Benjamin G.S. Fowke III is a leader in the electric utility industry, and is widely recognized for his ability to innovate and push the boundaries of the industry. Fowke has sparked a revolution that seeks to drastically improve the way electric utilities operate, while at the same time advocating for more sustainable and efficient use of energy.
Fowke began his career as an auditor for energy companies and then worked his way up to a variety of executive positions in energy companies and electric cooperatives. Since then, Fowke has devoted himself to introducing changes and improvements in the electric power industry. Specifically, Fowke has been a significant leader in the transformation of the electric grid into a more efficient, reliable, and secure system that enables more affordable energy consumption.
Fowke has had an impressive portfolio of managerships, including serving as CEO of Duke Energy, the largest investor-owned electric utility in the United States. During his tenure, Duke Energy moved from being the largest producer of electricity from coal in the U.S. to the largest producer of clean energy, with the largest launch of solar power in the country. Under Fowke’s leadership, Duke Energy also increased its focus on sustainability, pursuing energy efficiency and energy storage initiatives, as well as investing in natural gas for power generation. Fowke is also the chairman of the Edison Electric Institute, the business group of the electric power industry.
In his recent roles, Fowke has heavily emphasized renewable energy sources and working to ensure electric utilities have more cost-effective strategies for achieving their goals. He has advocated for electric utilities to adopt alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind, and has emphasized the importance of investing in technologies that make it easier to manage, control and use electricity in an efficient way. He believes that electric utilities should embrace innovation and adopt technologies that will help them become more efficient, reliable and secure.
Fowke has pushed the industry towards ‘smart grid’ solutions that leverage innovative technology, such as digital meters, smart appliances, energy storage systems, and energy monitoring systems, that help optimize the electric grid and make it more cost-effective and reliable. He has also emphasized the need for utilities to explore new business and operating models, such as developing microgrids for improved reliability and resiliency and using energy storage systems to reduce consumption and costs.
Fowke has also been at the forefront of building relationships between electric utilities and their customers. He has encouraged collaborations between the industry and customers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to build more trust and relationships, and to create a better understanding of how to interact with customers and make more informed decisions. His efforts have helped increase customer engagement in electric utilities, as well as improving customer service and satisfaction.
Fowke’s commitment to innovation in the electric power industry has been instrumental in helping to drive the transformation of the electric grid to a more efficient and secure system. He has been an important leader in advocating for more efficient use of energy and in pushing the envelope in terms of new technology that improves the way electricity is produced and used. With his experience and dedication to the industry, Fowke will continue to lead the electric utility industry towards a brighter future.
