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Five Questions With CenterPoint Energy’s Scott Prochazka
By Scott Prochazka with Ron Pernick
Part of a series of insights from leading smart-grid, clean-energy, and utility experts speaking at gridCONNEXT. Questions asked by Clean Edge managing director and gridCONNEXT co-chair Ron Pernick.
Pernick: When you look out the next three to five years, what are the biggest changes you expect to see with regard to grid modernization?
Scott Prochazka: Distributed generation will continue developing in Texas, but at a measured pace. Customer interest in cost control and electric reliability will continue to drive development of microgrids, but CenterPoint Energy sees this as an opportunity, not a threat. The growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) will make the grid more important than ever as an integral part of the energy network.
I also expect to see more developments in grid-hardening efforts and…
Save the date: December 4-6, 2018
gridCONNEXT brings together business, utility, finance, and policy leaders to explore the most important topics impacting the grid. Co-produced by Clean Edge and GridWise Alliance, the event convenes world-class experts to explore diverse perspectives and uncover market innovations poised to redraw the electric utility landscape. With the growth of clean energy, energy storage and electrified transportation – along with new business and regulatory models supporting investments in DERs and grid modernization – this event offers an unprecedented opportunity to connect with key stakeholders and explore what’s next in the utility sector.
Plan to Join Us in Washington D.C. to Explore the Convergence of Energy, Transportation, Storage, and the Grid.
CELS (clean energy), GWE (wind), HHO (water), and QGRD (grid) are down 4%, 1%, 4%, and 2% respectively since the beginning of 2018 (through the end of February), compared to the S&P 500’s 1% increase. Over the past 12 months CELS is up 18%, GWE is up 9%, HHO is up 22%, and QGRD is up 26%, while the S&P 500 is up 13% over the same period.
The 4th Grid Modernization Index (GMI-4) benchmarks states on a wide range of grid modernization policies, investments, and activities, and provides insights into some of the relationships and connections between state policies and regulations, customer engagement, and utility investments in modernizing the grid.