Article Series
Series are multi-part explorations of a single AI-energy topic. Each series draws on the author’s deep domain expertise to connect technology, infrastructure, markets, regulation, and strategy into a clear framework for understanding the AI era.
The Utility-AI Leadership Edge Part II: The Utility CIO’s Mandate in the Age of AI
Utility CIOs face a structural shift as advanced intelligence moves into grid operations. The mandate is to govern, scale, and integrate it responsibly—unlocking flexibility, resilience, and efficiency while managing operational, cyber, and regulatory risk.
Hannah Kaplan
Managing Data Center Uncertainty Part V — From Uncertainty to Action: A Five-Mechanism Integrated Framework
AI data center demand uncertainty is a governance failure, not a modeling problem. The article proposes five integrated regulatory tools to force transparency, align incentives, unlock flexibility, avoid overbuild, and protect ratepayers while accelerating decarbonization
Michael Leifman
Managing Data Center Uncertainty Part IV — Flexibility Is the New Capacity: Unlocking 100 GW Without New Generation
The U.S. grid has ~100 GW of hidden capacity that data centers could unlock with tiny, well-timed curtailments. With stronger price signals—geometric demand charges and TOU surcharges—flexibility becomes profitable, enabling rapid AI load growth without new generation.
Michael Leifman
The Utility-AI Leadership Edge Part I: How Utility COOs Can Harness AI to Deliver Resilience, Reliability, and Growth
AI is transforming utility operations as COOs face soaring electrification, data-center load, extreme weather, and aging infrastructure. The shift from reactive to predictive, AI-driven management is now essential for reliability, resilience, and meeting rising customer expectations.
Hannah Kaplan