In this live episode of Inevitable from Climate Week NYC, Cody Simms explores the history and future of the electric grid with Ben Eidelson of Stepchange.

Eidelson traces the evolution of the grid from J.P. Morgan and Pearl Street through the AC/DC debate, the rise of utilities, and Samuel Insull’s development of a scalable utility business model. The conversation then connects that history to today’s grid challenges, including transmission constraints, rapidly growing data center loads, batteries, renewable energy, and the need to modernize the infrastructure connecting increasingly digital and DC-based resources to the grid.

Episode recorded on September 22, 2026 (Published on October 16, 2026).

In this episode, we cover:

(0:00) An overview of Stepchange
(3:23) J.P. Morgan and the origins of the U.S. electric grid
(5:55) The AC vs. DC battle and the rise of the modern transmission system
(10:46) Samuel Insull and the utility business model
(13:55) How the grid scaled through consolidation, interconnection, and wartime demand
(19:07) Why transmission is central to connecting resources and load
(20:53) Three ways to create more capacity from the existing grid
(23:14) Data centers and the return of large, concentrated loads
(25:35) The history of batteries and their role in the future grid
(30:44) Why transformers need to evolve for a more digital, DC-based grid
(33:12) Electricity markets, data centers, and new generation
(35:33) The changing economics of coal, gas, wind, solar, and batteries

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

The Future of the Grid: Ben Eidelson Live at Climate Week NYC

Inevitable

The Future of the Grid: Ben Eidelson Live at Climate Week NYC