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.
Unblurring the Grid: How Data Scientists Predict Energy Risks
Welcome to In Simple Terms, the podcast where we break down the energy industry into simple, clear language that anyone can understand.
In this episode, host Chris Armstrong chats with Ashley Geldmeier from ACES’ Data Science and Analytics Group about turning messy data into clear, useful information for energy decision-making. Ashley explains how her team finds relationships in data, runs simulations and forecasts out to 2050, and presents risk bands instead of single-point predictions.
They also discuss tools like R, Posit Connect and Shiny, the challenges of modeling new market dynamics (like data centers and renewables), and the importance of collaboration and transparency in building trust in models.
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26 May 2026
Hedging the Lines: Discussing the Space Between the Generators and Your Lights
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.
26 May 2026
Day-Ahead Power Trading: Looking at Tomorrow, Today
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.
19 May 2026
Inside the Real‑Time Desk: How Operators Keep the Grid Balanced
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.
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