Data, Transparency, and the Future of Power with Deirdre Lord

Electricity markets are more volatile than they have been in decades, and most customers are still being asked to make billion-dollar decisions by looking in the rearview mirror. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan are joined by Deirdre Lord, co-founder of The Megawatt Hour (https://home.themwh.com/) and a longtime leader in energy analytics and market transparency. Together, they unpack why today's energy markets are behaving so wildly, from AI-driven demand growth and electrification to aging infrastructure, weather extremes, and the uneven pace of the energy transition. Deirdre explains why data and forecasting, not intuition or market hype, are now essential tools for commercial, industrial, and institutional energy users. She shares how better access to utility data can empower customers to manage risk, plan long term, and make smarter decisions about renewables, storage, and load management. The conversation also explores reliability myths, the limits of fossil fuel "certainty," the rise of winter peaking, and why transparency may be one of the most powerful and underestimated forces shaping the future of the grid. If you have ever wondered why your energy costs feel unpredictable, what is really driving market volatility, or how data can turn confusion into strategy, this episode is for you.