In Simple Terms: Your Guide to Energy https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com In Simple Terms is a podcast designed to make the energy industry easier to understand. Hosted by ACES’ Chris Armstrong, each episode breaks down complex topics through short, approachable conversations that explain how the industry works, what key energy concepts mean, and how ACES brings value to its Members and Customers.

]]> Tue, 26 May 2026 17:22:03 -0300 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Business 1440 episodic ACES-InSimpleTerms ACES-InSimpleTerms No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22351459/In_Simple_Terms_Logo9s9mu.png In Simple Terms: Your Guide to Energy https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com 144 144 Hedging the Lines: Discussing the Space Between the Generators and Your Lights Hedging the Lines: Discussing the Space Between the Generators and Your Lights https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/e/behind-the-wires-how-transmission-shapes-your-power-bill/ https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/e/behind-the-wires-how-transmission-shapes-your-power-bill/#comments Tue, 26 May 2026 17:22:03 -0300 ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/a7cab43a-6159-3c73-9e31-248568552f33 Host Chris Armstrong talks with Mark Duquaine, Executive Director of Transmission Planning and Service, to explain how the transmission team moves generation to load, manages congestion, and helps lower electricity costs.

The episode covers congestion explained with simple analogies, how FTRs and ARRs hedge price risk, auction timing and layering strategies, key drivers like outages and weather, and the team’s member-facing work and culture.

]]> Host Chris Armstrong talks with Mark Duquaine, Executive Director of Transmission Planning and Service, to explain how the transmission team moves generation to load, manages congestion, and helps lower electricity costs.

The episode covers congestion explained with simple analogies, how FTRs and ARRs hedge price risk, auction timing and layering strategies, key drivers like outages and weather, and the team’s member-facing work and culture.

]]> ACES-InSimpleTerms false No 1320 3 full Day-Ahead Power Trading: Looking at Tomorrow, Today Day-Ahead Power Trading: Looking at Tomorrow, Today https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/e/day-ahead-power-trading-how-the-grid-gets-balanced/ https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/e/day-ahead-power-trading-how-the-grid-gets-balanced/#comments Tue, 26 May 2026 17:19:35 -0300 ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/6ad2f482-9ee1-337b-a3b9-0a7119ad6093 Executive Director of Portfolio Management Andy Schoettle breaks down the day-ahead energy market in simple terms: how regional transmission organizations (RTOs) aggregate demand and supply, how weather and fuel prices drive forecasts and market prices, and how traders decide whether generators run. He explains the balance between economics and reliability and why reserves and retirements affect blackout risk.

This episode gives a clear, practical overview of the roles, processes, and trade-offs involved in keeping the power system running.

]]> Executive Director of Portfolio Management Andy Schoettle breaks down the day-ahead energy market in simple terms: how regional transmission organizations (RTOs) aggregate demand and supply, how weather and fuel prices drive forecasts and market prices, and how traders decide whether generators run. He explains the balance between economics and reliability and why reserves and retirements affect blackout risk.

This episode gives a clear, practical overview of the roles, processes, and trade-offs involved in keeping the power system running.

]]> ACES-InSimpleTerms false No 850 2 full Inside the Real‑Time Desk: How Operators Keep the Grid Balanced Inside the Real‑Time Desk: How Operators Keep the Grid Balanced https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/e/inside-the-real%e2%80%91time-desk-how-operators-keep-the-grid-balanced/ https://ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/e/inside-the-real%e2%80%91time-desk-how-operators-keep-the-grid-balanced/#comments Tue, 19 May 2026 12:29:30 -0300 ACES-InSimpleTerms.podbean.com/67b5cad2-5321-3fdf-a1df-7ddf7c188014 Welcome to 'In Simple Terms', where host Chris Armstrong and Matt Owens, ACES' manager of operations for the Midwest RTC East Desk, break down real‑time energy operations. They explain which territories PJM and MISO cover, what the real‑time desk does day‑to‑day, and how tickets, market deadlines, and communication keep the grid balanced.

Matt describes coordinating generation, discusses capacity shortages, external tags, and LMP spikes, and shares training advice for new traders. Practical examples and clear steps show how the desk reacts to emergencies and supports small communities by keeping the lights on.

]]> Welcome to 'In Simple Terms', where host Chris Armstrong and Matt Owens, ACES' manager of operations for the Midwest RTC East Desk, break down real‑time energy operations. They explain which territories PJM and MISO cover, what the real‑time desk does day‑to‑day, and how tickets, market deadlines, and communication keep the grid balanced.

Matt describes coordinating generation, discusses capacity shortages, external tags, and LMP spikes, and shares training advice for new traders. Practical examples and clear steps show how the desk reacts to emergencies and supports small communities by keeping the lights on.

]]> ACES-InSimpleTerms false No 1575 1 full