Intern Helps Automate PCE Reporting for Rural Utilities

ACEP’s Utility Student Internship is again partnering with 60Hertz Energy this summer.

Intern Jack Rodman is working with ACEP and 60Hertz to automate and optimize the Alaska Energy Authority’s Power Cost Equalization program reporting process to help maximize this support for rural utilities.

The PCE program provides economic assistance to communities and residents of rural electric utilities where the cost of electricity can be three to five times higher than for customers in more urban areas of the state.

Rodman is working closely with Piper Wilder from 60Hertz and ACEP’s Erin Whitney, Michelle Wilber and Chris Pike on developing a software tool that will be integrated into the 60Hertz remote utility maintenance management platform. The tool simplifies data input for the user and will emulate a user experience similar to filing taxes with online tools like TurboTax.

60Hertz is a venture-backed startup company based in Anchorage, Alaska, and is an alumni of the business accelerator Launch Alaska.

Rodman resides in Indiana and will be graduating from Purdue University with a degree in computer engineering in December. In addition to his highly technical main academic focus, he will graduate with minors in global engineering studies and natural resources/environmental science.

“I am interested in rural development projects and am excited to have the chance to work with ACEP this summer,” Rodman says.

Rodman's internship is funded through the ARCTIC Program, an initiative of the Office of Naval Research. For more information on the ACEP Utility Student Internship program, visit http://ausi.alaska.edu or contact Heike Merkel.

 

Intern Jack Rodman and an ACEP team is working with 60Hertz this summer.  Photo courtesy of Jack Rodman.