Harnessing the Power of Energy Burden and Data Analysis to Drive PSE’s Affordability and Equity Initiatives

This educational session will showcase Puget Sound Energy’s Advanced Energy Burden and Data Analytics practices. Participants will learn how PSE’s in-depth data analytics and deep understanding of key Energy Burden drivers helps them produce outstanding equity and affordability programs for vulnerable customers.

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Speakers:

• Michael Wehling, Program Manager Energy Equity Data Analytics, Puget Sound Energy

Michael Wehling serves as Program Manager for Energy Equity – Data Analytics at Puget Sound Energy (PSE), where he has spent over 20 years in strategic planning, market and customer satisfaction research. In his current role, he creates advanced data resources and analytical tools that identify communities experiencing energy burden and guide PSE’s strategic investments in targeted support programs.
Drawing on his extensive background in social science and geography, Michael specializes in analyzing customer data to pinpoint customer groups experiencing energy burden and develop solutions that deliver meaningful impact to vulnerable populations. His work spans the intersection of system capacity planning, customer energy solutions, and community equity, collaborating with PSE’s Equity Advisory Group, and other interested parties.
Throughout his tenure at PSE, he has evolved from energy efficiency program development to leading cutting-edge equity analytics that inform PSE’s clean energy transformation under Washington State’s Clean Energy Transformation Act. His expertise in translating complex data into actionable insights has positioned PSE at the forefront of utility industry efforts to ensure equitable distribution of clean energy benefits.

 

• Austin Phillips, Manager, Customer Insights, Puget Sound Energy

Prior to his role as Strategic Customer Insights Manager, Austin spent four years as a Data Scientist on the same team. The Customer Insights group focuses on telling the story of PSE’s energy customers through business intelligence, analytics, and machine learning. In this role, Austin leads projects that uncover customer needs and forecast customer behavior over time. The team’s work supports PSE and other utilities in advancing customer data analytics to better address the pressing challenges of decarbonization, equity, and rising energy demand.
Before joining PSE, Austin worked in digital agriculture and conducted ecological research. He holds a doctorate in Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management from the University of Washington.

 

 

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