--- title: "Ani Backa Talks DERs & Regulatory Trends (3 of 3)" id: "390" type: "post" slug: "ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3" published_at: "2020-06-02T09:29:33+00:00" modified_at: "2024-07-17T20:42:20+00:00" url: "https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/" markdown_url: "https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3.md" excerpt: "Virtual Peaker had the distinct pleasure to talk recently with Ani Backa, U.S. Director, Utilities, Regulatory, and Legislative Initiatives at […]" taxonomy_category: - "Technology" --- Technology # Ani Backa Talks DERs & Regulatory Trends (3 of 3) [Jeff Quigley Published Jun 2, 2020](https://virtual-peaker.com/author/jeff-quigley/) Share[https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/) [http://twitter.com/share?url=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/](http://twitter.com/share?url=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/) [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/&source=LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/&source=LinkedIn) [mailto:?&subject=Ani%20Backa%20Talks%20DERs%20&%20Regulatory%20Trends%20(3%20of%203)&body=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/](mailto:?&subject=Ani%20Backa%20Talks%20DERs%20&%20Regulatory%20Trends%20(3%20of%203)&body=https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-regulatory-trends-3-of-3/) Virtual Peaker had the distinct pleasure to talk recently with [Ani Backa,](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ani-backa-7455aa68/) U.S. Director, Utilities, Regulatory, and Legislative Initiatives at [Sonnen/eServices sonnen global](https://sonnenusa.com/en/) , about the outlook of [distributed energy resources (DERs)](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/distributed-energy-resource/) 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](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-1-of-3/) or [second](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/ani-backa-talks-ders-2-of-3/) 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](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/the-past-present-future-of-battery-storage/) industry employs more than 60,000 professionals, according to the [2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report](https://www.usenergyjobs.org/2019-report) . New and grid energy storage systems account for approximately $1 billion annually in economic activity. The stimulus bill failed to include provisions that would have assisted the renewable energy space to maintain pace and mitigate the devastating effects of project and supply chain delays on jobs and entire DER businesses. I am hopeful that we will get to a stage in the next stimulus/relief bills where these concerns as well as proposals by the energy storage industry will be included and embraced. ### 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. ### Do you have the right DERMS for your needs? [Learn More](https://virtual-peaker.com/platform/derms-suite/) About The Author [https://virtual-peaker.com/author/jeff-quigley/](https://virtual-peaker.com/author/jeff-quigley/) 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. [More About Jeff](https://virtual-peaker.com/author/jeff-quigley/) Related Stories [Blog Post Jun 26, 2026 What To Look For in Energy Management & Utility Software The U.S. energy sector is in the middle of a transformation that makes earlier grid modernization efforts look modest by […] Syd Bishop Senior Content Specialist](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/what-to-look-for-in-energy-management-utility-software/) [Blog Post May 29, 2026 How to Switch DERMS Vendors: What Utilities Need to Know As U.S. electricity demand accelerates and grid pressure intensifies, utilities can’t afford to operate a DERMS that isn’t delivering — […] Amber Mullaney Vice President of Marketing](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/how-to-switch-derms-vendors-what-utilities-need-to-know/) [Blog Post Dec 17, 2025 Role Based Access Control: User Roles & Utility Cybersecurity According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, cyberattacks cost $16 billion in losses last year, a 33% increase from […] Lauren Corley IT Systems & Security Engineer](https://virtual-peaker.com/blog/role-based-access-control-user-roles-utility-cybersecurity/) Subscribe to our blog ## Get the latest DER thought leadership, tips, and best practices in your inbox! 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