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Topic Committees

AESP offers professional participation in five (5) Topic Committees covering broad interest areas in clean energy and demand management. Our Topic Committees deconstruct silos around technology and business practices through earnest collaboration. Each Committee seeks to accelerate the deployment of innovative market solutions and technologies to the distribution grid. The Committees help members find and deploy tech-agnostic, best-fit solutions for their clean energy challenges and build a tight-knit community of collaborators they can rely on. We welcome you to join one or multiple Topic Committees to enable you to share knowledge with peers, network with industry leaders, and guide the AESP membership.  

Members of Topic Committees meet in person at our Annual Conference and stay in touch through teleconferences throughout the year. They play a role in influencing all aspects of AESP’s activities, including organizing webinars, writing magazine articles, judging awards, reviewing presentation abstracts for conferences, and more.  

Select a Topic Committee to learn more about its mission and leadership. To join a topic committee, sign up to receive topic committee news, if you have questions, or want to get involved contact Jenny Senff.

Membership in AESP is required to participate in a Topic Committee. To join AESP, contact Ashley Smith.

Marketing & Customer Experience

The purpose of the Marketing & Customer Experience Topic Committee is to facilitate thoughtful discussions and help members stay current on the ever-changing marketing and customer engagement trends and technologies in the evolving field of energy.

MISSION 
Our mission is to embolden today’s energy services professionals to share, learn, and advance discussion about marketing, communications, and customer engagement.  

VISION 
We aim to serve marketing and communications professionals at all stages of their careers who are dedicated to providing valuable energy services. We will work collaboratively with other Committees on cross-cutting efforts to share top trends and the industry’s biggest issues. Our work enables us to learn in our professions and become a resource for other industry professionals providing benefit for the greater good of the entire AESP membership. 

Topics include: 

  • Marketing
    • Education
    • Engaging with underserved communities
    • Digital landscape
    • Promoting the adoption of decarbonization
    • Emerging tactics and trends
  • Customer experience
    • Digital customer engagement
    • Non-traditional partnerships (CBOs, etc.)
    • Engaging with underserved communities 

 

Committee Leadership

Karen GermainKaren Germain, ICF
Stacy BlumbergStacy Blumberg, TRC

Business Issues & Regulatory Models

The purpose of the Business Issues & Regulatory Models Committee is to serve as a conduit for discussion and sharing of information between energy service practitioners, utilities, and regulators related to new services, energy delivery approaches, and business models.   MISSION Our mission is to serve as a forum for open discussion with recognized experts in the field to help work through the challenges that arise in designing and implementing the changing business environment for energy services (e.g. demand response, renewables, distributed generation, pricing, smart grid, energy efficiency, electrification, electric vehicles), and new program delivery models (e.g. pay for performance and finance).  VISION The Committee aims to help close the gap between policy and practices by bringing together the three groups that serve as the foundation of the energy service industry:  
  • Energy Service Professionals (contractors, manufacturers, advocates, and consultants)  
  • Utilities (program managers, rates, planning, and senior leadership)  
  • Regulators (past and present at the local, state, and federal level)  
Topics include: 
  • Utility Business Models  
  • Earnings and cost recovery  
  • Cost of services studies  
  • Gas and alternate fuel business issues and policies  
  • Grid modernization and investment 
  • Regulatory Issues  
  • Electrification and Decarbonization   
  • Equity Issues  
  • Cost-effectiveness Tests  
  • Performance-based Regulation  
  • Net Metering  
  • Service Provider Issues  
  • Workforce Development  
  • Vendor Contracting  
  • Pricing and Incentives 
 

Committee Leadership

Theo LoveTheo Love, Green Energy Economics, Inc.
Dan VioletteDan Violette, Apex Analytics

Emerging Tools, Technologies, & Methods

The purpose of the Emerging Tools, Technologies, & Methods Topic Committee is to serve as a resource for the energy industry to identify new and emerging technologies, product categories, and software or datadriven solutions and to share related learnings. The Committee will strive to learn about upcoming technology trends and offerings that will impact the industry. This information will be disseminated to AESP members via panels, presentations, and publications. A specific focus for this Committee is to increase the amount of content related to technology innovation at conferences via a “Technology Spotlight” or similar conference carveout.  

MISSION 
Our mission is to embolden today’s energy services professionals to share, learn, and advance discussion about product and technology trends.   

VISION 
Through a collaborative vision, we are dedicated to providing valuable industry knowledge to our members, that is current and relevant, to assist in navigating through the challenges of a dynamic industry.

Topics include: 

  • Emerging technology and product solutions  
  • Innovative product applications  
  • Software and data driven advancements  
  • Research and demonstration projects  
  • Emerging methods of tracking and measuring performance 

       

    Committee Leadership

    Deb DynakoDeb Dynako, Slipstream
    Kurt HauserKurt Hauser, Missouri River Energy Services

    Advancing System & Climate Resilience Initiatives

    The Advancing System & Climate Resilience Initiatives Topic Committee aims to foster collaboration and idea-sharing between AESP members on topics that advance utility resilience efforts, including grid resilience, climate resilience, and the interaction in between. This Committee will provide an open forum for all things that support or challenge resilience, such as DERs, electrification, renewables, demand flexibility, grid mod, natural disaster preparedness and response, environmental justice, and more.

    MISSION 
    Our mission is to embolden today’s energy services professionals to share, learn, and advance discussion about system and climate resilience initiatives.    

    VISION 
    Through a collaborative vision, we are dedicated to providing valuable industry knowledge to our members, that is current and relevant, to assist in navigating through the challenges of a dynamic industry. 

    Topics include: 

    • DERs (including storage) 
    • Beneficial electrification (fleet / vehicle electrification and system focused) 
    • Large-scale and community-wide renewables 
    • Climate impacts (designing, tracking, measurement, reporting) 
    • Grid / system modernization 
    • Environmental justice 
    • Natural disasters 
    • Load flexibility 

        Committee Leadership

        Rick BainRick Bain, Consultant
        Jordan Folks Jordan Folks, Opinion Dynamics

        Program Lifecycle

        The purpose of the Program Lifecycle Topic Committee is to foster collaboration and idea-sharing between AESP members on topics related to designing, managing, and aligning program offerings that entice customers to participate in programs to achieve designed goals. To support this objective, the Committee uses the expertise of its members to gather knowledge of real-time experiences that can be available to all members

        MISSION 
        Our mission is to embolden today’s energy services professionals to share, learn, and engage in open discussion with recognized experts in the field to develop and explore innovative and successful programs and strategies.    

        VISION 
        Through a collaborative vision, we are dedicated to providing valuable industry knowledge to our members, that is current and relevant, to assist in navigating through the challenges of a dynamic industry.   

        Topics include: 

        • Electric DSM (EE and DR) and combo fuel DSM 
        • Gas-only DSM 
        • Research and evaluation 
        • Flexible demand management 
        • Building electrification 
        • Pilot programs 
        • Designing programs for diversity, equity, and inclusion 

           

             

          Committee Leadership

           bill=Bill Clemens, DTE Energy
          Lee LevittLee Levitt, Current Lighting

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          Special Interest Groups

          Special interest groups are an informal way to connect with your peers on shared topics and concerns. Participating in one of these groups gives you access to education, volunteer leadership roles, and networking. From the young professional to the industry veteran, there’s a group for you.

          If you have questions or want to get involved contact Jennifer Lee, Program Manager.

          Membership in AESP is required to participate in a special interest group. To join AESP, contact Ashley Smith.

          Women In Energy

          AESP’s Women in Energy Committee promotes and empowers women and female-identifying individuals in our industry. We value diversity, equity and inclusion and we welcome all who are supporters and champions of AESP’s female members.

          This group provides insights to the unique perspectives of female-identifying individuals and the value of these contributions in our industry.

          The Women in Energy Committee provides platform for discussion on topics such as:

          · Career advancement

          · Work-life balance

          · Diversity/equality

          · Conflict resolution

          · Female empowerment

          · Mentorship/allyship

          · Developing future women of STEM

          Check out our WIE Community in Together.

          Emerging Professionals

          AESP strives to help Emerging Professionals in energy efficiency gain leadership and management skills needed to grow and move ahead in the industry. With a top-notch scholarship and mentoring programs in place, emerging professionals have the opportunity to grow in energy efficiency guided by an industry veterans. In addition, AESP offers events throughout the year and resources to welcome and help our newest members of the community to realize lasting meaningful careers in energy efficiency.

          Emeritus Member

          If you’re retired, AESP wants you to stay involved! We invite you to join AESP at the Emeritus level and stay in touch with the industry. At the same time you have the opportunity to share your valuable knowledge and experience with others. Membership is only $99 a year (or free* if you volunteer with AESP). Learn more

          Stay connected. Get industry scoop. Advance your career.

          AESP membership is the best way to network, stay informed, and gain access to education and training.

          AESP Energy Awards Nominations Now Open. Apply by October 24.
          Registration for AESP Summer Con now open.