Ani Backa Talks DERs & Regulatory Trends (3 of 3)

Virtual Peaker had the distinct pleasure to talk recently with Ani Backa, U.S. Director, Utilities, Regulatory, and Legislative Initiatives at Sonnen/eServices sonnen global, about the outlook of distributed energy resources (DERs) and regulatory trends.

Ani acknowledged that COVID-19 has fundamentally altered the landscape and that her responses are driven by two pandemic-related themes: uncertainty, and no end date. Virtual Peaker’s discussion with Ani Backa is divided into three sections. The third appears below. If you haven’t done so already, please jump to the first or second part(s);

What Are the Key Regulatory Trends That You Think Utilities Need To Watch Out For?

I devise the regulatory and legislative strategy in the North American market for sonnen. But with COVID, your question may be difficult to answer until the veil of uncertainty is lifted.

On the legislative and regulatory trend side, I think what we have witnessed is the government trying to grapple with the need to infuse cash into the economy and decide where we ought to spend the stimulus dollars, with a need for consensus being more crucial than ever.

The battery storage industry employs more than 60,000 professionals, according to the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report. New and grid energy storage systems account for approximately $1 billion annually in economic activity.

About Ani

Ani Backa is the US Director of Regulatory Strategy and Utility Initiatives at sonnen, where she leads sonnen’s US regulatory strategy and utility strategic partnerships. A senior renewable energy attorney by vocation, prior to joining sonnen, Ani managed business and government affairs for Xcel Energy, one of the largest and most progressive Investor Owned Utilities(IOUs) in the US. Ani’s experience combines in-depth understanding of micro and macro market and technology applications in the residential arena, including residential battery storage advanced technologies such as sonnen, and to-market successful platforms and utility strategic partnerships.

About The Author

Jeff is the VP of Sales for Virtual Peaker. He has spent his entire career in energy and data analytics where he has led teams working with utilities, government agencies, oil and gas companies, and financial institutions to help drive growth strategy and manage energy transition. He has worked with a team of analysts in developing an integrated resource plan (IRP) for a major U.S. vertically integrated utility, with a focus on load forecasting, locational marginal pricing (LMP) prediction, and long-term grid reliability. He has also managed the development of marketing and growth strategy for one of the four largest global oil and gas firms with a focus on the long-term viability of the Asian market-entry strategy.

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