One of the most ambitious transmission projects in America today is CAPX2020, a series of lines in Minnesota and surrounding states. In this first of two exclusive interviews, Fortnightly's Spark talks with Will Kaul, Great River Energy’s v.p. of transmission, about how the project managed to succeed where others have failed.

Requests for proposals to supply solar power facilities frequently specify prices to be stated in only one way—dollars per watt DC, or dollars per kilowatt-hour, for example. But a one-dimensional approach to pricing leads to skewed valuation, because different technologies and system designs produce value in different ways.

Given the consumer push-back against smart metering, utilities can get ahead of the learning curve and provide both customer service and education through proactive online chat technology. But telephone agents aren’t the same as chat agents, and online chat must be properly implemented to maintain the ‘human element.’