Grid Talk: Buildout of the Digital Grid - CenterPoint's Leading Edge

"The wholesale market is competitive, and the retail market is competitive, and so many entities can participate and it enables the real evolution of technology to come to the forefront and we make investments across the supply chain."

KENNY MERCADO, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ELECTRIC OPERATIONS, CENTERPOINT ENERGY

CenterPoint Energy is leading the digital revolution in the electric industry. In episode 24 of Grid Talk, host Marty Rosenberg talks with Kenny Mercado who is the Senior Vice President of Electric Operations at CenterPoint Energy. The discussion focuses on CenterPoint’s investment in technology to provide a premiere digital platform for service delivery.

“I think we have a leadership model not only in the Southwest region of the U.S., but across the country and across the globe,” said Mercado. He also talks about what is driving this new era of technology advancement.

“The wholesale market is competitive, and the retail market is competitive, and so many entities can participate and it enables the real evolution of technology to come to the forefront and we make investments across the supply chain.”

Mercado says CenterPoint Energy will have the largest supply of wind power in the world within the next year. We’ll learn what other advancements his utility expects and why cross-industry collaboration is generating new value as well as new opportunities.

Mr. Mercado has been with CenterPoint Energy and predecessor companies for more than 25 years. He oversees the company’s electric business, responsible for leading electric transmission, distribution, engineering and power delivery solutions in the greater Houston area and Evansville, Indiana, where he also leads electric generation.

Mr. Mercado received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Houston. He also received an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.