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A Grid Affordability Special Report
InnovationForce
September 24, 2025
This month: Download a comprehensive 100+ page Grid Affordability report or listen to our new limited edition podcast series asking “Who Will Power the New AI-Driven Future?” featured in a recent Forbes article. Find solutions to the top 10 Grid Modernization challenges and see what RFIs/RFPs we’re tracking at NYSERDA and PGE.
THE HEADLINES
Rising to Meet the Affordability Challenge: A Special Report
After analyzing nearly 6,000 utility challenges across 60+ grid modernization plans, we created an interactive, real-time guide to help solve the top 10 modernization challenges affordably.
PODCAST: Who Will Power the New AI-Driven Future?
With tech giants pouring billions into mega-centers with their own generation stacks, could big tech be utilities’ toughest competition yet? Listen to this podcast that inspired a Ken Silverstein Forbes article!
PODCAST: Can Utilities Innovate to Keep up with Demand in the New AI-Driven Future?
Did you know that one tech giant’s R&D investment outspends the entire energy industry multiple times? In this podcast, a former head of innovation from Microsoft, a commissioner and a utility industry veteran weigh in.
FORBES ARTICLE: Who Powers The AI Revolution—Tech Giants, Utilities Or Both?
The article by Ken Silverstein inspired by being a guest on our podcast, you won’t want to miss it!
AFFORDABILITY REPORT: RESILIENT & AGING GRID
A sneak peak of some of our Grid Affordability Report focused on resiliency.
CHALLENGE 001 Resilient Grid: Building a Weather & Fire Resilient Grid in the New Normal
We need targeted, cost-effective and risk-based resilience solutions to deliver reliability despite aging infrastructure and frequency in more extreme weather, flooding and wildfire events that disrupt service.
CHALLENGE 002 Aging Grid: Upgrading Aging Assets in the New Normal
We need to modernize or replace aging assets to increase reliability while managing affordability and meeting the needs of our energy future.
Solution Match: Systems With Intelligence
Utilities need touchless asset monitoring at substations in order to reduce O&M costs while increasing reliability.
AFFORDABILITY REPORT: GRID CONSTRAINTS AND BOTTLENECKS
A sneak peak of some of our Grid Affordability Report focused on bottlenecks and constraints.
CHALLENGE 003 Grid Constraints: Overcoming Capacity Bottlenecks
We need faster, more affordable solutions to upgrade the grid to overcome capacity constraints come from rapidly rising AI data center distribution load stress and electrification needs of customers with EVs, heat pumps, etc. Instead of “steel in the ground,” where can AI and software drive capacity and avoided costs?
CHALLENGE 005 Grid Constraints: Overcoming Interconnection Bottlenecks
We need a more scalable, cost-effective, and scenario-driven transmission planning and interconnection capability to improve grid reliability and reduce project delays under new FERC mandates.
Solution Match: Switched Source
Utilities can balance power flow between phases to ensure reliable and efficient electricity supply while accommodating increased renewable energy resources.
AFFORDABILITY REPORT: FLEXIBLE GRIDS AND NON-LINEAR LOAD
A sneak peak of some of our Grid Affordability Report and the need for flexibility.
CHALLENGE 007 Flexible Load Forecasting: Planning for a Non-Linear Future
We need adaptive, data-driven planning tools with real-time DER visibility and flexible resource integration to achieve cost effective, resilient grid investments in a rapidly evolving and uncertain demand environment.
CHALLENGE 008 Flexible Customers: Engaging Customers in a Dynamic Grid
We need integrated affordability strategies and customer-centric service models to achieve equitable, financially sustainable grid modernization for all customer classes and delivers value in a competitive, digitized energy landscape.
Solution Match: Steffes Energy Thermal Storage (ETS) System
Utilities need innovative and cost-effective energy solutions for winter peak load management to achieve lower energy costs, enhance grid stability and integrate renewable energy efficiently rising from increasing demand and electrification.
RFPS & RFIs
Here are some of the latest RFIs and RFPs we’re sharing in InnovationWorks. Subscribers to the platform can learn more, show they solve the challenge and get instructions on how to submit a proposal. Be sure to sign up to create a free account using the link below.
Portland General Electric
Request for Information: Commercial & Industrial Flexible Load & Resilience Demonstration
“Portland General Electric (PGE) is seeking information from vendors with innovative solutions that can enable flexible load and resilience capabilities in order to expand participation of commercial and industrial customers who are currently unable to participate in Demand Response (DR) programs due to limitations in their existing Building Management Systems (BMS).”
NYSERDA
New York School Bus Incentive Program
“The New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP) is a voucher incentive program to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission school buses and associated charging infrastructure throughout New York State using funds allocated by the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act). Zero-emission school buses include both electric school buses (also referred to as ESBs) and hydrogen fuel cell school buses. A total of $300 million is now available through NYSBIP. School Bus Voucher Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Charge Ready NY 2.0 Program
“Charge Ready NY 2.0 (PON 5367) is an incentive program that provides $3,000 per charging port installed at a workplace or multi-unit dwelling (MUD) location and $4,000 per charging port installed within a Disadvantaged Community (DAC).”
ICYMI: Forbes Article: Who Powers The AI Revolution—Tech Giants, Utilities Or Both?
“Artificial intelligence may run on silicon chips, but its real fuel is electricity. After two decades of steady demand, AI and data centers are causing electricity consumption to soar, which will require utilities and tech giants to collaborate or confront each other. Either way, the aim is for the country to quickly upgrade its network to meet this AI-driven energy surge.”
THE LAST WORD
“We must stop solving within the box of outdated rules. It is time to rebuild the grid by thinking out of the box.”
– Dr. Elizabeth Cook, AEIC
Beyond the Gridlock: A plan to affordably meet the needs of an AI datacenter-driven future