Summer 2025 BetterGrids Newsletter

Summer 2025 Highlights

Message from our President:  Dr. Ali Vojdani, BetterGrids Foundation

As we navigate a rapidly changing energy landscape to support electrification and AI, one thing remains clear: data is the foundation of tomorrow’s grid. At BetterGrids, we are committed to ensuring that data is not only available but trustworthy, organized, and accessible to all who need it — from researchers and students to utilities and innovators.

This year, we have made significant strides — including achieving full operational independence of BetterGrids.org, welcoming new board members, and deepening our technical focus through the continued work of our Repository Curator, Webinars, and Technical Committee. Each effort reflects our long-term mission: to build an open platform that enables better grids for all.

Thank you to our board members, volunteers, and donors for helping us move this vision forward. I invite you to stay engaged and help shape what’s next.

Welcome to our Newest Members of the BetterGrids Board of Directors

The BetterGrids Foundation is proud to welcome Bahman Hoveida to its Board of Directors. A distinguished electrical engineer and entrepreneur, Mr. Hoveida brings a lifetime of experience, technical innovation, and deep philanthropic values that align seamlessly with the Foundation’s mission.

Mr. Hoveida’s addition to the BetterGrids Board marks an exciting chapter for the Foundation. His presence brings not only technical insight and strategic vision, but also a track record of generosity—HFF has long been a philanthropic supporter of the BetterGrids mission. His belief in open access, data-driven research, and collaborative innovation reflects the very values at the heart of the GRID DATA Repository.

We are honored to have Mr. Hoveida join the Board and are excited to build on his legacy of impact and excellence.

Technical Committee Update: Elevating the Grid Through Data, Dialogue, and Independence

As utilities, researchers, and policymakers navigate rapid technological shifts, the BetterGrids Technical Committee continues to serve as a vital clearinghouse for ideas, priorities, and collaboration. Meeting regularly throughout the spring and into early summer, the committee’s discussions reflect a shared commitment to transforming the repository into a deeper, broader, and more usable public asset — one that supports next-generation grid modeling, planning, and innovation.

While BetterGrids continues to host timely educational webinars, the Technical Committee remains focused on the substance behind the scenes: data gaps, model curation, platform independence, and emerging use cases that demand interdisciplinary attention.

Unique Models from 2025!

Inside the newsletter you will find some interesting models from NREL and Ausgrid.

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