Energy & Electricity Expert - PE

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

I am an expert in the systems that balance electricity demand and supply. Many systems have been created that maintain this balance over time and mitigate the cost to energy users. There are economic systems, for example, energy markets, which generate prices that indicate the value of changing the electricity flow at a particular place and time. There are regulatory systems that enforce standards on owners and operators of energy infrastructure. There are mechanical systems at power plants that keep coal flowing into the furnaces at the precise amount needed. There are forecasting systems that allow industry stakeholders to plan for the future. There are business processes that allow every kind of enterprise to interface with the grid. All these systems work in concert to keep the electrical grid energized and the electricity flowing. Contact me if your issue intersects with any of these energy systems. My expertise comes from over 10 years of work experience in the energy industry and formal training in engineering, analytics, and software. As Director, Asset Management at Ormat I manage the revenue streams for a portfolio of grid-scale energy storage systems and teach others how to effectively solve issues related to the electrical grid. Previously, as Senior Day Ahead Analyst at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, I worked with a team to manage the energy market operations of the nation’s largest utility. At AVEVA and Schneider Electric I created operator training simulators, which are like flight simulators for the operators at the nation’s largest power plants. I have experience managing disputes with utilities and community choice aggregators, which involves reading Tolling Agreements and Power Purchase Agreements, reviewing Decisions by the California Public Utilities Commission, Utility Advice Letters, ISO Tariffs, Federal Energy Regulatory Committee Orders, and Utility Tariffs in support of business objectives. My experience managing both the day-to-day energy market operations for a fleet of over 300 generating assets at PG&E and managing the lifecycle of grid scale battery storage systems gives me the expertise to consult in cases of Lost Earnings and Economic Damages for energy companies. I have direct experience with the CAISO, ERCOT, PJM, and ISO-NE energy markets. I am a Professional Engineer (PE) with my license in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal and Fluid Systems. -Matthew Hawkins, PE