Navigating the Currents of Change: Insights from Alfonso Mugueta, VP of Planning & Coordination at AVANGRID [Power Perspectives Conversations at IEEE PES T&D 2024]
On the first day of the IEEE PES T&D Conference, standing room only remained for the panel session “3 AM Topics That Keep Our Executives Awake – A Multi-Utility / Multi-Disciplinary Perspective”. Evidently, conference attendees seemed eager to see what issues were atop the priority list of utility decisionmakers, including panelist Alfonso Mugueta, representing AVANGRID as Vice President of Planning & Coordination.
After this captivating session, Mugueta met with Energy Central to further reflect what he and his fellow panelists had shared, offering a truly panoramic view of the evolving landscape where technological innovation, policy imperatives, and climate resilience intersect. Mugueta shared his perspectives on a range of topics, from the urgent need for grid modernization to the imperative of talent development and collaboration among utilities.
Throughout the conversation, several key themes emerged, echoing the broader discourse unfolding at the conference: the growing load and capacity constraints, the imperative to address climate change impacts in real-time, and the delicate balance between short-term reactions and long-term planning.
The Panel Lineup
Growing Load and Capacity Constraints
In the panel session and in our exclusive conversation, Mugueta emphasized the pressing challenges utilities face in accommodating the rapidly growing demands on the grid. He highlighted the convergence of multiple factors contributing to this strain, including escalating energy needs alongside climate change and the imperative for achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
"The needs are growing day by day, and there is a capacity related to that with external factors from climate change, as I mentioned on the panel, but also the net zero carbon emissions policies that are all across the board." - Alfonso Mugueta
Contrary to viewing climate change impacts as distant or future concerns, Mugueta underscored the AVANGRID observation of its palpable effects on daily operations. From heightened risks of extreme weather events like storms and wildfires, to the imperative for resilience and reliability in the face of such challenges, utilities like AVANGRID are already navigating the complexities of climate-induced disruptions.
“We’re dealing with the climate consequences already today,” he noted. “It’s not a forward-looking concern, it’s an issue today.” Mugueta's acknowledgment of this reality serves as a clarion call for proactive measures and underscores the industry's need to integrate climate resilience into core operational strategies.
These factors collectively underscore the urgency for utilities to upgrade their infrastructure swiftly to maintain reliability and effectively meet customer expectations. This sentiment resonates strongly with the broader industry discourse, where discussions increasingly focus on the need for agile responses to evolving energy dynamics. Mugueta's perspective highlights a critical reality: the grid's design and capacity must adapt promptly to address both present and future energy demands.