Changing customer preferences and directives like FERC 2222 are presenting significant challenges to the electric utility business model. For the last century, utility revenue models have been based on the generation of electricity. The usage and demand based rate frameworks still in use reinforce this principle. The proliferation of DERs and the emerging prosumer are rapidly changing the way electricity is generated, distributed and consumed. Successful utilities like Ameren are shifting to the grid as the focus for value creation. The business model is transforming from the generation of electricity to the safe, reliable, secure and affordable delivery of electricity. This business model transformation is driving operating model and financial model transformations within distribution companies. Digital transformation is a critical enabler for these business transformations.
Speaker
Keith Hock
Keith has been employed for 35 years at Ameren Corporation headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Keith's current role is the Sr. Director ITOT & Digital Field Services. Keith is responsible for leading the digital teams supporting Ameren's Generation, Nuclear, Transmission, Distribution, Gas and Field business teams. Keith s teams are responsible for exploring and delivering innovative OT capabilities such as AR/VR, drones, DERMS, Transactive Energy and microforecasting using GPU engines.
Keith is a Champion Team Leader for Ameren's Accelerator program. In this role Keith leads a team of Ameren experts in mentoring innovative startup companies who are developing products and services for the energy industry.
Previously Keith was the Director Transmission Technical Services and Operations Planning. His responsibilities included EMS support, operations planning, data center infrastructure and operations, cyber-security including NERC CIP compliance, GIS, application development and strategy development.
Keith also has extensive legislative and regulatory experience in the energy industry. He played key roles in creating the deregulated retail electricity market in Illinois and the regional wholesale electricity markets in the Midwest. Keith has provided expert testimony in regulatory proceedings with the Missouri Public Service Commission (MOPSC), the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Keith earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology).