ACES-InSimpleTerms

In Simple Terms: Your Guide to Energy

Business EN ↓ 3 episodes

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.

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ACES-InSimpleTerms

Episodes

Hedging the Lines: Discussing the Space Between the Generators and Your Lights 26.05.2026 22:00

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, a...

Day-Ahead Power Trading: Looking at Tomorrow, Today 26.05.2026 14:10

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 b...

Inside the Real‑Time Desk: How Operators Keep the Grid Balanced 19.05.2026 26:15

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...