Affinity Group: Women in Demand Management

Women in Demand Management

Women in Demand Management

The Women in Demand Management Affinity Group promotes female leadership and advocacy in the energy sector by:

  1. Fostering honest and constructive conversations on gender issues;
  2. Providing a forum for networking and professional development; 
  3. Encouraging greater cooperation and communication among men and women to cultivate productive, diverse workplaces.

We strive to acknowledge and address the distinct experiences of all women in the energy industry. 

Group Leadership

Denise Munoz, Commonwealth Edison
Co-Chair
Denise Munoz
Commonwealth Edison
Jessie Mehrhoff, Generac Grid Services
Co-Chair
Jessie Peters
Generac Grid Services
Erica Keating, SCE
Co-Chair
Erica Keating

Southern California Edison


Who Should Participate in Women in Demand Management Group?

In a word, everyone. Women and men working in demand-side management are encouraged to join this group and be part of a dynamic, ongoing conversation. 

  • Gain knowledge and strategies to develop and further your career in DSM, an industry in which we still see few women in leadership positions;
  • Enhance your networks by getting to know women in the field;
  • Increase your understanding of the issues women face in our industry in order to improve your team’s development and synergy;
  • Enhance your recruiting and management approaches; and
  • Learn how to leverage the benefits of greater organizational diversity.

All PLMA member practitioners are welcome to participate in an open, inclusive dialogue that aims to improve ourselves, our organizations, and the energy sector as a whole. 


Upcoming Activities 

Opportunities for Collaboration in the Energy Transition

Thursday, January 19, 2022 | 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm ET/ 9:30 am to 10:30 am PT
Hosted by PLMA's Women in Demand Management Affinity Group
Guest Speaker: Kim Harriman, Senior Vice President of Avangrid
Join us for a "fireside chat" with Kim Harriman, SVP, State Government Affairs and Corporate Communications at Avangrid, a sustainable energy company and PLMA member. Kim's extensive background in the development of energy policy from both a governmental and vendor perspective has provided her with a unique point of view on the ways in which all parties can work together effectively to advance the energy transition. With her deep legal and technical expertise, and her public and private sector work experiences, Kim discuss valuable lessons around career changing, working inside complex technological environments, and her efforts to build effective, collaborative teams. Everyone welcome!

Click Here to Register!

Archived Activities

All About PSCs / PUCs with Patty Durand, Past President, SECC
Presented August 16, 2022 | 12:30 - 1:30 pm ET
Click here to access slides and recording

Bringing Together Different Perspectives to Drive Innovation
Presented June 2, 2022 | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm ET
Click here to access slides and recording

Holiday Happy Hour Celebration + Sharing of 2021 Successes

Presented December 9, 2021 | 7:00 to 9:00 pm ET

HOT TOPICS Conversation: A Mentoring Program for All
Presented July 23, 2020 | 12:30 to 1:30 pm EST
Click here to access slides and recording.

Women in Demand Management Interest Group Pre-Conference Meeting
Presented November 4, 2019 40th PLMA Conference in St. Petersburg, FL
See 40th PLMA Resources for presentation links

Women in Demand Management Survey and Group Discussion
with Melissa Knous, Duke Energy, and Lenore Zeuthen, Zeuthen Management Solutions
Presented Wednesday, October 23, 2019 VIEW RECORDING HERE

Women in Demand Management Interest Group Pre-Conference Meeting
Presented May 13, 2019 39th PLMA Conference in Austin, TX
See 39th PLMA Resources for presentation links

Women in Demand Management Interest Group Pre-Conference Meeting
Presented November 12, 2018 38th PLMA Conference in Austin, Tex.
See 38th PLMA Resources for presentation links

Women in DM Group Discussion: DSM Finance
Listen to the Recording: Click Here
Presented November 1, 2018 with Erin Boyd, Apparent; Allison Hamilton, NRECA and Lenore Zeuthen, Zeuthen Management Solutions. Listen to this conversation about DSM finance with economist Erin Boyd, PhD (Senior VP, Apparent; formerly of PG&E) and rate advisor Allison Hamilton, MBA (Senior Principal, NRECA; formerly of Pepco). Hear about challenges and opportunities facing DSM today from the finance perspective. Get the inside scoop on two fascinating careers. Bolster your knowledge and understanding of how the finance side of DSM works.

Women in Demand Management Interest Group Pre-Conference Meeting

Presented April 16, 2018 before the 37th PLMA Conference in Coronado, CA
See 37th PLMA Resources for presentation links

Pre-Conference meeting at the 36th PLMA Conference in Cambridge, Mass. Nov. 13, 2017.
See agenda with presentation links.

Women in DM & Thermostat Joint Discussion: Integrated DSM
Listen to the Recording: Click Here
Presented October 26, 2017 with Jon Hilowitz, Orange & Rockland Utilities, and Tom Hines, Arizona Public Service; Moderated by Olivia Patterson, Opinion Dynamics, and Erika Diamond, EnergyHub. Join this one-hour interest group discussion and learn about new programs utilities are designing that integrate Energy Efficiency and Demand Response. Integrated Demand Side Management (IDSM) has been a buzz word in the industry for the last decade, but now programs and portfolios are executing to the vision.

Women in DM Business Lunch and Member Meetup, April 3, 2017
Presentations at www.peakload.org/35thresources

Women in DM 2017 Strategy Meeting
Thursday December 8, 2016, 12:30 - 1:30 EST
Join the Women in Demand Management in mapping out our activities and mission for 2017! We want your help in brainstorming the type of content and direction that most benefits you from the group. We'll discuss the suggestions we received through our 2016 survey and Fall Conference feedback, revisit our mission statement, and map out 2017 activities. This is also a great opportunity to get more involved in the group! Click Here to Register and View the Recording.

Interest Group Meet-Up
Adjacent to the 34th PLMA Conference

November 7, 2016, Delray Beach, Florida
Registration for this event has closed

Women in DM Update: The Business Case for Distributed Energy Resources
Thursday, October 20, 2016, 12:30 - 1:30 pm EST
Learn more and Register for the recording: CLICK HERE

Women in DR Update: Understanding the Storage and Demand Response Relationship
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Learn more and Register for the recording: CLICK HERE

Interest Group Meet-Up
Adjacent to the 17th PLMA Spring Conference

April 17, 2016, San Francisco, California
Registration for this event has closed.

Women in DR Quarterly Update: The Energy/Water Nexus with Agricultural Demand Response
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Learn more and Register to view the recording CLICK HERE

Interest Group Meet-Up
Adjacent to the 16th PLMA Fall Conference

November 3, 2015, 4:30-5:30pm, Charlotte, North Carolina
Registration for this event has closed.

Women in DR Quarterly Update: International Demand Response
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Learn more and Register to view the recording CLICK HERE

Interest Group Meet-Up
April 27, 2015, 4:30-5:30pm, Tucson, Arizona
Registration for this event has closed

Quarterly Update: Winter Demand Response
April 13, 2015
Register to view the recording at CLICK HERE

Quarterly Update: Innovations
December 9, 2014
Register to view the recording at CLICK HERE

Founding Group Discussion
September 9, 2014
Register to view the recording at CLICK HERE.


PLMA Affinity Group membership is restricted to PLMA member practitioners, but any organization is welcome to join PLMA. To add your name to this list and receive Group Communications, email [email protected].