This summer, California, like other US states, recorded some of the highest sustained temperatures on record. In late August, meteorologists observed and then alerted authorities that an approaching weather pattern would culminate in a savagely hot week in early September. They predicted temps in excess of 110° Fahrenheit in many parts of the Golden State.

Major storm events are becoming more frequent and stronger, and with these storm events come outages. Winter will be here before we know it. You don’t want to leave customers in the dark during the coldest months of the year. Utilities must be ready to quickly prepare and mobilize crews to affected and high-risk areas.

Last month, I attended the International Energy Program Evaluation Conference (IEPEC) in San Diego after two long reschedules due to COVID-19. Attending the conference was refreshing on both a professional and personal level. The evaluation community is tight-knit with a collegial attitude. And it should be—it’s a small world where the players in the game often switch uniforms. Your competitor one year may be your colleague (or client) the next.