03 - Arin Reports; 09:35 - Public Power Desktop; 10:46 – Roger Gray on Northwest RTO/ISO; 28:16 – Rachel Dibble on Resource Adequacy; 47:04 - Plug-Pass promo This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...
2021-01-2948 min
Public Power UndergroundBreach-Ladder-RepowerIt’s Breach-Ladder-Repower week on Public Power Underground! This week we were joined by PPC’s Karen Heim on a re-vamped version of Slummin’ w/ the Underground where we had a lot of fun and toned down the overall seriousness we’ve gotten into with Public Power Underground.As always we started by covering northwest market indicators with Arin Reports and cover other public power and public-power-adjacent news on Public Power Desktop.02:21 - Arin Reports05:48 - Public Power Desktop09:23 – Slummin’ w/ the Underground42:14 - Plug-Pass promo
2021-01-2243 min
Public Power UndergroundResource Adequacy week!It’s Resource Adequacy week on Public Power Underground! This week we were joined by Susan Ackerman to talk about the Northwest Power Pool’s Resource Adequacy program, Mark Ohrenschall to talk about NewsData’s upcoming webinar on Electric resource Adequacy in California and the West, and lastly by Mike Linn to talk about CAISO’s Summer 2021 readiness initiatives.It was a fun week of banter while covering important topics, as always we started by covering northwest market indicators with Arin Reports and cover other public power and public-power-adjacent news on Public Power Desktop.02:38...
2021-01-1441 min
Public Power UndergroundHappy New Year from the UndergroundPublic Power Underground is a pandemic diversion written, edited, and published by the Power Department. We cover Northwest public power and public-power-adjacent news with occasional special guest correspondents to talk about regional topics. In this week’s episodes we stuck to the basics: covering northwest market indicators with Arin Reports and running through public power and public-power-adjacent news on Public Power Desktop.02:33 - Arin Reports05:54 - Public Power Desktop18:58 - Plug-Pass promo This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...
2021-01-0720 min