Marc Gerken, PE
Interim President & CEO
Hometown Connections, Inc.
The Hometown Connections, Inc. (HCI) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Marc Gerken as interim president and chief executive officer. Gerken will fill the seat vacated by Tim Blodgett who, after 23 years with HCI, announced he would be leaving at the end of the year.
Read More about Former AMP Executive Marc Gerken Appointed Interim HCI President & CEO »
A visionary leader of public power technology management, Branndon Kelley of American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) has joined the Board of Directors of Hometown Connections, Inc. AMP is one of six joint action agencies that co-own Hometown Connections. Mr. Kelley is AMP’s Senior Vice President of Technology & Chief Information Officer and AMP’s representative on the Hometown Board.
Hometown Connections, Inc. has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of an additional advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solution and/or meter data management system (MDMS) to add to our suite of products and services and provide expanded options to public power utilities. Hometown envisions that a community-owned utility or joint action agency may choose either our existing turnkey managed AMI solution or a new managed solution resulting from this RFP.
Read More about Hometown Connections Soliciting AMI Managed Solution Proposals »
How to Avoid Common Hurdles When Deploying Advanced Metering SystemThe advantages of AMI are many. Advanced metering infrastructure helps utilities manage outages, service calls, distribution system maintenance, and other key operations much more efficiently. AMI enables utilities to connect and disconnect meters remotely. It helps utilities offer customers innovative new services such as mobile apps for accessing current account information and service status maps. AMI gives everyone information and the flexibility to decrease their energy usage during peak hours and reduce costs. More broadly, if AMI is used wisely, it can be the two-way communications backbone for most utility functions and the enabler of an unlimited number of smart grid and smart city applications. Read More about When AMI Goes Wrong »
The Village of Carey Ohio’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project kicked off on Jan. 15, with American Municipal Power Inc. (AMP) and Hometown Connections Inc. (HCI) personnel visiting the village offices to cover the scope and timeline of the project. As reported by AMP’s Jared Price, Vice President of IT and Chief Technology Officer, the project will install a new RF Mesh system and replace 1,926 electric meters and 1,438 water meters throughout the village. Installation should begin near mid-year and be completed by the end of 2019. Read More about Carey Kicks Off AMI Project »
A highly recognized smart grid sales executive with demonstrated leadership success in the utilities market, Al Weber has joined the staff of Hometown Connections as Vice President, Business Development. He has a long and acclaimed track record of managing complex system and software partnerships, product development, market development, account closings, contract negotiations, and project delivery. Read More about Al Weber Brings Public Power Smart Grid Sales Expertise to Staff of Hometown Connections »
Hometown Connections Prepares for Next Phase of Service to Public Power, By Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections, Inc.
Celebrating 20 years of service to public power, Hometown Connections has in place a new ownership structure providing the resources to expand into managed technology solutions and other new services. Hometown Connections is poised to help public power utilities tackle their most pressing technology, workforce, and management challenges far into the future. Back in 1998, the American Public Power Association created a subsidiary—Hometown Connections International LLC—to negotiate with industry vendors as a group and prepare community-owned utilities for retail customer competition. The retail market did not evolve as expected, but Hometown Connections continued to work with leading industry vendors to create pricing and programs designed to improve the performance of public power utilities. Along the way, Hometown developed an expanding set of utility management strategic planning and organizational consulting services delivered by staff members and industry partners. Read More about Twenty Years and Counting »
Select Managed Service Strategy by Hometown Connections. Advanced metering offers critical improvements to utility operations and customer service. Yet due to costs and complexity, deploying AMI remains out of reach for too many public power systems. If you fear AMI is not an option, Hometown Connections has the answer. The Hometown Connections approach to AMI for public power is a “Meter to Data Center” managed service program which reduces management complexity, increases operation efficiency, and lowers long-term cost and risk. Read More about Reduce AMI Deployment Costs, Complexity, Ongoing Financial Risk »
With Interactive, Online Energy Management Tools
With advanced metering in place, Florida’s Lakeland Electric decided to leverage its data collection and management capabilities to help customers engage with the utility in meaningful and productive ways. The utility selected the web-based energy analysis, education, and engagement platform, EMPOWER, from Apogee Interactive to transform its relationship with customers. Read More about Lakeland Electric Is Transforming the Customer Relationship »