The work
For three years I led media for OhmConnect, a residential energy company, and then for Renew Home. I set out to make OhmConnect a regular voice in the national debate about a clean grid, and to turn that attention into sign-ups.
I worked several angles at once: company milestones, commentary from executives, real customers and partnerships. With Kristen Bell, OhmConnect gave away one million smart thermostats and plugs as California faced rolling blackouts. Later announcements included a grid-responsive air conditioner with LG and a SunPower pilot under a California Energy Commission program.
In 2024 OhmConnect combined with Google’s Nest Renew to form Renew Home, the largest residential virtual power plant in the United States, and I handled that announcement.
Coverage
9 stories · 39 placements
Paying people to cut their power useOhmConnect · Jan – Oct 2022 +1 more4 outlets
All 4 outlets, with links
Keeping California’s grid up in 2021OhmConnect · Jan – Sep 2021 +4 more7 outlets
All 7 outlets, with links
- The New York Times Let Your Fridge Go Off for an Hour to Save Our Power Grids
- Bloomberg California’s Extreme Heat Returns as Fire Threatens Power Lines
- The Economist Can American utilities avoid summer blackouts?
- POLITICO Californians tired of doing their part during triple-digit heat
- Los Angeles Times California is scrambling to avoid blackouts. Your refrigerator could help
- Axios Worsening Western drought forces states to shore up power grids
- Newsweek Electricity Use Did Not Drop Last Time Californians Were Asked to Voluntarily Cut Back
The $100 million Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners investmentOhmConnect · Dec 2020 +2 more5 outlets
All 5 outlets, with links
- CNBC Alphabet-backed Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners invests in start-up paying customers to cut energy use
- Fortune A $100 million ‘virtual power plant’ could put an end to California’s power woes
- TechCrunch Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners looks to make CA power grids more reliable with a $100 million investment
- Fast Company This energy company makes a ‘virtual power plant’ by using smart devices to shrink demand A $100 million investment will fund the largest ‘virtual powerplant’ in the U.S.
- Bloomberg Law Thousands of California Homes Envisioned as Virtual Power Plant
4 more stories
Saving energy at homeOhmConnect · Oct 2020The San Diego Union-TribuneReal Simple +5 more7 outlets
All 7 outlets, with links
- The San Diego Union-Tribune Column: San Diegan wins $25,000 for saving electricity
- Real Simple 6 Low-Cost Ways to Make Your Home Cooler—and Save on Your Electric Bill How to Keep Your Utility Bills Down During Quarantine
- Yahoo Lifestyle Save money on your energy bill with these 7 easy tips
- KTLA 5 Money Mondays & your monthly bills with Consumer Savings and Money Expert Andrea Woroch
- U.S. News & World Report Ways to Save $5,000 This Year
- SFGate Easy ways to be more sustainable in the Bay Area in 2020
- NBC Los Angeles Your A/C is Working Overtime. Here are Some Energy and Money Saving Tips
California’s 2020 heat wave and blackoutsOhmConnect · Jul – Aug 2020 +1 more4 outlets
All 4 outlets, with links
- Associated Press California tests off-the-grid solutions to power outages
- NPR Climate Change Lesson From California’s Blackouts: Prepare For Extremes
- Forbes Mammoth Heat Wave Lasting “Weeks” Will Cause Painful Spike In Utility Bills For Poor Americans
- VICE Smart Thermostats Are Turning Down Air Conditioners During Heatwave
Smart thermostats for Oakland and San Jose homesOhmConnectSan Francisco ChronicleKQED2 outlets
All 2 outlets, with links
Press releases
3 press releases
Google’s Nest Renew and OhmConnect Combine to Form Renew Home, the Nation’s Largest Residential Virtual Power PlantRenew Home / OhmConnect · May 2024PR NewswireReadPress release
OhmConnect Announces Success of Pilot Program with SunPower Under California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support ProgramRenew Home / OhmConnect · Dec 2023PR NewswireReadPress release
OhmConnect Collaborates with LG on Grid-Responsive Room Air ConditionersRenew Home / OhmConnect · Sep 2023PR NewswireReadPress release