Anterix's Industry Insights Podcast

We explore the dynamics between utility industry priorities and government funding.

GridWise Alliance CEO Dr. Karen Wayland and West Monroe Senior Manager, Energy & Utilities Calvin Tong join a discussion with Anterix Chief Regulatory and Communications Officer Chris Guttman-McCabe.

When industry and government row in the same direction, the ship can really move. Today, utilities are not only embracing the modernization of their grids, they are accelerating the transformation utilizing grid-enhancing technologies like private LTE to support reliability and resilience. This acceleration is further propelled by the federal funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP) program, now in its second installment.

This funding opportunity is a catalyst for progress, emphasizing projects geared towards enhancing electric transmission. The GRIP program prioritizes a faster build-out of energy projects, fostering comprehensive solutions that intricately link grid communications systems and operations. Such initiatives contribute significantly to increased resilience and the reduction of power outages and threats.

At the heart of this transformative opportunity is the deployment of advanced technologies, including distributed energy resources and battery systems. These technologies play a crucial role in providing essential grid services, ensuring that communities across the United States have access to affordable, reliable, and clean electricity. 

This insightful discussion analyzes the potential benefits of federal funding on utilities’ grid modernization efforts and sheds light on how your company can strategically position itself to benefit from this pivotal moment in the industry.

Join industry experts as they discuss insights on solutions driven by utility needs including smart infrastructure applications, automation, monitoring, and asset management solutions. Ecosystem members will discuss how their solutions are helping utilities realize improved ROI, reduced power costs, and are driving overall operational efficiency. Moderator: Pete Tseronis (Dots and Bridges) Panelists: Ron Krzoska (Hitachi Energy) Kevin Corcoran (Hubbell) Jow Ortiz (Ubiquia)

Utilities looking to modernize communications networks with private LTE can benefit from both 900 MHz and CBRS for the capacity and coverage they need. Anterix Active Ecosystem members 4RF, GE and RAD are collaborating with Anterix and Sequans to bring to market an LTE Cat-4 multi-band communications module that supports 900 MHz, CBRS, and failovers to other networks.

They’ll discuss how they’ve leveraged best-in-class technology and low-cost silicon economics to rapidly bring a flexible, high-performance solution that utilities require at an attractive price point. In this case, bringing a low-cost, versatile multi-band module to market. The panelists will also address how they anticipate these solutions will help accelerate the device ecosystem, creating additional value for utilities.

Moderator: Pete Tseronis (Dots and Bridges)

Panelists:
John Yaldwyn (4RF)
Chris Trabold (GE)
JL Betts (RAD)
Jeremy Gosteau (Sequans)

Has it really been two years? We launched the Anterix Active Ecosystem program in May 2021 with 37 charter members. Today there are over 100 innovative companies in the program, collaborating to develop and bring to market products and services to help utilities deploy and get the most out of their 900 MHz private LTE networks–all with guidance from utility executives and other industry leaders on the Anterix Utility Strategic Advisory Board (USAB).

Join Xcel Energy Director of OT Network Operations, Wendell Reimer, and Anterix Chief Operating Officer, Ryan Gerbrandt, for a look back at Active Ecosystem milestones and a discussion of what’s on the horizons for the Ecosystem and for utility private LTE adoption.

Moderator: Pete Tseronis (Dots and Bridges)

Panelists:
Ryan Gerbrandt (Anterix)
Wendell Reimer (Xcel Energy)

April is Earth Month, so what better time for Industry Insights to focus on the importance of modern communications in helping utilities fight climate change by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources?  Importantly, there’s a direct link between utilities’ ability to meet emissions reduction targets and their adoption of private LTE networks for grid management.  (Hint: the grid was designed for one-way energy flow from central generation resources, but now it needs to be smarter to accommodate renewable energy resources that are frequently distributed and intermittent and can even morph into consumers of power.) 

Join Moderator, Pete Tseronis, Founder, Dots and Bridges and industry leaders Mike Brozek, Strategic Industry Advisor, Anterix, John Kuklinski, Grid Solutions Technology Evaluation Manager, Duke Energy Corp., and Rohit Nair, Director, Engineering Standards & Grid Modernization, PacifiCorp as they connect those dots and discuss how the industry is using communications technology to enable a cleaner energy future. 

With the influx of federal infrastructure funds and ever-increasing attention to decarbonization and integrating renewable energy resources, focus on grid modernization grows ever sharper. Join a panel of accomplished utility executives as they discuss the grid modernization challenges that confront their organizations and the essential role they see for communications networks generally–and private LTE specifically–in addressing them.

Hosted by:

Steve Mitnick, Executive Editor, Public Utilities Fortnightly

Featuring a distinguished panel of industry experts:

• Shawna Kiesbuy, Senior Manager of Network Engineering at Avista Corporation
• Sindhu Suresh, Grid Platform Management Lead at Public Service Electric & Gas
• Elaine Allyn, Manager of OT Network Engineering and Architecture at San Diego Gas & Electric

As discussed in Energy Central’s recently released special issue, Utility Guide to Private LTE, now more than ever, utilities are being asked to deliver greater resilience, intelligence, and security to support grid modernization. The rapidly growing requirements for utilities to support all these changes while transforming to withstand extreme weather conditions, the adoption of DERs, and more has shifted how utilities need to think about their communication networks.

The inexorable march of utility modernization necessitates a communications network that is a foundational element in providing safe and reliable service to customers today and in the future. As an increasingly complex grid relies ever more upon data, Private LTE networks become one of the utility’s primary strategic assets.

Many of America’s leading utilities have already implemented Private LTE networks but as this area is still emerging and evolving, staying on top of the latest advancements and technologies can be challenging.

Catch up on what you missed in this episode of Industry Insights where contributors to the Utility Guide to Private LTE will gather to discuss all things Private LTE including key applications, critical use cases, market evolution, and the operation of a private LTE network.

What is the value proposition for deploying a utility-controlled private LTE network? What are the key use cases it can support? How does a multi-operating company utility move forward with a transformational project like private LTE? Why is beneficial to the communities that utilities serve?

Replay the session with Jeff Levy, Xcel Energy’s VP of Infrastructure and Shared Services and Ryan Gerbrandt, Anterix’s COO as they discuss Xcel Energy’s 900 MHz private LTE journey, the rationale for its decision to adopt that solution, the enhanced value opportunities that it may unlock, and how its comprehensive evaluation process can help other utilities efficiently reach their own decisions.

Hosted by:

Pete Tseronis, Founder, Dots and Bridges, former Department of Energy CTO

Featuring a distinguished panel of industry experts:

Jeff Levy, Vice President of Infrastructure and Shared Services at Xcel Energy
Ryan Gerbrandt, Chief Operating Officer at Anterix

There is growing momentum among utilities toward deploying private wireless broadband networks to support grid modernization, reliability, and resilience initiatives. That momentum is strengthened by last fall's $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which included substantial funds for grid modernization projects, specifically calling out those that deploy advanced communications networks to support the grid.

Watch the session where industry experts as they delve into the BIL, addressing what it says, how the agencies will be implementing it, and how it could help move the ball on grid modernization.

Hosted by:
Chris Guttman-McCabe, Chief Regulatory and Communications Officer at Anterix

Featuring a distinguished panel of industry experts:
Suzanna Mora-Schrader, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Exelon
Karen Wayland, Chief Executive Officer at Gridwise Alliance

As we approached the close of wildfire season, our August episode featured two game-changing solutions that allow utilities to safely and efficiently deliver electricity while significantly reducing the devastating risks of wildfires. LineVision’s dynamic line rating and line monitoring solution allow utilities to deliver more power over existing lines while detecting movement in lines to help prevent a potential breakage. If a line does break, SEL’s Falling Conductor Protection comes in for the save.

The idea behind Falling Conductor Protection is so direct: when a power line breaks, de-energize its power before it hits the ground and starts a wildfire. Simple, right?

Replay the episode to hear from Tim Stelzer, LineVision's Chief Technology Officer, along with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Senior VP of Research and Development, Ryan Bradetich, and Anterix COO, Ryan Gerbrandt, on August's Industry Insights webcast and learn how de-energizing a falling conductor in less than a second really works -- and how it takes a super-low latency private broadband network to make it happen.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder, Dots and Bridges, former Department of Energy CTO

Featuring a distinguished panel of industry experts:

• Ryan Gerbrandt, COO, Anterix
• Tim Stelzer, Chief Technology Officer, LineVision
• Ryan Bradetich, Senior VP for Research and Development, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

With the increasing cyber security threats, an ever extended wildfire season, a higher frequency of natural disasters, and aggressive decarbonization goals at the federal and state levels, a group of utility industry executives discuss how the industry is adopting digital solutions, embracing advanced technologies and developing strategic partnerships to mitigate risks and enhance grid resilience while providing reliable and secure clean energy.

In honor of Women’s History Month, this episode had a special guest host:
Alice Moy-Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development at Anterix

Featuring a distinguished panel of industry experts:

• Rachelle Chong, Former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission and California Public Utilities Commission
• Emily Fisher, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Senior Vice President of Clean Energy, Edison Electric Institute
• Laura Schepis, Chief External Affairs Officer, JEA

Rewatch our expert panel from March 31st to find out if you are truly prepared.

In December, we launched the Anterix Security Collective bringing together an expert team of cyber-physical technology providers to contribute sector-specific knowledge and collaborate to deliver secure solutions for those deploying private networks at 900 MHz. In this episode of Industry Insights, you’ll hear directly from these experts on the unique capabilities each member of the Anterix Security Collective offers. You will also get their perspective on how private networks, coupled with a robust and evolving set of security practices, standards, and solutions, can play a key role in safeguarding our critical infrastructure.

Watch a replay of our episode from February 17th, 2022 to hear industry experts share their perspectives on this important topic.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder, Dots and Bridges, former Department of Energy CTO

Featuring a distinguished panel of members from the Security Collective:

• Peter Fischer, Binary Armor
• Scott Martin, Onclave
• Don Gray, PacketViper
• Dr. Ron Indeck, Q-Net Security
• Scott Packard, Qubitekk

As our nation looks to re-invest in our country’s infrastructure, we have a compelling opportunity not just to improve upon it but also ensure it is secure and resilient. Private networks coupled with a robust and evolving set of security practices, standards and solutions can play a key role in safeguarding our critical infrastructure.

You can rewatch the discussion from our diverse panel of industry experts from October 26th at 1:00pm EST as they shared their perspectives on this important topic.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Ryan Gerbrandt, Chief Operating Officer, Anterix
• Andre Turenne, Vice President, Corporate Venture Capital, National Grid Partners
• Avi Gopstein, Smart Grid Program Manager, NIST

The smart grid is “smart” because it includes sensors, applications, and devices that use telecommunications, and computer intelligence to create, collect, analyze, and act upon data. The many exciting innovations coming on the market—innovations that are driving utilities’ digital transformations—depend upon these critical elements.

This session featured experts from the companies behind some of those innovations—Atomation, Hitachi, and LineVision— as they discussed the importance of these underlying elements that enable their game-changing products and services.

Watch this webinar to better understand the challenges and opportunities for utilities in adopting the innovative solutions that will put the “smart” in the smart grid.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Hitachi ABB Power Grids – Rick Nicholson, Global Digital Business Development Manager
• Atomation – Steve Hassell, Chief Executive Officer
• LineVision – Alex Houghtaling, Vice President of Sales

As utilities modernize their infrastructure to digitalize the grid, they become increasingly reliant upon digital technologies and devices.  The device ecosystem must possess the depth, sophistication, and advanced capabilities necessary to support utility requirements.

This discussion featured experts from 4RF, Telit and General Electric and their conversation addressed how devices are evolving to meet utilities’ new communications needs, and how federal device certification is an important element of that evolution.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• 4RF – John Yaldwyn, Chief Technology Officer
• General Electric –Ajay Grewal, Senior System Architect
• Telit – Jitender Vohra, Director Product Marketing and Carrier Relations

As utilities work to deploy the next-generation of industrial-strength wireless connectivity based on LTE and 5G technologies, they will need to create private, secure, reliable, and resilient networks to support their grid modernization plans. Such transformation requires openness to new approaches, technologies and platforms supported by an ecosystem of vendors and products focused on utilities’ particular goals and challenges.

Ericsson, Motorola Solutions and Nokia have shown standards-based communications technologies previously reserved for major carrier deployments can be scaled to fit private utility networks.

You can still watch the discussion from May 11th to hear from their experts about how the LTE/5G ecosystem can help utilities use technologies developed for commercial networks to obtain the control and flexibility commercial offerings cannot provide.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Motorola – Kreg Christoff, MSSSI VP and Director at Motorola Solutions
• Ericsson – Koustuv Ghoshal, Vice President & Head of Utilities
• Nokia – Kenneth Rabedeau, Head of Energy Segment-North America and Bell Labs-Distinguished Member of Technical Staff

During Women’s History Month, we honored the many women who have broken the barrier in the energy industry, paving the way for modern day energy technologies through their accomplishments. From the first patent for a gas heating furnace to significant discoveries in physics, chemistry and engineering, women have been – and continue to be – powering the energy industry’s history and future.

For Women’s History Month 2021, Industry Insights featured several trailblazing women whose work is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

You can still watch the discussion from March 25th, where female leaders gathered to discuss grid modernization challenges facing the U.S. utility industry, and explore industry trends and mission critical innovations needed in response to an ever evolving grid.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Alia Amireh, Senior Engineer of OT Connectivity at Xcel Energy
• Kathy Nelson, Principal at West Monroe Partners
• Liana Ault, Energy CTO Innovation Lead at Nokia Energy Global Practice
• Martha Symko-Davies, Laboratory Program Manager-Energy Systems Integration Facility at NREL

If 2020 taught us anything, it is how difficult it can be to predict the future! Looking back at the Energy Central’s 2020 Special Issue Series we certainly didn’t see anyone sharing predictions on an evolving remote work environment, utility shutoff moratoriums, and digital experiences replacing in-person visits to customers. That said, thought leaders and experts in the industry did share plenty that came to fruition: from customer-driven technologies to decarbonization of the grid to digital technologies taking a leap forward and more.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Stephane Bilodeau, Novacab Inc.
• Stephen Callahan, GridBright
• Ron Chebra, EnerNex

Listen to three critical infrastructure experts explore how to architect a reliable, secure, and resilient Power Grid, while addressing sustainability and affordability in today’s climate.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Morgan O’Brien, Anterix
• David Owens, EEI

Visioneering the Private Networked Grid of the Future: Creating a smart connected grid of the future is imperative for utilities. To do that means to look beyond modernization and imagine a scenario that enables them to keep up with the demands of an increasingly sophisticated customer and new and increasingly complex technology. In an Energy Central Special Issue, industry experts from utilities, manufacturing and other sectors shared their visions of how 900 MHz licensed spectrum could support the grid of the future.

Watch this webinar to hear industry experts discuss how they would “visioneer” the intersection of smart communications and smart grids, as well as all the benefits that will flow from the integration of the two.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Bruce Albright, Burns & McDonnell
• Bobbi Harris, UBBA
• Chris Trabold, General Electric

With 900 MHz spectrum for private LTE wireless broadband networks now approved for use, and the auctioning of the shared CBRS spectrum has begun, the nation’s electric utilities have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate and advance their grid modernization and resiliency programs.

Watch this webinar to hear industry experts discuss how they would “visioneer” the intersection of smart communications and smart grids, as well as all the benefits that will flow from the integration of the two.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Andrew Bordine, Anterix
• Ahmad Faruqui, Brattle Consulting
• Rick Schmidt, Black & Veatch
• Scott Schoepel, Motorola

Private wireless broadband has been a critical unmet need for electric utilities in the last decade. With the upcoming CBRS auction and the FCC Ruling on 900 MHz in May, spectrum is now available for utilities to build their private LTE networks and expand their broadband to the edge of the grid in support of utility modernization efforts.

Hear industry experts share their perspectives and help utilities navigate through these uncharted broadband spectrum waters.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Michael Aarons, Federated Wireless
• Richelle Elberg, Guidehouse Insights
• Mauricio Subieta, Nokia

Grid modernization requires secure and resilient technology. What are utilities doing about it?

Current events have demonstrated once again the essential role of the electric grid in society. In the last 3 months, we’ve seen how the grid must transform to provide essential services where it is needed most – supporting healthcare sector – while electricity load shifted dramatically away from commercial and industrial to residential.

And, utilities had to adapt to a new operating model forced by social distancing. It feels like the world has been turned upside down. We are left wondering “what’s next?”. We know yesterday’s grid won’t meet the dynamic challenges of now or into the future. Let’s look deeper into these operational challenges that utilities face in light of all these events, explore industry trends, and identify mission critical innovations needed.

• What are the main operational challenges that utilities are facing?
• What technologies are being deployed to close those gaps?
• What are the capabilities that are needed most?
• What types of partnerships are required to succeed?
• What mission critical innovations are needed within the utility industry?
• Where role does automation and autonomy play in future grid operations?
• Where does the innovation needs to reside in the energy value chain?
• What could the industry be doing more or different to quickly address today’s challenges?

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished of Industry Experts:

• Mike Brozek, Anterix
• Matt Bult, Evergy

This inaugural chapter of the Industry Insights series explores how the FCC, by making 900 MHz spectrum available for private broadband networks, will fortify the next generation of grid modernization, unlocking benefits in cyber security, reliability and advanced technology.

Hosted by:
Pete Tseronis, Founder of Dots and Bridges and former DoE CTO

Featuring a Distinguished Panel of Industry Experts:

• Ryan Gerbrandt, Anterix
• John Hughes, Ameren
• James McCarthy, Nist
• Matt Olson, Burns & McDonnell