In this week’s UtilityXpert Roundup, Entergy’s VP declares that grid changes are needed, and only IoT and advanced data analytics can help us along. Elsewhere, EE programs are improving all across the nation, green power is in demand, and Dominion keeps one of their major projects going. As usual, it’s been a busy week in the utility world.

Entergy VP: We Have to Fundamentally ‘Reshape the Grid’ (Greentech Media)

Delivering electricity to 2.9 million customers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, Entergy is implementing advanced data analytics and internet-of-things technology across all its divisions. This article features a sit down with Entergy VP, Raiford Smith.

New and Improved Energy Efficiency Programs (NRDC)

Utility programs are a valuable and growing resource to the affordable housing community. According to ACEEE’s 2018 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, utilities across the U.S. dedicated $7.9 billion to energy efficiency programs in 2017 alone. Likewise, utility investments designated for affordable multifamily programs have grown significantly over the past five years, and the gap between affordable multifamily’s share of the residential market and their share of utility residential investment is beginning to close in many states. 

Hungry for green power, tech giants choose between utilities, independent developers (Utility Dive)

As tech companies and other large energy consumers are increasingly focusing on shifting toward a cleaner power supply, they face a choice to work with utilities or directly with developers.

Dominion strikes deadline day utility deal to keep Millstone nuke operating (Utility Dive)

Dominion's deal with Eversource and United Illuminating puts an end to speculation over Connecticut's sole nuclear plant, which the company had said would close if it did not secure a contract by today, March 15.

The 10 year deal will cover 9 million MWh of output annually, more than half of the plant's annual output of about 16.5 million MWh. Connecticut regulators selected the rest of Millstone's output as part of a clean energy solicitation last year.

Product Announcement: Efficient Water Heater and Space Cooler Could Lead to Net Zero Energy Restaurants (Energy Manager Today)

A new high efficiency, ultra-low emissions commercial water heating and space cooling unit, which begins field demonstrations at two Southern California restaurants this week, could dish out energy savings, lower operating costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for foodservice and hospitality facility operators.

That’s according to Stone Mountain Technologies, Inc. (SMTI), maker of the new technology, which uses a thermally driven heat pump fuelled by natural gas or propane to capture ambient energy, achieving a heating efficiency of 140% or greater. It is projected to reduce energy use by 30 to 50% compared to standard natural gas water heaters. The highly-efficient heat pump also provides space cooling simultaneously, which reduces the need for air conditioning and can help lessen electricity use.