BONUS EPISODE: electric utility enthusiast trifecta with Debra Smith
Karen, Matt, and Paul chat with Seattle City Light's general manager and CEO, Debra Smith, about electrification, markets, and people. Plus, a mock electric utility draft during the intermission.
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Show Notes
Debra 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 list
12:14 - Attracting, retaining, and recruiting public power people
36:56 - 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 & Rec
51:27 - Debra’s thoughts on market development in the Northwest
57:03 - Seattle City Lights approach to electrification and highlights of their recent projects
- Curbside EV charging
- New electric bus charging base
- Electrification study developed in collaboration w/ EPRI
1:01:46 - Scaling up our workforce as the biggest challenge facing electric utilities
- background from interview w/ Jesse Jenkins
- Saul Griffith’s book Electrify and link to Rewiring America
- the hk tweet
1:10:03 - new merch ideas
You can find our merch on shopify. Remember to share this with any friends you have that are electric utility enthusiasts like us!
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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