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Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Gov. Sherrill Tries to Control NJ's Utility Bills (First) | What's Unseen at the Grocery Store (Starts at :18) | 10-Question Quiz: 2026 World Cup (Starts at :45) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here. Image: The New Fred Meyer on Interstate on Lombard (7404 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97217). This version has additional correction to correct for poor white balance and slight counterclockwise rotation, 23 December 2004 (Original: lyzadangerDerivative work: Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Every morning, Gary Siders Jr. left a house where sixteen children were confined to a single room and went to work delivering food to strangers. He had a phone. A car. Customer ratings. Small talk at restaurant counters. Then every night he drove back to Ohmer Street and walked into the other reality. He held both, simultaneously, for years — and never cracked in public.Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examines the compartmentalization that makes that possible, and what it says about the minds inside that house. Because nothing about the Siders operation was falling apart. Taxes paid. Utilities running. Regular shopping trips. This was a managed household — organized around confinement instead of care — and three generations participated in the management.The conversation turns to Elizabeth Siders, married at fifteen while pregnant, cut off from her family for fifteen years, possibly pregnant twenty times starting at age thirteen. Scott works through whether a person shaped by that kind of control from childhood can meaningfully be called a decision-maker — and what the DNA testing investigators are now running on the older children could reveal about how far inward this family collapsed.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#SidersFamily #GarySiders #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #OhioHouseOfHorrors #16KidsOhio #FamilyPsychology #Compartmentalization #CoerciveControl #VintonCounty
It's Thursday, July 16. Here are today's top stories around Central Indiana. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org and follow us on social media to get local news every day. WFYI News Now is hosted by Barb Anguiano and produced by Zach Bundy. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
At midnight on 16 July 2015, 140 workers at the state-owned Qulliq Energy company in Nunavut, Canada, walked out on strike demanding pay increases to keep up with rising prices. The strike, by members of the Nunavut Employees Union who maintained power lines and plants in the region, continued for three weeks until the local government offered them a new three-year pay deal which included pay rises of 2% in the first year and 1.5% in each of the subsequent years, which the workers accepted.More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/7352/nunavut-power-workers-strikeOur work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History
US equity markets firmer as investors digested another round of second quarter corporate earnings releases and weaker-than-expected wholesale inflation figures – Dow added +150-points or +0.29%, with the four (4) members of the ‘Magnificent Seven' cohort of mega-capitalisation stocks that sit in the 30-stock index – Apple Inc (up +4.01%), Amazon.com Inc (+3.02%), Microsoft Corp (+2.78%) and Nvidia Corp (+0.33%) – all advancing. Cisco Systems Inc (down -4.54%) was the worst performing Dow component overnight.The broader S&P500 rose +0.38%, with Communication Services rallying +2.78% to lead five of the eleven primary sectors higher. Google parent Alphabet Inc gained +3.17%. Utilities (down -0.98%) and Energy (-0.77%) sat at the foot of the primary sector leaderboard. PayPal Inc soared +17.20% to US$55.52 and paced gains in the S&P500 after Reuters reported that payments firm Stripe and private equity company Advent offered to buy the digital payments giant for US$53B or US$60.50 per share earlier this month.
The Australian share market finished flat on Tuesday as geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices kept investors cautious. Utilities and healthcare outperformed while financials and property trusts faced headwinds. US inflation data and major bank earnings tonight could reshape market sentiment and interest rate expectations. Steve Daghlian and Laura Besarati are Market Analysts at CommSec. Each episode, they break down the day's market movements and explain what the numbers really mean. Check out our Market News page Follow us on:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeTikTok The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on Mac Geek Gab 1150, Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton pack an Embrace Your Geekness Day episode with Quick Tips you’ll put to work immediately. You’ll learn how to schedule birthday messages so you never miss one, silence those pesky automatic Shortcuts notifications, and give Apple Intelligence the context it needs to actually help. From automating Theater Mode the moment CarPlay connects, to using your iPhone to check for ticks, to texting “Marco” so your lost iPhone sings until you find it, these are the tips that keep you sharp. You’ll also dig into searching Safari history to retrace your steps, building Smart Folders to hunt down space-hogging files, and using Photos’ Map utility to surface shots from wherever you are. Then it’s your questions, answered. You’ll find out how to identify and clear runaway RAM, where Messages in the Cloud actually lives, and how to reclaim iCloud storage with tools like PowerPhotos and Gemini 2. You’ll get the real story on Time Machine drives and Spotlight, plus how to speed up sluggish Notes syncing. In Cool Stuff Found, the crew serves up Catchin’ Sync, the OBSBOT Tiny 3 webcam, Hyperspace for reclaiming space with file clones, and imessage-exporter to back up your texts. It’s an hour-plus of geek gold, and if you tune in every week, you Don’t Get Caught missing the fix you needed. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1150 for Monday, July 13th, 2026 July 13th: Embrace Your Geekness Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Win a license to Mole Quick Tips 00:00:01 Jim-QT-Schedule Sending of Birthday Messages 00:04:16 JT Ray-QT-Disable automatic Shortcuts notifications 00:06:33 QT-Apple Intelligence and its context 00:09:26 Todd-Automate Theater Mode when CarPlay is enabled 00:10:44 Troy-QT-Use your iPhone to check for ticks 00:12:49 Larry-QT-Text Marco to your lose iPhone and have it play a song until you find it 00:18:31 Andy-QT-Search Safari’s History to find places you’ve visited 00:20:12 KiwiGraham-QT-Setup Smart Folders to find large files 00:23:38 Greg-QT-Use Photos > Utilities > Map to find photos in your current location (and elsewhere) Sponsors 00:26:42 SPONSOR: Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs, and conveniently shipped to your door. Go to https://helixsleep.com/MGG for 27% Off Sitewide. 00:27:50 SPONSOR: CleanMyMac. Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use our code MACGEEK for 20% off at https://clnmy.com/MACGEEK 00:29:02 SPONSOR: OneSkin. Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin's OS-01 Peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging, helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MGG at https://www.oneskin.co/MGG #oneskinpod #ad Your Questions Answered and Tips Shared! 00:30:31 Bill-1148-How do you identify and clear up RAM usage? iStat Menus Marco Arment's Quitter 00:39:23 Gary-1149-Where can I see Messages In The Cloud? 00:44:17 Roy-How can I clean up my iCloud storage? PowerPhotos Gemini 2, the duplicate finder (and “similar finder”) 00:53:25 Bill-1148-Turns out you can’t exclude Time Machine drives from Spotlight 00:56:51 Henry-1148-Speeding Up Notes Syncing Cool Stuff Found 01:01:20 Andy-1149-CSF-Catchin' Sync 01:02:15 Andy-CSF-Obsbot Tiny3 Webcam 01:08:53 Harvey-CSF-Hyperspace to use file clones to save space 01:11:44 Chris-CSF-1149–imessage-exporter to export your iMessages 01:17:42 MGG 1150 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly Pilot Pete's Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam's new podcast! Dave's Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab iOS app Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week's MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network
The big things you need to know:First, we are making several changes to our S&P 500 sector views with upgrades to Tech to overweight and Consumer Discretionary to market weight, alongside downgrades of Communication Services to market weight and Utilities to underweight.Second, the expected growth rate for 2Q26 S&P 500 EPS has continued to drift up ahead of reporting season, but trends in beat rates and EPS revisions have been mixed.Third, on our broader outlook we're on guard for a shift back into US and mega cap Growth leadership.
Industrial operations depend on water of a predictable quantity and quality, yet many organizations still treat that reliability as a given. Dr. Newsha Ajami joins Trace Blackmore, CWT, to examine water security as a business continuity issue and resilience as the ability to withstand pressure, maintain operations, and recover quickly when systems fail. Connecting Risk, Resilience, and Recovery For industrial water users, water security means maintaining access to the quantity and quality required to operate without interruption. That reliability depends on more than the water source itself. Treatment systems require energy, critical processes need backup plans, and organizations must understand what happens when one part of the system becomes unavailable. Dr. Newsha connects risk assessment directly to resilience planning. Organizations can reduce exposure by developing portfolios of water sources and solutions, building redundancy, preparing for power disruptions, and allocating resources before a crisis occurs. Recovery should also create an opportunity to reconsider infrastructure, governance, and institutional structures rather than automatically rebuilding the same system in the same way. Investing Before the System Fails Proactive water decisions often require leadership willing to invest before the immediate need becomes visible. Dr. Newsha highlights Arizona's decision to store Colorado River allocations underground, Yuba Water Agency's collaboration with Blue Forest to support watershed and infrastructure resilience, and San Francisco's on-site water reuse requirements for qualifying buildings. These examples demonstrate that resilience can be strengthened through policy, financial models, external partnerships, water reuse, supply planning, and business model innovation. They also show why public agencies and private businesses may approach risk differently—and why each can learn from the other. Data Centers as a Water Challenge and Opportunity Data center development places new attention on water availability, cooling demand, energy use, and community infrastructure. Rather than treating these facilities only as a threat to local resources, Dr. Newsha encourages water professionals to examine where they are built, how they are cooled, and what innovations could reduce their water and energy requirements. Potential strategies include more efficient computing models, chip-level cooling, heat-absorbing materials, recovered-heat applications, water recycling, and co-location with facilities that can use excess heat. Collaboration between data center developers and host communities could also direct new investment toward aging or inadequate water infrastructure. Making Water a National Priority The Aspen national water strategy initiative brought together participants from agriculture, industry, energy, transportation, engineering, technology, rural and urban communities, Native American communities, and different political backgrounds. The goal was to identify shared principles and actions that could guide water decisions across national, state, and local levels. Dr. Newsha argues that water must be managed as a national security issue. That requires investment not only in technology, but also in institutions, policies, business models, research, natural infrastructure, and the governance structures that shape decision-making. Industrial water professionals can contribute by helping clients identify vulnerabilities, challenge assumptions, and make reliability investments before an interruption forces the decision. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps 01:19 — Trace Blackmore shares highlights from the previous week, including the Fourth of July, the daytime edition of The Hang with AWT Young Professionals, and the Scaling Up Nation's role in raising the bar across industrial water treatment. 03:05 — Trace recognizes several July 10 observances before turning the spotlight toward the water treatment industry's own annual celebration. 04:36 — Industrial Water Week 2026 returns October 5–9 with dedicated episodes covering pretreatment, boilers, cooling, wastewater, and careers in industrial water. 06:38 — Words of Water with James 09:15 — Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 11:01 — Interview with Dr. Newsha Ajami, founding director of the Risk Resilience and Recovery Program at Stanford University, about water security, resilient infrastructure, risk planning, recovery, and the policies and financial systems that shape water decisions 12:17 — Dr. Newsha explains how her engineering and hydrology background expanded into water policy, regulation, and infrastructure finance. 13:50 — Water's everyday invisibility can create a false sense that reliable access will always continue without deliberate planning or investment. 15:35 — Water security for industrial users means maintaining the quantity and quality required to operate reliably and avoid business interruptions. 16:23 — Resilience requires systems that can tolerate pressure, maintain operations through redundancy, and recover quickly after failure. 17:45 — Risk, resilience, and recovery connect through better vulnerability assessment, diversified water sources, backup plans, and improved rebuilding decisions. 21:26 — Utilities, insurers, financial institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies all influence how resilient water systems become. 22:09 — Reactive business models and inflexible funding structures often delay resilience investments until after a disaster has occurred. 25:51 — Arizona's groundwater storage, Yuba Water Agency's watershed investments, and Moulton Niguel Water District's operational changes demonstrate different approaches to long-term resilience. 29:45 — San Francisco's onsite water reuse requirements show how policy can support development while reducing pressure on centralized water supplies. 38:32 — The Aspen National Water Strategy seeks to create a nonpartisan roadmap shaped by diverse regions, sectors, communities, and political perspectives. 41:13 — Dr. Newsha explains why water should be treated as a national security issue and why innovation must extend beyond technology to policies, institutions, and business models. 43:44 — Stanford's Risk Resilience and Recovery Program examines how governance, insurance, finance, and legislation affect preparation for natural hazards and disaster recovery. 45:46 — Dr. Newsha invites listeners to connect through Stanford and LinkedIn to follow the program's research, partnerships, and future events. 47:51 — Trace summarizes the conversation, emphasizing risk awareness, system redundancy, improved recovery planning, and collaboration among all stakeholders. 51:00 — Trace encourages professionals to apply past operational data, involve every relevant stakeholder, and help more water treaters discover the Scaling UP! H2O podcast. Quotes "And even when they break, be able to bounce back quickly." "Data centers, a challenge and an opportunity." "But we use we have to use this opportunity to, we have to use this as an opportunity to change, to do better, to build our infrastructure." "Water is an invisible connector across everything we have, we do, we depend on." "We do talk about water, but we do not manage water as a national security issue. And water is a national security issue." Connect with Dr. Newsha Ajami Email: newsha@stanford.edu Website: Stanford University LinkedIn: Newsha Ajami, PhD | LinkedIn Guest Resources Mentioned ASPEN – National Water Strategy Governance for Risk, Resilience, and Recovery (GR3) Aspen National Water Strategy Initiative Arizona Water Banking Authority — Water Storage Blue Forest — Yuba I Forest Resilience Bond Dr. Newsha Ajami — Stanford Profile Article 12C of the San Francisco Health Code San Francisco Public Utilities Commission — Onsite Water Reuse Yuba Water Agency — Forest Resilience Bond Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea The Rising Tide Mastermind Words of Water with James McDonald Today's definition is water lost from a cooling tower as liquid droplets entrained in the exhaust air. It is independent of water lost by evaporation. 2026 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE. This episode made possible through our valued partners at:
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribeMinnesota regulators Sydnie Lieb and Pete Wyckoff on why utility distribution spending — now a third of capital budgets and the biggest driver of rising bills — escapes the scrutiny the rest of the grid faces, and how to fix that.00:00 - Introduction04:23 - How distribution is regulated differently than generation and transmission09:25 - Why distribution matters now: an aging system and the build-more incentive14:00 - Contestable “mandatory” spending: undergrounding, DERMS software, capitalization22:19 - Reliability standards and the cost of chasing 100 percent28:42 - The MISO comparison: valuing a lost hour, and the scale of the numbers35:12 - Non-wires alternatives: batteries, the Xcel project, and modeling gaps40:31 - What regulators should require: AMI forecasts and beyond the prudence test47:22 - The speed objection: does more analysis slow things down?50:10 - Why spending caps and rate freezes are the wrong fix52:40 - Spending more anyway, and recent Minnesota PUC disappointments55:09 - Restructured markets: does the same logic apply?58:38 - The vision of a well-functioning process and scaling it nationally
Markets are pulling back after Monday's momentum buy signal as investors digest news that China's DeepSeek has reportedly developed its own AI chip. Is this the beginning of a larger rotation away from the semiconductor leaders that have powered this bull market? Lance Roberts examines why semiconductor stocks have become increasingly vulnerable after a parabolic advance, how new competition can quickly change supply-and-demand expectations, and why profit-taking in one sector can ripple through the entire market. We also discuss why defensive sectors, including Healthcare, Financials, Utilities, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples, could begin attracting capital if technology leadership continues to weaken. We'll review the technical backdrop, explain why momentum remains positive despite today's softer opening, and discuss practical risk-management strategies investors should consider as market leadership begins to broaden. Hosted by RIA Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer --- Watch the Video version of this report on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/QeB5fBrW4yA --- Articles mentioned in this report: "Margin Debt Risk: The Ratios That Mislead Investors," https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/margin-debt-risk-the-ratios-that-mislead-investors/ "Wage Growth As A Leading Inflation Indicator" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/wage-growth-as-a-leading-inflation-indicator/ "Mag 7 Stocks: Risk Or Opportunity In The Making?" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/mag-7-stocks-risk-or-opportunity-in-the-making/ --- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestmentadvice.com/insights/real-investment-daily/ --- Do you enjoy our content? Rate us on Google: https://bit.ly/4b9JtEo --- * REGISTER for our next Candid Coffee, "Narrative Busters: Market Stories Investors Should Approach With Caution," Saturday, July 18, 2026: https://streamyard.com/watch/RfJtCj2byfDr --- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN --- Subscribe to SimpleVisor : https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new --- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #StockMarket #ArtificialIntelligence #Semiconductors #Investing #RiskManagement
Paul Schatz expects a Q3 market pullback driven by stretched sentiment and historical midterm election year trends. He discusses why a potential Fed rate cut could benefit REITs, utilities, and consumer staples, while setting the stage for new market highs in Q4.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about
Debate con Claudio Fernandez, Head of Utilities & Energy de Babel; Javier Sánchez Salas, CISO de Engie España; Ignacio Moratalla, Energy & Utilities Presales Director & KAM de Ayesa Digital; Moisés Baena, Industry, Energy, TMT & Services Director de Izertis; y Ángel Guevara, Consulting Manager - Manufacturing, Logistics, Energy & Utilities de Cognizant.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here's obvious: Hotel energy prices aren't coming down. Rick West, CEO at Commercial Green Solutions, and Kenny Weston, VP at Commercial Green Solutions, explained why hoteliers need to stop treating utility costs as fixed. ⚡ The "double whammy" is real: your kWh costs are up AND your demand charges are through the roof. But there's $50 billion in rebates sitting in utility programs that most hotels don't even know exist.
Global power demand is rising sharply, and geopolitical instability is accelerating the need for secure, affordable, and diversified energy systems. In this episode, host Joe Colletti speaks with Robert Kwan, Head of Global Power, Utilities & Infrastructure Research, and Maurice Choy, Canadian Energy Infrastructure Analyst, to explore how RBC Imagine themes—energy security, affordability, crisis capitalism, synthetic technologies, and shifting superpowers—are reshaping the sector.The conversation highlights how utilities, midstream operators, and infrastructure investors are navigating a world where energy transition, digital demand, and geopolitical conflict collide. As Robert notes, “this current environment is hammering home to a broad population how important energy is to everybody's daily lives”.Key PointsGeopolitical conflict is reinforcing a global “all of the above” approach to energy supply.Rising energy prices are intensifying affordability pressures across households and industries.Hyperscalers and digital platforms are rapidly becoming dominant global electricity consumers.Utilities are investing heavily in resilience to manage climate, cyber, and grid instability risks.Synthetic technologies are improving efficiency and reducing supply‑chain vulnerabilities.Canada is increasingly well‑positioned to expand global energy exports across fuels and electricity.Massive infrastructure investment is required to deliver diversified, secure global energy systems.
WBEN's Tom Puckett on utilities handling extra electric demand full 41 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:56:00 +0000 DVLkSwGRpX6mWic5hl9Czf9iImNm64Bi news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news WBEN's Tom Puckett on utilities handling extra electric demand Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News https://player.amperwavepodcasti
El evento reunirá a líderes tecnológicos para debatir sobre eficiencia, resiliencia y competitividad en infraestructuras críticas. Tertulia con Julio César Pereira, Iberia Sales Director de DXC; Alejandro Pinal, Desarrollo de Negocio Industria y Defensa de Grupo Amper; Gustavo Sandoval, Head of Industrial AI, IoT & Smart X de Knowmad Mood; Gonzalo Valle: Presales Manager de IFS; y Diego Sanz, Head of Utilities & Energy de Vass Company.
Today's tech giants are poised for a maturity shift over the coming years, transitioning from high growth companies into more established market leaders. Confluence Associate Market Strategist and Certified Business Economist Thomas Wash joins Phil Adler to explain why the technology companies of tomorrow may look like the utility companies of today.
Episode 1: Grid Resilience & Safety — Caroline Thomas Jacobs, California Office of Energy Infrastructure SafetyThis is the first of a six-part series recorded live at the Grid Resilience Summit, a half-day industry event organised by LiveEO. Hosts Nick Ferguson and Steve Cieslewicz hand over to moderator Patrick Hollenbeck for a keynote and Q&A with Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director of California's Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety — known as Energy Safety.Caroline has appeared on the UVM Podcast before: she was the very first guest when the show launched. Her return here marks another milestone — this is the UVM Podcast's inaugural video episode after four years of audio-only production since 2021.About Energy Safety Energy Safety was created in 2020 in direct response to the catastrophic utility-caused wildfires of 2017 and 2018, which killed over 100 people and destroyed more than 25,000 structures. Its core mission: review and approve annual Wildfire Mitigation Plans submitted by California's electric utilities, oversee their implementation through audits and field inspections, and drive the cultural change inside utilities needed to truly integrate fire risk into how they build, operate, and maintain the grid.Crucially, Energy Safety was designed not to be a traditional penalty-based regulator. The focus is on continuous improvement and learning — holding utilities accountable to developing new capabilities, not just meeting minimum standards.What's working Five years in, the data is encouraging. Total ignitions in California's High Fire Threat Districts in 2024 were down 18% on the seven-year average, and down 34% compared to 2020. Utilities have invested billions in grid hardening — covered conductor, undergrounding, remote sensing devices — and have deployed satellite imagery, LIDAR, and AI-driven risk modelling to transform how they manage vegetation and assess asset condition. A mandatory performance metrics regime means utilities must now demonstrate that their mitigations are reducing risk, not just describe what they're doing.As Caroline puts it: utilities were never going to cut their way out of the wildfire problem. They had to innovate their way out.Landscape-scale coordination California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force — created by Governor Newsom in 2021 — is aligning federal, state, local, tribal, and private organisations around shared forest health goals. It has invested nearly $6 billion and now treats over 700,000 acres annually. Energy Safety leads the development of a Utility Wildfire Resilience Partnership Program, modelled on a successful collaboration between Liberty Utilities, the US Forest Service, and the Tahoe Conservancy in the Lake Tahoe basin, designed to amplify the impact of utility corridor investments through landscape-scale coordination.The challenge ahead The January 2025 LA fires are a sobering reminder that the wildfire threat is not receding — climate conditions once considered extreme are now the norm. Building California's clean energy future (targeting 100% clean electricity by 2045) on ageing, wildfire-prone infrastructure is not sustainable. Caroline is clear that urgency, equity, and cross-agency coordination are all essential — the communities facing the greatest wildfire risk are too often the ones with the least access to backup power and recovery resources.In the Q&A, Caroline addresses whether California's separated regulatory model can be replicated in other states (political will, not financing, is the key enabler), how the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force is structured to actually get things done, and the role of the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board in advising both Energy Safety and California's 50 publicly owned utilities.
This episode is part of our EEI 2026 Highlights series. The discussions highlight the innovative strategies, investments, and partnerships shaping the future of the energy grid. The speakers are: Ted Walker, Partner, Communities, Energy & Infrastructure, Guidehouse Michelle Fay, Global Energy Providers Practice Leader, Guidehouse Ali Ipakchi, Chief Visionary Officer, OATI Tom Keefe, Power, Utilities & Renewables National Sector Leader, Deloitte You can also visit the Electric Perspectives website to read coverage of this year's conference.
Ryan talks to Dr. Mark McNees about his Tampa Bay Times op-ed, "5 things Florida utilities and data centers don't want you to know." He discusses concerns about utility costs, electricity demand, and the growing impact data centers could have on Florida residents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does the Equifax Market Pulse Index reveal about the true financial health of American consumers? Equifax Advisors Emmaline Aliff, Jesse Hardin and Tom O'Neill explore how the Market Pulse Index uncovers financial stress and resilience that traditional economic measures often miss. The conversation examines the growing K-shaped economy, the "illusion of the average," generational wealth trends, and why factors such as assets, cash flow, and financial capacity provide a more complete picture of consumer health than GDP or credit scores alone. In this episode:What is the Equifax Market Pulse Index?The Equifax Market Pulse Index is a multidimensional measure of consumer financial health that combines credit behavior, income, assets, debt, and financial capacity. Unlike traditional economic indicators, it provides a more complete view of a consumer's ability to withstand financial stress and navigate economic change.Why doesn't GDP tell the full story of consumer financial health?GDP measures spending activity, but it doesn't reveal how consumers are financing their lifestyles. According to Equifax experts, strong spending by higher-income households can mask growing financial stress among middle- and lower-income consumers who may be relying on credit or depleting savings to keep up with rising costs.How can lenders use the Market Pulse Index to improve decision-making?The Market Pulse Index helps lenders look beyond traditional credit scores by incorporating a broader view of financial health. This allows organizations to identify consumers whose financial fundamentals remain strong despite short-term pressures, helping uncover opportunities while managing risk more effectively.What opportunity should businesses and lenders be paying attention to?According to Equifax, precision targeting is becoming increasingly important. Organizations that can identify financially resilient consumers using multidimensional data may be better positioned to grow portfolios, improve customer experiences, and uncover opportunities that traditional metrics alone might overlook.
Industrial Talk is onsite at Octave Live and talking to Tobias Pforr, Principal Business Strategist at Octave about "Unleashing technology to improve the utility markets. Overview Tobias Pforr discussed his role at Octave, a company focused on network intelligence systems for utilities. He highlighted the importance of accurate asset documentation and the challenges of managing dynamic elements like weather and electric vehicle consumption. Pforr emphasized the need for clean, high-quality data to ensure system resilience and actionable insights. He shared his background in utility operations and innovation, including his experience with a Swiss utility and the establishment of a startup incubator. Pforr also touched on the regulatory complexities and the evolving demands on utilities, stressing the importance of managing complexity and maintaining system reliability. Outline Barcelona Cyber Security Congress Announcement Scott introduces the Barcelona Cyber Security Congress, emphasizing its importance for cybersecurity professionals.The event is scheduled for November 3-5 in Barcelona, with networking opportunities and expert discussions.Scott mentions their own participation and encourages listeners to mark their calendars.Contact information for the event is available on Industrial Talk. Introduction to Industrial Talk Podcast Scott welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk Podcast, celebrating industry professionals and their contributions.The podcast is broadcasting live from Octave Live in Austin, Texas, featuring various industry guests.Scott introduces Tobias Pforr, who has a challenging last name to pronounce. Tobias Pforr's Background and Role Tobias Pforr explains his name origin and its French and German roots.Tobias shares his experience with Hexagon, joining in 2022 and working with laser scanners and asset management.He discusses his transition to the enterprise software division and his current role at Octave.Tobias highlights his background in industrial engineering, MBA, and new business development. Challenges in the Utility Space Tobias describes his experience working at a utility in Switzerland, focusing on corporate development and innovation.He discusses the challenges utilities face, including energy price fluctuations, regulatory requirements, and market dynamics.Tobias mentions the startup incubator he established within the utility to foster innovation.He explains his role at Octave, focusing on networks and services, and the importance of understanding customer problems. Octave's Solutions for Utilities Tobias explains Octave's strong documentation solution, emphasizing the importance of accurate data.He discusses the transformation of network information systems (NIS) into network intelligence systems.Octave's solution helps utilities manage dynamic elements like weather, production surpluses, and electric vehicle consumption.Tobias highlights the need for actionable insights to keep the system resilient and functioning. Data Quality and Real-Time Updates Scott and Tobias discuss the challenges of maintaining accurate data in utilities.Tobias suggests using mobile devices to check the accuracy of asset locations in real-time.He emphasizes the importance of continuous data cleaning and validation during daily operations.Tobias shares personal experiences with operators and grid owners to illustrate the need for high-quality data. Impact of Storms and System Resilience Scott and Tobias discuss the impact of storms on utility systems and the need for real-time updates.Tobias explains the importance of prioritizing challenges and focusing on core value in utility operations.He highlights the role of documentation in ensuring system resilience and managing dynamic elements.Tobias emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach between developers and users to create effective solutions. Future of Utilities and Regulatory Requirements Scott and Tobias discuss the future of utilities, emphasizing the increasing complexity and regulatory requirements.Tobias explains the importance of managing complexity and ensuring system reliability.He highlights the challenges of remote work and the need for digital skills in utility operations.Tobias discusses the role of technology in helping utilities navigate regulatory requirements and maintain system resilience. Octave's Role in Utility Modernization Tobias explains Octave's role in helping utilities modernize their systems and manage dynamic environments.He discusses the importance of documentation and data quality in ensuring system reliability.Tobias highlights the need for a collaborative approach between developers and users to create effective solutions.He emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and adapting to changing market dynamics. Conclusion and Contact Information Scott thanks Tobias for the insightful conversation and encourages listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn.Tobias provides his contact information and invites listeners to reach out for further discussions.Scott wraps up the podcast, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and human interaction in business success.The podcast concludes with a reminder to visit Industrial Talk for more insights and connections. If interested in being on the Industrial Talk show, simply contact us and let's have a quick conversation. Finally, get your exclusive free access to the Industrial Academy and a series on “Why You Need To Podcast” for Greater Success in 2026. All links designed for keeping you current in this rapidly changing Industrial Market. Learn! Grow! Enjoy! TOBIAS PFORR'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-pforr/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/octaveintelligence/ Company Website: https://www.octave.com/ PODCAST VIDEO: https://youtu.be/OfvvE__546I THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST": OTHER GREAT INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES: NEOM: https://www.neom.com/en-us Hexagon: https://hexagon.com/ Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ Fictiv: https://www.fictiv.com/ Hitachi Vantara: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/home.html Industrial Marketing Solutions: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-marketing/ Industrial Academy: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-academy/ Industrial Dojo: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial_dojo/ We the 15: https://www.wethe15.org/ YOUR INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL TOOLBOX: LifterLMS: Get One Month Free for $1 – https://lifterlms.com/ Active Campaign: Active Campaign Link Social Jukebox: https://www.socialjukebox.com/ Industrial Academy (One Month Free Access And One Free License For Future Industrial Leader): Business Beatitude the Book Do you desire a more joy-filled, deeply-enduring sense of accomplishment and success? 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Send us Fan MailEnergy consulting grew in line with the market for a decade. Flat. Unremarkable. Nobody paid attention.That changed. The market's now projected to grow 11% in 2026, and leverage for candidates with ops or technical backgrounds is higher than at any point in recent history.Japheth sits down with Namaan to break down what's driving the boom. Spoiler: it's not just the data center buildout you've been reading about.Whether you're hunting for your next role or you're a firm trying to win the talent war, this one's for you.Resources:Go deeper on the data:Want the full picture from the firms themselves? Watch our Energy & Utilities panel with the leaders driving this hiring waveCurious where energy consulting firms rank for 2026? Check out our Energy & Utilities rankingThat 11% growth number comes straight from Business Insider's reporting on AI's power demand surgeGo act on it:If you're still leading with sustainability credentials, Black Belt helps you reframe your profile around the implementation experience firms wantReady to see who's hiring right now? Browse open energy consulting roles on our job boardConnect With Management ConsultedCreate a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep todaySchedule a free 15min consultation with the MC TeamWatch the video version of the podcast on YouTubeFollow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTokJoin an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more
US residential electricity prices have risen by more than 40 per cent since the start of 2021, which is much faster than general inflation. Utilities requested a total of $31 billion in increased rates last year, double the amount in 2024. And investor-owned utilities are planning to spend $1.4 trillion on capital projects over the next five years – enough on one calculation, to build almost 2,000 Hoover Dams at today's prices. So why are American electricity bills going up, and what can be done to provide some relief for hard-pressed consumers?In this episode, host Ed Crooks and regular contributor Dr Melissa Lott are joined by Charles Hua, founder and executive director of PowerLines, a nonprofit launched in 2024. Charles's focus is on US states' Public Utilities Commissions: the roughly 200 commissioners across the country who oversee around $200 billion in annual spending and ultimately determine what consumers pay. He calls them the “US Supreme Court justices of energy”.The discussion opens with questions of consumers' perceptions, and how they align with reality. The data show that in the past few years, electricity bills have been rising, on average, explaining why the issue has been rising up the political agenda.Recent Ipsos polling commissioned by PoweLines found that four in five Americans feel powerless about energy costs. The proportion who believe their state officials are serving their interests as consumers fell from 38 per cent to 29 per cent in a single year. Charles calls this "a new politics of electricity." It is a domain that until recently sat outside mainstream political attention, but now reaches governors' offices and the White House.Charles and Melissa then unpack what is actually driving the increases. Melissa walks through the top five cost drivers identified in the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's analysis: fuel and wholesale supply, distribution costs, generation capex, transmission costs, and cost recovery from extreme weather events. Charles points beyond the line items to a fundamental issue: the traditional utility business model, which structurally rewards capital spending. The question about the impact of data centers is unavoidable. Charles breaks it down: until now, data centres have not been a meaningful driver of price increases across most of the country. But that does not mean they will not be in future. PJM's capacity auction, where prices have rocketed, is one early signal that the picture is starting to change.Charles offers three solutions. First, get more out of the existing grid, which is currently running at roughly 50 per cent utilisation, through technologies he describes as "ibuprofen for the grid." Second, modernise the utility business model, potentially drawing on the UK's totex approach, where utilities can earn a return on operational as well as capital spending. Third, improve grid planning, particularly how load is forecast and how integrated resource plans are built.Melissa zooms out to remind listeners what is actually at stake. Borrowing a line from Amory Lovins, she says: "I don't care about my electrons. I care about cold beer and hot showers." The question is not just about price, but about whether households can keep their homes safe and liveable year-round. You can learn more about PowerLines at PowerLines.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chris Versace and Joe Rinaldi break down the recent drop in oil prices, inflation implications, and what flash PMI data is signaling. They discuss U.S.-Iran tensions, Rinaldi's oil outlook, and utility stock picks including Duke Energy (DUK), Exelon (EXC), Consolidated Edison (ED), Dominion Energy (D), and Southern Company (SO).======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about
Water utility work depends on more than technical knowledge. It depends on clear procedures, current documents, practical training, and performance conversations that reflect what operators actually do in the field. In Episode 481, Trace Blackmore, CWT, welcomes back Kalpna Solanki, President and CEO at GAMECHANGERS Inc., for a practical conversation on building stronger utilities through standard operating procedures, competencies, and performance evaluations. Kalpna shares how outdated SOPs, disconnected training tools, and top-down documentation can create risk, confusion, and missed learning opportunities. SOPs That Match the Work Kalpna defines an SOP as a documented process that provides clear instructions for specific tasks or activities. Her current work with water utilities includes procedures for water main installation, flushing, customer complaints, meter installation, meter readings, and other distribution team responsibilities. The key issue is not whether an organization has SOPs. Many do. The bigger question is whether those documents still match the field reality. Kalpna describes reviewing SOPs that reference retired staff, outdated contact information, and procedures written by people who may no longer be close to the work. Her approach starts with the operators. The people doing the work help revise the documents, confirm what is accurate, and identify what needs to change. Revision dates, organized SOP libraries, and clear naming structures help teams avoid using the wrong version. From Procedures to Competencies Kalpna explains that SOPs should not sit alone in a file system. They should inform competency frameworks that define the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors needed for the job. For example, an SOP may explain how to perform a fire hydrant teardown. A related competency tool can help confirm whether an operator knows how to do that work safely and correctly. The results can then guide mentoring, training, and performance evaluation. This turns performance evaluation into a two-way process. Rather than simply telling employees what they did or did not do, supervisors can use competency checklists to identify gaps, determine needed resources, and support development. Field Access, Video, and Ownership Kalpna also shares how the Capital Regional District project extends SOPs beyond written documents. Once an SOP is revised and approved, her team creates a field video using operators as the subjects. The video is tied back to the written SOP, giving employees the option to read, watch, or use both formats depending on how they learn best. QR codes make the system even more useful. Operators can scan a code in the field and access the relevant SOP or video without leaving the work location, searching a large document library, or relying on memory. That access matters. As Kalpna puts it, when processes are too complicated, people are more likely to wing it. In water utility work, that can affect safety, consistency, compliance, and service quality. Water Stories and Water Reuse Kalpna also shares her personal water story, from growing up near the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls to living near the Thames River in London and later near protected watersheds in Vancouver. Her experiences shape how she thinks about water availability, source protection, and the responsibility of the industry. The conversation closes with a look at the Vancouver Convention Centre West, where a full-scale wastewater treatment facility operates beneath the building. Treated effluent is reused for toilet flushing and rooftop garden irrigation, reducing freshwater demand and municipal sewer load. For Kalpna, this points to a larger shift in language and mindset. Wastewater is not simply waste. It is a resource with future value for reuse, reclamation, and water-stressed industries. Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge! Timestamps 01:10 — Trace welcomes Kalpna Solanki back and notes her previous Scaling UP! H2O appearance in Episode 435 on backflow prevention. 01:50 — Kalpna shares what has changed since her last visit, including the launch of GAMECHANGERS Inc. and her work with nonprofits, government agencies, and water utilities. 02:40 — Kalpna explains the two criteria she uses when choosing where to contribute: the opportunity to contribute and the opportunity to learn. 03:40 — Kalpna introduces the Water Environment Federation and its broad role in the water sector, with a strong focus on wastewater. 04:10 — The conversation turns to WEFTEC, AI, data centers, and the Water AI Nexus Center for Excellence. 08:20 — Kalpna defines an SOP as a documented process that provides clear instructions for specific tasks or activities. 08:40 — Kalpna describes her work with the Capital Regional District and water distribution teams serving more than 400,000 people with drinking water. 09:40 — Kalpna explains why SOPs should be developed with field staff, not only by managers who may be removed from day-to-day operations. 10:40 — SOPs connect to competencies by defining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors employees need to perform work effectively. 11:40 — Kalpna frames performance evaluation as a two-way process for identifying training needs, resources, and competency gaps. 13:00 — Trace asks how organizations can align SOPs with what operators actually do in the field. 13:20 — Kalpna describes the risk of dated SOPs, including documents that reference retired staff or obsolete contact information. 14:00 — Kalpna explains how SOP nomenclature and organized folders help operators find the current procedure quickly. 15:30 — The discussion shifts to video-based SOPs that support different learning styles and increase field usability. 19:50 — Kalpna adds that QR codes can take operators directly to the relevant SOP and linked video in the field. 20:25 — Kalpna explains why simplicity matters: if the process is too complicated, people are more likely to wing it. 21:10 — Safety enters the competency discussion, with Kalpna explaining why SOP-based competencies can better reflect actual field work. 22:20 — Kalpna outlines her starting process with a utility: review the SOPs, determine what is dated or missing, divide them by operational area, and prioritize revisions. 24:10 — Kalpna describes how SOPs for water main upgrades can be translated into a competency framework. 25:00 — Technical and leadership competencies are discussed, including behavioral indicators that supervisors can use with operators. 26:30 — Kalpna introduces application exams, remote proctoring, and future AI-assisted marking as part of the hiring process. 28:05 — The conversation turns to culture, ownership, and how staff involvement can create empowerment rather than top-down compliance. 29:55 — Kalpna urges listeners to look at the intersection between SOPs, competencies, and performance evaluations. 32:40 — Kalpna shares her personal water story, beginning with childhood walks near the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. 34:15 — Kalpna connects her experiences in London and Vancouver to water availability, source protection, and the value of safe drinking water. 37:00 — In the lightning round, Kalpna describes her superpower as seeing organizations from a high-level perspective and imagining what they could become. 38:35 — Kalpna shares a major accomplishment: leading a CRM project that succeeded because the people doing the work were involved. 40:25 — Kalpna discusses a water operator training and certification project in Kenya with Water Professionals International and GAMECHANGERS Inc. 41:55 — Kalpna answers the magic wand question with the Water Environment Federation vision statement: "life free of water challenges." 43:10 — Kalpna recommends five books spanning personal values, scaling systems, resilience, memoir, and nonprofit governance. Quotes "When it comes to how that leads to competencies, competencies refer to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that employees need to perform their job effectively." "Because I think if things are too complicated, people are going to be more tempted to wing it." "I need their feedback to get the reality of their job on a day-to-day basis." "I think that one of the key things is really look at the intersection between SOPs, competencies and performance evaluations." "Life free of water challenges." "We talk about wastewater, but it's not waste really, it's a resource." Connect with Kalpna Solanki Email: ksolanki@gamechangerssolutions.com Website: GAMECHANGERS Inc. | Strategy Development And Implementation LinkedIn: Kalpna Solanki MBA | LinkedIn GAMECHANGERS Inc.: Overview | LinkedIn Guest Resources Mentioned Bridging Continents Through Clean Water: Mike Firlotte and Paul Bishop Lead Operator Training and Pinning in Kenya Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses Submit a Show Idea The Rising Tide Mastermind 355 Backflow Prevention: Safeguarding Water Quality 2026 Events for Water Professionals Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.
Mike gets a tutorial on The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.Inside California's Gay-Certification ProgramThe state is pressuring utilities to award $633 million in contracts to “LGBT” businesses.The scheme operates through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates privately owned utility companies. California utilities spent more than $43 billion in 2024 on contractors—fuel suppliers, surveyors, engineers, and others—whose work helps deliver water, gas, electricity, and internet service to California's 39 million residents.In 1986, Governor George Deukmejian signed Assembly Bill 3678, which required certain CPUC-regulated utilities to submit annual “plans” for buying goods and services from woman- and minority-owned companies. Two years later, CPUC created its “Supplier Diversity Program,” which would enforce the law and set contracting “goals” for large utilities.After hours of public comment and sometimes heated debate at the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Wednesday, board members voted to begin decommissioning the Minnehaha off-leash recreation area. All but one board member supported the decision, which is part of the Minnehaha Regional Park long-term plan.The board heard from dozens of people, including many dog owners who said they have been using the park for more than 30 years. Members of the Indigenous community argued the land is a sacred Dakota site with thousands of years of history.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mike gets a tutorial on The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.Inside California's Gay-Certification ProgramThe state is pressuring utilities to award $633 million in contracts to “LGBT” businesses.The scheme operates through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates privately owned utility companies. California utilities spent more than $43 billion in 2024 on contractors—fuel suppliers, surveyors, engineers, and others—whose work helps deliver water, gas, electricity, and internet service to California's 39 million residents.In 1986, Governor George Deukmejian signed Assembly Bill 3678, which required certain CPUC-regulated utilities to submit annual “plans” for buying goods and services from woman- and minority-owned companies. Two years later, CPUC created its “Supplier Diversity Program,” which would enforce the law and set contracting “goals” for large utilities.After hours of public comment and sometimes heated debate at the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Wednesday, board members voted to begin decommissioning the Minnehaha off-leash recreation area. All but one board member supported the decision, which is part of the Minnehaha Regional Park long-term plan.The board heard from dozens of people, including many dog owners who said they have been using the park for more than 30 years. Members of the Indigenous community argued the land is a sacred Dakota site with thousands of years of history.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis settled years of fighting over control of GRU, wrestling decades of mismanagement from Gainesville City Commissioners. CEO Ed Bielarski details the success of the local business and utility experts that have brought solid fiscal practices that favor paying customers
Things That Make You Smile segment on the Thursday Bob Rose Show
Solar is ready. Thanks to utilities, the rules to connect it to the grid aren't.|Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/state-interconnection-rules-ler273/|Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!
John is joined by Jeffrey N. Boozell and Christopher Tayback, both partners in Quinn Emanuel's Los Angeles office. They discuss wildfire litigation as a specialized and rapidly growing area of law, driven by increasingly destructive fires in California and other western states. What began as a relatively limited practice in the 1990s evolved into a major practice area after large California wildfires generated thousands of property loss claims and billions of dollars in damages. Jeff and Chris explain how these cases are structured, the legal theories involved, and the challenges of compensating victims.Wildfire cases are generally mass torts rather than class actions. Because each homeowner suffers different losses and faces unique causation issues, claims are coordinated before a single judge but remain individual lawsuits.These cases are typically brought against utilities, governments, and private entities that plaintiffs allege bear some responsibility for the disaster. One of the most important legal doctrines in California is inverse condemnation, which imposes liability on public utilities when infrastructure serving the public causes property damage. Under this doctrine, utilities may be responsible for property losses even without proof of negligence, distinguishing California wildfire litigation from cases in many other states.Utilities are also frequently defendants because fires are often linked to power lines, equipment failures, vegetation management issues, or other infrastructure-related problems. Various ignition scenarios may occur, including power lines striking each other in high winds, trees coming into contact with power lines, and improperly maintained equipment. For example, in the Eaton Fire, evidence shows that an old, unused power line was not properly grounded, leading to sparks that ignited the fire. In the Palisades Fire, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power emptied the Santa Ynez Reservoir to carry out repairs and left it empty for an extended period. As a result, firefighting helicopters were unable to collect and drop water from the reservoir, and eventually, fire hydrants in the area ran dry. Utilities understand these risks but often fail to implement adequate preventive measures.Despite involving enormous losses and thousands of claimants, major California wildfire cases rarely reach trial. Instead, courts establish coordinated proceedings, identify bellwether cases, and encourage settlement through mediation programs or compensation funds. Insurance payments often cover only part of a homeowner's losses, leaving substantial uninsured damages and emotional distress claims to be pursued through litigation.The scale of the 2025 Los Angeles-area fires is unprecedented. Estimated damages exceed $200 billion, underscoring why wildfire litigation is likely to remain a significant area of legal practice for years to come.Podcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi
Energy and Environmental Economics Partner talks with CEM Associate Editor Abigail Sawyer about the changing shape of resource adequacy in the Desert Southwest as utilities try to thread the needle on reliably meeting a new level of "baseload demand" while striving for affordability and meeting state clean energy goals.
It's Tuesday, June 9. Here are today's top stories around Central Indiana. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org and follow us on social media to get local news every day. WFYI News Now is hosted by Barb Anguiano and produced by Zach Bundy. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Alderman JP Smith discusses the growing impact of copper theft on critical infrastructure, the role of organised criminal networks, the effectiveness of enforcement efforts and what more can be done to disrupt the illegal trade in stolen copper. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We kick off todays episode with some weekday adventures, This week i talk about my new obsession, which is a watch craze that i spiral into since the AP drop. Ive really went down a rabbit hole of rolexes, even down to my first watch ever bought and now i want to make this new obsession a hobby. I don't know how far i am getting because it is an expensive hobby. I also speak about how i obsess a bout another hobby and how i find my self day dreaming over it, and it is playing the game Gran Turismo. I feel like when i drive in real life i can see the video game cluster on my windshield., pretty sure that's dangerous. From there i get into Gen Z again and i don't think they're aware of the rules of the road, and it's quite annoying.( 00:00 - 27:04 )In the movie review section we talk about film movies and other things and give the worse takes. This week we're critiquing the movie “ Back Doors” and this movie was very nostalgic to me. I remember when backrooms started out on a 4chan page in 2010, and now its a whole movie and not a youtube series. Now i really don't speak of the movie, only how it made me feel and all the emotions it triggered. This movie was cool but it had its own message that stayed from the original lore… at least to me i feel. It never really had a definite reason but the movie had its own objective and it was cool. ( 27:05 - 41:16 )I then jump into The Cool Report where we discuss Mr beast pilot being caught with pound of zaza… sike he was more of a contestant than a personal pilot. But it was a pretty interesting story to indulge in. Then we get into more NYC laws, where the governor finds it more important to care about parental tittles instead of all the real NY problems. Utilities is high, cost of living is high, gas is high, but dear lord let us figure out the new parental titles. Then we get into cyber bullying of a great celeb, we shall not give Elmo slander in my podcast network. ( 41:17 - 01:01:21 )We then step into a segment where the listeners ask me 3 questions about myself or just randomness. A character wants to know if i standing on not taking down studs, and they were grossly mistaken. They's them don't start a chance with I. Another character wants to know with which latino i identify with and i am off brown, like a taupe or tan. Then we get a character asking is it okay to love a sport more than your wife and i say f yes. Love when the ball is in your court( 01:01:22 - 01:14:33 )Then we have 2 fans ask us a questions for PTL where we get asked the tough questions where we place ourselves in their shoes. A lover submits a question thats not a question, it more of a statement against the big people community. They just submitted a question that was all about violence. Another lover wants to know why they always keep making fun of his partners age difference. My suggestion is take them out to the park before the sun raises and no one would notice.( 01:14:34 - 01:24:12 )THE FINThanks to everyone that shows us love and wish y'all the best on the journey called life.( 01:24:13- 01:26:18 )please continue to like, share, comment and subscribe. Also check out my friend @acgwipeout on youtube and instagram.PEACE OUT!!!! For questions to be answered on Part time lover please email @nospecialcharacterspod@gmail.comTIME CODEINTRO/ WHAT'S NEW - 00:00MOVIE REVIEW - 27:05THE COOL REPORT - 41:17ASK ME A QUESTION - 01:01:22PART TIME LOVER - 01:14:34OUTRO - 01:24:13
The Real Estate Roundtable with Jackie Ruddy, Century 21 Jack Ruddy Real Estate
Dear Home Sellers, Please do not shut off your utilities before closing. Don't even think about it. You might think it's a good idea and that'll save you money but it's one of the worst things you can possibly do. It can kill a deal. This and more on the Real Estate Roundtable.
One Sector Is Driving Everything The S&P 500 continues to make new highs, but the story beneath the surface is far different. Technology and semiconductors have become the dominant force behind market performance, creating a widening gap between the S&P 500 and nearly every other major sector and factor. In today's pre-market update, we compare the S&P 500 to Momentum, Value, Quality, Energy, Healthcare, Utilities, Materials, and Technology. The results reveal just how concentrated market leadership has become and why many diversified portfolios may appear to be lagging despite owning fundamentally strong companies. We also discuss the risks of performance-chasing, why semiconductor stocks have become such a large part of the index, and what investors should expect when market leadership eventually rotates into other sectors. Hosted by RIA Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer --- Watch the Video version of this report on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/mRXYN5YlgdI --- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestmentadvice.com/insights/real-investment-daily/ --- Do you enjoy our content? Rate us on Google: https://bit.ly/4b9JtEo --- * REGISTER for our next Dynamic Learning Series presentation, "A SimpleVisor Tutorial," Thursday, June 4, 2025 at Noon: https://streamyard.com/watch/MwairsimgmnS --- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN --- Subscribe to SimpleVisor : https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new --- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #SP500 #Semiconductors #StockMarket #Investing #MarketOutlook
The energy transition conversation focuses on what connects to the grid. Far less attention goes to whether anyone is coordinating what those assets do once connected. AI training runs swing hundreds of megawatts in seconds as GPUs checkpoint and restart a profile that looks like a generator tripping offline. At distribution level, millions of inverter-based resources create localised variability that overwhelms individual circuits even when aggregate models look healthy. The planning tools in use today were designed for neither problem.Host Bridget van Dorsten is joined by Kay Aikin, CEO and Founder of Dynamic Grid, energy engineer, grid architecture advisor to the DOE-supported GridWise Architecture Council, and contributor to the UN Environmental Program's building decarbonisation work. Kay unpacks what an AI training facility actually does to the grid with full GPU load for hours or days, then a drop to ten percent in seconds during checkpointing. She talks about how at the scale now planned, the Stargate project in Texas alone could represent ten percent of ERCOT disappearing in four seconds. The behaviour is stochastic and cannot be modelled with traditional statistical tools. At distribution level, virtual power plants responding to wholesale signals without circuit-level visibility can create competing oscillations, the kind of emergent dynamics that contributed to the Spanish grid failure.The proposed fix is an AI controller at the substation, sending price-based signals and flexible operating envelopes to large assets and VPP operators, giving them twenty-four-hour forecasts and real-time circuit visibility. Total cost: under a hundred thousand dollars installed. The reason it isn't everywhere is cost-of-service regulation. Utilities earn returns on deployed capital, so a million-dollar transformer replacement is more profitable than software that eliminates the need for it.Without new approaches, rebuilding the US distribution grid could cost up to ten trillion dollars by 2040. Kay is developing grid utilisation metrics with regulators in Maine, Virginia, and Maryland to incentivise extracting more from existing infrastructure. The episode closes on the need for distribution system operators and the affordability death spiral that looms if the structural incentives don't shift. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Utilities, contractors, equipment suppliers, and investors have a lot of questions about federal water infrastructure funding right now. How is money moving, where is it landing, and what does project activity looks like over the next few years? Bluefield's Senior Analyst Charlie Suse joins host Reese Tisdale to walk through the federal funding landscape, from State Revolving Funds (SRF) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) deployment to the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) wind-down. The conversation covers where capital is concentrated, why deployment gaps persist, and what the next era of federal water funding realistically looks like. Key questions include: What are the primary federal funding channels for water and wastewater utilities today? What does the current SRF landscape look like? Which segments are capturing the most funding, and which are facing the longest queues? How transformational has IIJA actually been? How do WIFIA and ARPA fit into the current market? Why does a persistent gap exist between funding commitments and shovel-ready projects? What does the next era of federal water infrastructure funding realistically look like? If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven't already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you'd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: The State Revolving Funds Opportunity: Tracking US$140 Billion in U.S. Water Infrastructure Demand Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA): Tracking the Spending, Q3 2025
Preview for Later Today: Gene Marks explains how companies like Horton avoided 2025 tariff penalties by sourcing materials domestically. He highlights the importance of proactive business pivots to navigate rising costs for utilities, compensation, and general operational business insurance.1860 OYSTER STAND
Why is Wahoo growing so quickly — and what actually happens behind the scenes to make that growth possible?This week on Chamber Chat with Kate & Kat, we sit down with Theresa Klein from the Wahoo Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Office, and Wahoo Community Foundation to talk about business development, new projects, commercial growth, community investment, and the work happening every day to help Wahoo continue moving forward.From answering calls about rental housing and business space to helping connect people with trusted local services, Theresa explains why the Chamber is often the “human hyperlink” for the community.We also dive into:• How the Wahoo Chamber has evolved since 1923• What economic development actually means• Why business recruitment and commercial space matter• The challenges of growth in small towns• Why some business projects have to stay confidential• The future of development in Wahoo• The role of the We Are Wahoo app and Wahoo Weekly• Why reliable local information matters more than ever• How the Wahoo Community Foundation supports Saunders County• Scholarships, workforce development, and investing in local students• The Friends of the Chamber program and workforce scholarship fundPlus, Theresa shares stories about helping connect residents with trusted businesses, supporting local organizations, and why community relationships still matter in a digital world.If you've ever wondered how projects happen in Wahoo, why certain announcements can't be shared immediately, or what the Chamber actually does day-to-day — this episode is for you.Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you stream podcasts.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:36 Meet Theresa Klein01:03 The Old Casey's Building & New Development Updates02:00 What the Wahoo Chamber Actually Does03:20 The History of the Wahoo Chamber of Commerce04:45 What Happens Inside the Chamber Office Every Day06:20 Helping Residents Find Trusted Local Businesses08:40 Businesses Wahoo Still Needs10:00 Recruiting Businesses & Finding Commercial Space11:40 Economic Growth & Downtown Development15:12 First Bank of Nebraska Sponsor Break15:56 Questions the Chamber Can't Always Answer17:20 Utilities, Zoning & Business Development18:30 Theresa the “Human Hyperlink”20:30 Why Human Connection Still Matters21:20 The We Are Wahoo App & Wahoo Weekly24:20 Social Media, Local News & Reliable Information25:05 Why Some Development News Stays Confidential27:30 The Real Cost & Risk of Development Projects29:55 The Wahoo Community Foundation Explained31:30 Supporting Local Projects Through Giving33:00 Scholarship Programs in Saunders County35:00 The Chamber Workforce Scholarship37:40 How to Become a Friend of the Chamber38:50 Final Thoughts & Future Wahoo Growth40:15 Outro
Equity markets are broadening, with the S&P 500 moving beyond the Magnificent Seven as AI expands into networking, fiber, memory, and even utilities. Mike Dickson says this shift is creating opportunities in overlooked sectors, including power providers benefiting from data center demand. He also highlights a widening gap in software, as Snowflake (SNOW) shows clear AI monetization while Salesforce (CRM) remains more cautious, with active managers pressed to separate true AI winners from laggards.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about
Haroon Inam is Co-founder and CEO of DG Matrix, a company that makes the world's most compact Power Router, aggregating distributed energy for GenAI datacenters, microgrids, fleet electrification, and associated systems. As AI workloads drive unprecedented electricity demand and legacy grid infrastructure struggles to keep pace, DG Matrix has commercialized the world's first multi-port solid-state transformer to meet the energy needs. In this episode, Inam explains why transformer bottlenecks, distributed generation, and 800V DC architectures are reshaping the future of power delivery for AI infrastructure. He discusses DG Matrix's product strategy, manufacturing scale-up plans, and the role of software-defined power systems in next-generation data centers. Finally, Inam shares his take on the future of distributed microgrids and “cellular power” and how to scale power electronics manufacturing. DG Matrix recently closed a $60 million Series A led by Engine Ventures that MCJ is proud to have participated in. Episode recorded on May 13, 2026 (Published on May 26, 2026) In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Overview of DG Matrix (01:41) Introducing the Founders: Haroon Inam and Dr. Bhattacharya (05:25) How traditional grid architecture became constrained for AI workloads (09:57) Solid-state transformers (SST), multi-port systems and voltage classes (12:18) Why early SST efforts struggled economically (13:13) How DG Matrix's multi-port architecture works (16:48) Comparing DG Matrix hardware footprint to legacy power systems (20:08) Transformer shortages and data center infrastructure bottlenecks (24:27) DG Matrix's medium-voltage and low-voltage product strategies (27:55) Product rebranding and current commercial deployments (30:45) Partnerships with EPC firms, battery providers, and turbine manufacturers (34:27) Manufacturing scale-up plan and hyperscaling production (36:36) Supply chain strategy to avoid rare earth dependencies (38:16) Reliability engineering and software-defined power systems (43:47) DG Matrix's go-to-market and hybrid hardware/software business model (46:36) The vision for distributed “cellular power” (48:14) Utilities, microgrids, and the future of interconnected distributed infrastructure Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
The era of stagnant electricity demand in the US is over. Data centres, electrification, and reshoring of manufacturing are driving a surge in demand that is stronger that anything that anyone currently working in the industry has yet seen in their professional lifetimes. The question of which market and regulatory structures are needed to respond to this new and fast-changing world is now at the centre of the policy debate.Host Ed Crooks is joined by Drew Maloney, President and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade body representing America's investor-owned utilities, which together serve more than 70 per cent of the US population. Drew argues that the current moment is exposing a fundamental divide in the US power system: vertically integrated, regulated utilities can plan generation, transmission, and distribution over 20-year horizons, while competitive markets like PJM are struggling to send the investment signals needed to get new power plants built.The conversation starts with one of the hottest topics in US politics: affordability and household electricity bills. There are some misconceptions about electricity bills that have gained traction with the American public. Drew points to EEI research showing that 34 states have kept increases in electricity rates below general consumer price inflation over the past five years. And he adds that the states where prices are rising fastest tend to be in deregulated markets, where capacity costs are climbing but no new generation is being built.Ed draws on the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's 2025 study of electricity bills and data centres (You can read that study here.). That study found that demand growth alone did not explain rising bills, and that the drivers vary significantly by region, from wildfire mitigation costs in California to capacity market dynamics in PJM and New England.They move on to another hot topic in the industry today: whether data centres and other large loads should go “off grid” and rely entirely on local on-site generation. Drew pushes back against the narrative that this model is now becoming widespread, arguing there is more talk than action. Building duplicative generation to create “five nines” reliability for a data centre is expensive, and can still be unreliable without grid backup. It also pulls investment and workforce away from the shared infrastructure that benefits all customers. Most data centres want grid access, even if some are pursuing hybrid approaches in the interim until their hook-ups to the network can be connected.The episode also covers FERC Chairman Laura Swett's emerging approach to market intervention, the prospects for bipartisan permitting reform in Congress, and the ratepayer protection plan brokered between the White House and the major hyperscalers. Drew closes with an optimistic long view: the current moment, though it needs careful management, could be an opportunity to transform the US grid for the better.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Plus: President Trump drops a lawsuit against the IRS as the Justice Department announces a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim the DOJ victimized them. And U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria kill 20 Islamic State fighters. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when massive AI data centers demand more electricity than entire regions can produce? Today, sit down with utilities expert and former Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Dan Eastman to expose the alarming reality behind the sudden, desperate stampede to build massive AI data centers across rural America. In this deep dive, Dan debunks the widespread myth that these tech giants can generate their own power, revealing how the current electrical grid was never designed for the staggering multi-gigawatt energy demands that threaten to overwhelm local utilities. We break down the aggressive zoning lawfare used against local towns, the impossible promises of "small nuclear reactors," and the devastating environmental impacts — from deafening noise pollution to the draining of local water supplies. Why are these trillion-dollar companies targeting small farming communities instead of utilizing vacant industrial zones? Discover the truth behind the push for cloud-based surveillance tech, why these facilities may be obsolete in five years, and how grassroots movements are successfully fighting back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices