Episode 807
807: Say Goodbye to 'Virtual Power Plants' — Embrace Demand Flexibility
“Virtual power plant” might be trending—but Eversource’s Tilak Subrahmanian says it misses the mark.
In this RE+ Northeast PowerUp Live stage interview, Nico sits down with Tilak for a refreshingly candid utility perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs) are being integrated, managed, and monetized at scale. Spoiler: it's not just about demand response anymore.
From managing EV charging loads to influencing ISO capacity calculations, Tilak breaks down how Eversource is designing a distributed grid built for policy, performance, and people. If you’ve ever wondered how utilities actually think about DERs, this is the episode for you.
What you’ll learn:
🔹 How 70,000 residential and 400+ commercial customers help Eversource manage load
🔹 What “edge DOMs” and “grid DOMs” are—and why they matter
🔹 How Eversource partners with OEMs like Renew Home and EV manufacturers
🔹 Why toaster ovens are the secret weapon in small business energy efficiency
This is utility thinking, unfiltered. Tap play and gain a deeper understanding of the real opportunities—and challenges—behind the energy transition.
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
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