Just Power

Millions of families are living one late payment away from losing power. A scenario that can be both devastating and dangerous for many. But what if there was a way to flip the script—where customers stay in control, utilities cut costs, and communities conserve energy all at once? In this episode of Just Power , Carolyn unpacks prepaid power with David Conn—a bold reimagining of how we pay for el...

What really happens behind the closed doors of America’s utility companies? In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn sits down with Amy Miller — a veteran energy industry executive and President of AMM Consulting and AMM Communications Coach  — for a candid conversation on the lessons, confessions and stories from her 25+ year career. From rural electric co-ops to investor-owned utilities, Amy share...

What energy equity questions are regulators asking utilities today? I break down what these questions are, why they matter, and how you can prepare your answers before you’re in the hot seat. From affordability to community engagement, from data transparency to equity impacts, I share real-world examples and insights to help you get ready now. If you’re a utility leader, energy buyer, sustainabili...

We unpack one of the most urgent challenges in today’s energy sector: skyrocketing electricity costs and the massive infrastructure investments required to meet surging demand—driven in large part by AI and data centers. Joining me is John Egan, founder and President of Egan Energy Communications. Together, we explore how these rising costs will impact everyday households, particularly low- to mid...

We’re living through one of the most significant transitions in the energy sector in decades. The way utilities and energy providers communicate with communities has never mattered more. In this episode, host Carolyn Parrs explores how to move beyond traditional “customer service” and instead build authentic, two-way relationships rooted in storytelling, listening and empathy.  Carolyn shares why...

Energy bills keep climbing—and nearly half of U.S. households are struggling to keep the lights on. But what if the solution isn’t just technology, it’s financing? In this Just Power episode, I sit down with renewable energy finance expert Walter Cuculic to unpack how green banking, ESG investing, and green bonds can lower costs, expand clean energy access, and put equity at the center of the tran...

Energy affordability isn’t just a headline—it’s a daily reality for millions of households. In this episode of Just Power Host Carolyn Parrs welcomes back Ben Nathan, Director of Affordability and Equity at E Source, to unpack the latest challenges utilities and communities are facing as federal funding shifts and energy bills climb. They dive into new research on the customer journey through ener...

Host Carolyn Parrs explores how energy equity can drive profitable innovation with Dana Clare Redden, founder of Solar Stewards. As AI and data centers consume city-scale amounts of energy while nearly half of Americans struggle with energy bills, Carolyn and Dana reveal how Social RECs (renewable energy credits) and other energy solutions create win-wins that benefit both corporations and histori...

Welcome to Season 3 of Just Power! For years I’ve heard utility customers being referred to as ratepayers. Sounds so transactional. But here's the thing: when nearly half of American households struggled to pay their energy bills last year, we're clearly dealing with a human crisis, not just a business transaction.  In this episode, I’m getting real about what it actually means to engage...

In this special season finale of Just Power , host Carolyn Parrs steps up to the mic solo to reflect on the powerful two seasons of conversations about energy equity and community in these changing times. With vulnerability and clarity, Carolyn shares what she’s learned from frontline leaders, energy experts, and advocates throughout the season—and why listening may be the most radical tool we hav...

Host Carolyn Parrs explores the concept of "small islands of coherence" in energy justice, featuring insights from six leading experts who are working to transform how we think about energy equity and accessibility. Drawing from Nobel Prize-winning chemist Ilya Prigogine's theory that small pockets of order (our guest speakers and their unwavering work) can shift entire chaotic syst...

In these turbulent times, how can we frame energy equity and climate justice in ways that unite—not divide—communities across the political spectrum? Host Carolyn Parrs and nationally recognized sustainability leader, Sandy Nessing, explore how community-centered approaches can transcend political divisions and create lasting change in our energy transition.  From lessons learned in legacy site re...

Host, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Jordan Gerow, Director of Policy and Research at Climate XChange, to unpack the pivotal role states play in driving climate action—especially as federal protections are rolled back. From managing methane emissions to tackling the energy demands of booming data centers, they explore how bold state policies can keep decarbonization on track while centering equity a...

What if energy assistance wasn’t a complicated maze—but a clear, just, and dignified path for all? In this episode of Just Power , host Carolyn Parrs sits down with Jeff Ackermann, one of Colorado’s most respected energy advocates. He's the Senior Policy Advisor of The Center for the New Energy Economy and former Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. With over four decades of exp...

What happens when entire communities built around coal plants suddenly face closure? Host Carolyn Parrs speaks with Heidi Binko, co-founder and CEO of the Just Transition Fund, to explore how communities can navigate the complex shift from fossil fuels to clean energy without leaving anyone behind. With over 25 years in climate philanthropy, Heidi brings incredible wisdom about what it really take...

What if the biggest threat to your energy project isn't equipment failure or budget overruns, but ignoring customer feedback or realities? In this episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs reveals why "meaningful engagement" isn't just feel-good corporate speak—it's the difference between projects that thrive and investments that become stranded assets. You'll hear fr...

Millions of Americans live one missed bill away from losing power. In this powerful episode of the Just Power Podcast, host Carolyn Parrs sits down with Dr. Diana Hernández—Associate Professor at Columbia University and co-author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy—to reveal the urgent and often invisible crisis of energy insecurity, and what to do about it. Dr. Hernández shares compell...

Host Carolyn Parrs sits down with John Lonergan, CEO of PCC, to explore the Bluria project—poised to become America's first carbon-neutral fertilizer facility and a potential game-changer for the Southwest's agricultural landscape. This innovative development is addressing multiple challenges simultaneously: economic revitalization for the Navajo Nation, sustainable agricultural practice...

How do nonprofits work effectively (and dare we say harmoniously) with utilities on behalf of their most vulnerable customers? This episode is a testament to that – even in uncertain times like these. In this enlightening episode, Just Power Host, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Jennifer Gremmert, the visionary CEO of Energy Outreach Colorado, who reveals why local and statewide approaches to energy...

In this episode of the Just Power Podcast, Host Carolyn Parrs explores the critical intersection of transportation electrification and social equity with Jeff Allen, Executive Director of Forth. Drawing from over a decade of experience championing inclusive approaches to EV adoption, Jeff shares valuable insights into how electric transportation can serve all communities—especially those who stand...

In this data-packed episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs and Accenture’s Energy Retail Global Lead, Eva Buren examine the complex intersection of energy affordability and the transition to net zero. As global energy costs rise, households across the economic spectrum face increasing financial pressure, with one in three households worldwide and nearly half of American families struggling to m...

For the Season 1 Finale of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs invites Pamela Fann, Founder and CEO of Integrative Solutions, back on the show to explore how empathy—a quality often overlooked or lost in technical fields—may be the missing ingredient in creating profitable and equitable energy systems. Carolyn and Pam make a compelling case that empathetic design isn't just morally right—it create...

Just Power host, Carolyn Parrs, speaks with Shubha Harris, an equitable energy policy consultant revolutionizing how we approach energy equity in America. As energy costs continue to soar, Shubha unveils the nation's first Automatic Bill Credit pilot—a $5.4 million initiative rolled out by Xcel Energy that eliminates the hurdles that have traditionally prevented vulnerable households from acc...

We asked our energy equity and justice rockstars from Season 1 of the Just Power Podcast, "How can energy companies and communities work together?" This show is a medley of their words of wisdom from LA's unprecedented community steering committee to Sacramento's tailored neighborhood solutions to Navajo Nation's must do's. Learn practical strategies for meaningful co...

In this eye-opening episode with Jeanette Pablo of the Climate Equity Foundation (CEF), we uncover the untold human cost of America's energy revolution. While policymakers debate carbon targets and renewable portfolios, real communities are fighting for their very existence. From the industrial pollution of Cancer Alley to the contaminated lands of the Navajo Nation, this conversation reveals...