Aiden Smith Email & Phone Number

Tulsa, Ok, Us

As ONEOK acquired Magellan Midstream Partners in late 2023, I have transitioned into a newly created role to provide management-level subject matter expertise to the combined enterprise-wide Energy Management program. Furthermore, I was tasked with offering more strategic consulting services to the broader organization focused on the continued evolution of the power industry on subjects including resiliency, optimization, sustainability, electric market and policy changes, and commercial support.

Tulsa, Ok, Us

Supervised the Energy Management program, including all electric utility service for commercial and industrial assets across a 15-state footprint ranging in size from small accounts less than 200 kW to large campus assets of 100 MW and growing, with an increasing annual operating expense of over $400 Million for 5.1 TWh of energy delivered from over 140 different vendors, including suppliers where the company was the largest and most impacting customer. Coached a diverse and growing team of professionals. Built group cohesion while working entirely remotely. Developed and recommended cost-effective rates and service options to leadership for new and existing facilities. Conducted RFPs in de-regulated regions in ERCOT and PJM and states with utility territories. Identified and analyzed options for renewable energy projects and supply. Supported new facility additions by providing project management of electric service infrastructure implementation. Guided operations teams through understanding load and service needs and assisted broader project sponsors with options for service to balance strategic initial capital deployment with future minimum service contract requirements. Provided energy data collection, organization, and analytics. Implemented the first ever contract management system and improved the team’s third-party energy database and bill payment services. Supported operations forecasting, modeling, and optimization tool creation and reporting of energy usage, wholesale market developments, and Scope 2 emissions. Created intentional utility relationship management efforts, including hosting regular meetings with key internal and external leaders to collectively build a cooperative strategy. Administered a Demand Response Program and exploration of energy efficiency opportunities. Participated in the company response to Winter Storm Uri and other service reliability efforts, including hedges and risk mitigation and critical infrastructure registration.

Tulsa, Ok, Us

Interested in learning a new industry, I accepted a position with my transferable regulatory skills at ONEOK, a midstream natural gas company. In my new role I was charged with supporting the Regulatory team with researching and creating whatever information and analysis was necessary to achieve their objectives. I immediately began by participating in ONEOK’s first rate case proceeding in recent history under Section 5 of the Natural Gas Act. During that case, I investigated and recommended a reformation of the fuel retention policy, eliminating significant rate instability. Throughout my tenure, I researched regulatory proceedings of competitors and customers and advised company leaders regarding the status of such proceedings, and I initiated quarterly company-wide Lunch and Learns about regulatory updates. I completed an evaluation of the likelihood of achieving market-based rate authority for a regulated asset and shared the results of this highly detailed analysis with senior leadership. And, as ONEOK works with electric utilities in both capacities as a commercial customer and provider of services, I engaged educational opportunities throughout the company to share about how the power industry works, which led to my transition into a new role at ONEOK.

Washington, Dc, Us

As the Clean Line Plains and Eastern High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line project failed to achieve commercial viability through the efforts of the private party project sponsor, I was assigned to manage the team that I had formerly worked within during my first stint with the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA). The program included power marketing, communications (public affairs), and regulatory/transmission policy. During my tenure, SWPA began regular visits with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioners and their staff. SWPA also began offering Network Integration Transmission Service through a new rate design that reflected prevailing transmission policy within the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) footprint. Worked with customers in MISO to achieve accreditation for SWPA’s hydroelectric generation product as capacity resources for the purposes of resource adequacy. Lastly, initiated a steering committee for driving strategic direction associated with transmission policy within the agency.

Washington, Dc, Us

Returned to the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) to support the agency’s efforts associated with the development of the Clean Line Plains and Eastern (Clean Line) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line project under Section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Clean Line HVDC transmission line project was proposed to be 720 miles long from the panhandle of western Oklahoma through Arkansas and into western Tennessee to move 4,000 MW of wind power from the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) into the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Coordinated the technical review of the project, and prepared a white paper for the Office of the Secretary with a recommendation concerning the viability of the project. Participated in the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and managed the team providing oversight while the project was under development.

Columbus, Oh, Us

Ensured that the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) largest and most complex retail industrial and commercial customers experienced high quality service as a representative of PSO’s elite engineering customer account management team. Aligned customer needs with functions at PSO to complete business growth projects for a midstream oil company and service reliability improvements for a hospital, municipal government, and industrial park. Participated in a small team to develop a solar PV project for a large academic institution. Represented PSO at community events involving the chambers of commerce and legislators in the utility’s territory. Obtained the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification through the Association of Energy Engineers and supported energy efficiency and demand response efforts with customers through PSO’s programs.

Washington, Dc, Us

After interning with this agency while obtaining my undergraduate degree, transitioned to a full-time employee performing mission-based work as a civil servant for the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), including efforts directly involving electric power marketing, project management, customer service, and energy and transmission policy. Negotiated, developed, managed, and administrated contracts for large wholesale power purchases to long-term customers from a networked system of hydroelectric power plants, addressing capacity and energy sales and transmission service arrangements. This also involved interconnection and facilities construction and fiber optic communications exchanges. Analyzed and recommended agency actions and implemented responses to energy policy and regulatory developments and requirements associated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP), and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). During my time at SWPA, was promoted from an Engineer to a Public Utilities Specialist, progressing to the highest grade possible for my position.