“Virtual power plant” might be trending—but Eversource’s Tilak Subrahmanian says it misses the mark.

In this RE+ Northeast PowerUp Live stage interview, Nico sits down with Tilak for a refreshingly candid utility perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs) are being integrated, managed, and monetized at scale. Spoiler: it's not just about demand response anymore.

“At the end of the day, policy defines the problem—and we design to solve it.” – Tilak Subrahmanian

From managing EV charging loads to influencing ISO capacity calculations, Tilak breaks down how Eversource is designing a distributed grid built for policy, performance, and people. If you’ve ever wondered how utilities actually think about DERs, this is the episode for you.

What you’ll learn: 

🔹 How 70,000 residential and 400+ commercial customers help Eversource manage load
🔹 What “edge DOMs” and “grid DOMs” are—and why they matter
🔹 How Eversource partners with OEMs like Renew Home and EV manufacturers
🔹 Why toaster ovens are the secret weapon in small business energy efficiency

This is utility thinking, unfiltered. Tap play and gain a deeper understanding of the real opportunities—and challenges—behind the energy transition.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Tilak Subrahmanian:

• LinkedIn

Check out Eversource:

Website | LinkedIn | X | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

“You don’t need AI to know a toaster that’s on all day costs you money. Just turn it off.” – Tilak Subrahmanian