Powerful Forces | Bobbi Harris, UBBA

How I got into the utilities sector

I began my career in high-tech, data analytics, and software marketing over 25 years ago and never imagined that this experience would eventually lead me to the utility sector. At the time, utilities only sent bills once a month and didn’t seem very high-tech to the general public.

Fortunately, as the industry embraced increasing digitalization, my career changes (planned or not) led me to work on software and analytics tools designed for use in utilities. These solutions, such as SCADA software, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) tools, and Distribution Automation solutions, all incorporated elements of utility telecommunications infrastructure and networks, so I learned a lot about the evolution of utility technology. I was hooked!

Water, gas, and electric utilities all had one thing in common: they had to change to meet the more demanding needs of the customers they served. The utilities had to learn to communicate internally to share operational data to increase efficiency—and externally with customers to show they were more than just a “taxpayer.” It was here that my communication skills and passion for protecting our assets finally merged into a career, and I never want to leave the utilities industry.

Influences and role models

My story is not all that different from many other women who have had to overcome challenges in a male-dominated industry. The biggest challenge I faced was being taken seriously in the utility industry, not just as a woman, but as a non-engineer. I had to learn everything I could about technology so I could talk intelligently to engineers. Fortunately, those early days in software marketing helped me translate “engineering language” into common terms and translate bits and bytes into value-added stories. I proved to the people I worked with that I brought value and intelligence equal to theirs, but different from theirs. Today, I see the utility industry evolving, especially with more women in leadership positions.

When I started in this industry over 25 years ago, we didn’t have “mentors,” but people we could trust and talk to. Still, I had a few women I admired and could talk to and learn everything I could about their careers. Becky Blalock (former VP and CIO at Southern Company), author of DARE, was one of the first female leaders in the utility industry who really spoke to me, literally and figuratively. Her book is still one of my favorites when I need a reminder of what I can do in this industry and beyond.

There are other women who have been role models for me, like the late UTC CEO Connie Durcsak, whose vision and passion for the telecommunications industry have had a profound impact on my life and career. Others, like Tami Barron at Georgia Power, Jill Anderson at Southern California Edison, Kim Kerr at UScellular for Business, and Jennie Bratten at Ericsson, have encouraged and inspired me every day to continue working in the industry I love so much. I hope I can be a role model for other women who need to know that regardless of their background or career path, the utility industry needs passionate and compassionate leaders to lead the industry into the future. After all, this business is personal to everyone on the planet.

The role of UBBA in the industry

As the Executive Director of UBBA, I work with utility and solution providers across the country to promote education on private broadband deployment in critical infrastructure industries, including utilities. The whole idea of ​​UBBA started about five years ago with just a few key members in a room, and I’m amazed at how quickly we’ve grown. We were founded in 2021 and now have over 35 utilities in our membership of over 100 organizations!

At UBBA, we believe that private broadband is a key enabler for utilities to drive a more secure, resilient, and future-proof grid. From connecting advanced metering infrastructure to coordinating distributed energy resources (DERs) and accelerating disaster recovery, rapid communication is essential to addressing the challenges utilities will face in 2024 and preparing them for what lies ahead. Through our ongoing industry education, we provide utilities with resources and opportunities to learn more and share best practices for deploying private broadband networks, as well as collaboration opportunities that enable them to learn from peers who are at different stages of that journey.

What are we working on?

We recently filed public comments in support of a Rulemaking Petition asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide an option to enable the deployment of 5/5 megahertz broadband networks in the 900 MHz band. Previously, the FCC decided to realign the 900 MHz band and create a 3/3 MHz broadband segment, a groundbreaking move that created a significant opportunity for utilities to design, deploy, and operate private broadband networks. We believe that providing an option for 5/5 MHz broadband operations in the 900 MHz band will promote the continued evolution of the broadband ecosystem to support services that are critical to society and the economy.

Another initiative we are extremely excited about is our annual UBBA Summit & Plugfest, which we will host in November in Kansas City. Last year, we had a record attendance of over 500 utility and telecommunications technology leaders, and we expect to exceed that number in 2024. This is a great opportunity for utilities to learn from their peers and discuss a wide range of issues related to private broadband deployment.

New trends

Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI), and for good reason. The potential use cases for AI in the utilities industry are incredibly exciting for our members, who are working to better understand these use cases and educate the industry on the role that private broadband plays in helping to realize them. At the same time, the impact of AI on the grid is significant, as the power demand for AI—and AI data centers in particular—far outweighs the infrastructure that is currently available. As demand for AI increases, we anticipate that the stress on the grid will increase, as has been widely reported, reinforcing the need for additional grid modernization.

Challenges Ahead of Us

It’s no secret that the grid needs significant upgrades to support the fast-paced innovations that are shaping our industry, such as electric vehicles. As these technologies proliferate, many have expressed concerns about the grid’s ability to handle changing energy demands. Modernizing and improving grid resiliency is a top priority for many utilities, and high-speed communications is a key part of the grid modernization journey.

Another challenge is the ever-present need for more rigorous cybersecurity. Whether it’s ransomware, data breaches, or Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, threat actors see the network as a particularly vulnerable target, and it’s critical that utilities do everything they can to protect themselves and their customers. One of the key benefits of private broadband is that it’s private—only the utility has access to the infrastructure that supports the network, so cybersecurity is built into the value proposition. This is a key part of our industry education and a priority for many of our members.

Why I love what I do

The phrase “servant leadership” reflects my core values. I love that my job gives me so many opportunities to support others while leading organizations in critical industries. My own values ​​and work ethic mirror the core values ​​of the utility industry, which is to provide safe, secure, and reliable electric, water, and gas services to the communities they serve. Day or night, storm or clear sky, utilities are here to deliver. That’s what I love about my job: often in the background, and sometimes on stage, delivering the things most people take for granted.