About

John Nowostawski, P.Eng., EMBA

Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree focused on Innovation Leadership, John partners with electric utility leadership to realize the benefits of operational technology investments.

He is interested in solving today's electric grid DER challenges and is excited to work in grid orchestration involving ADMS and DERMS. He draws on more than 20 years of direct experience in the electric utility, electric manufacturing & services, and management consulting industries, including 5 years of leadership experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge from Canadian and US clients. John makes working with him easy, from representing clients to holding a US E-1 Treaty Trader visa to facilitate stress-free onboarding.

As an experienced electrical industry professional with a depth of experience in distribution feeder automation systems and operations, he has additional breadth in leading cross-functional teams in innovation, service, business development, utility operations, and electric distribution equipment.

Skills and Focus Areas

Distribution automation
Microgeneration & DER grid integration
Corporate entrepreneurship & innovation
Go-to-market service development
Operational technology

Program management
(Remote) Cross-functional team management
Real-time grid operations
Strategy & roadmap development
Grid modernization

Program architect & SME on Business Use Case & Requirement Definition to Implement Systems for Entergy

I evaluated options to bring operational systems to production readiness by supporting 500+ generation sites across five geographic areas. The work included cross-functional workshops and requirements definition. The program was “bid to bill,” offering systems enabling monitoring and control, ISO market participation (DRR Type I, LMR), billing, and support functions. Additional efforts included an on-prem versus cloud-based solution break-even analysis and a DERMS vendor solution review considering solution functions, implementation types, and level of automation.

Discovery Lead, Data Access Portal for NYSERDA

I interviewed DER, ESE (Energy Service Entities), and government industry leaders to inform SaaS software development for a customer-access data platform, moving through a process of discovery, problem definition, ideation, and prototyping.

Backend Data SME for Data Access Portal for NH PUC

Working on behalf of the PUC, I established the framework and assessment artifacts to evaluate 3 utility backend architectures to supply data to a common data access portal. Additionally, I rewrote the RFP document for the PUC to solicit the market for an entity to design and develop the data access portal itself.

Led Distribution Feeder Automation Integration for BC Hydro with a 1MWh Sodium-Sulphur Battery Installation

Performed planning, design, settings development, and implementation of on-site automation scheme to facilitate a break-before-make auto-transfer scheme between utility source and battery for a town at the end of a long radial feeder. Included three automated protective devices, battery control, and a 900 MHz wireless telecom system in topographically difficult terrain.

Led Day-To-Day Installation, Operation, & Maintenance of 300+ Distribution Feeder Automation Controls & 400+ Wireless Radios for EPCOR

Involved in distribution feeder selection, device location planning, control settings development, deployment, commissioning, SCADA integration, commissioning, training, and system operation maintenance.

Distribution Feeder Automation Integration for a Canadian Forces Installation with Generator Backup

Facilitated implementation of a generator backup control scheme integrated with a feeder automation system to enable utility source generator power transfers. It included fiber communication between three protective devices and a custom generator interface.

Led the implementation of a distribution feeder automation pilot project for Hydro Quebec

Worked closely with utility and internal resources and deployed 13 protective devices with 15 radios in challenging terrain. Included control settings development, DNP point mapping, training, and integrating protection study parameters.

Integrated New Distribution Feeder Protection Devices & Wireless Radio Telecom for ENMAX

After beta testing with a radio manufacturer, led field radio conversion to the new radio, including planning, settings development, and testing. Introduced a new distribution protection device for the electric grid to engineers, SCADA control operators, and field staff.

Developed Strategic Planning Documents for ENMAX

With assistance from stakeholders, I completed a report assessing the need for supporting telecom technologies. I compiled a lessons-learned report with information from North American utilities to inform an AMI pilot project team, including interviews, literature reviews, and vendor discussions.

Oversaw Project Development to Integrate 800kW of Solar PV Generation Into a Secondary Network for BC Hydro

Facilitated the relationship for successful agreement between a utility, solar site host, and two government funding partners.