Chief, Grid Modernization and Security
Kristina Schaefer is Chief, Grid Modernization and Security, a division of the Rates and Analysis Department at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
PUF: Tell us about your job.
Kristina Schaefer: I'm the chief of a new division within our Rates and Analysis Department called Grid Modernization and Security. It was launched about a year ago in conjunction with the PowerForward initiative, which is the PUCO's grid modernization proceeding.
The Chairman and Commissioner Trombold spearheaded the proceeding to formally assess what the PUCO should be doing to advance regulatory and technological innovation to enhance the customer experience.
Since the division is fairly new, I still have a relatively small group, consisting of three full-time staff. We're in the process of hiring another manager now, then hopefully another staff person later this year to assist in the increasing case load and related work.
The initial smart grid deployments in Ohio were spurred by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Most of my current staff, including myself, were here during those initial case filings and associated technology deployments.