About
As wildfire seasons grow longer and more severe, utilities are under increasing pressure to provide safe, reliable, and scalable backup power solutions for their customers. This webinar, hosted by PG&E and TESCO Metering, will explore the challenges electric utilities face in enabling customer-owned generators while maintaining grid safety and compliance. We’ll begin by examining the limitations of traditional solutions—such as manual transfer switches and extension cords—which are costly, inconvenient, and often hazardous. We’ll also discuss the regulatory mandates from agencies like the CPUC that are pushing utilities to adopt smarter, safer technologies for backup power access.

The session will introduce the Backup Power Transfer Meter (BPTM), a utility-installed and managed solution that safely and automatically switches between grid and generator power. Developed in partnership between TESCO and PG&E, the BPTM eliminates the risks of backfeeding, overloads, and manual errors while enhancing reliability for medically vulnerable and wildfire-prone communities. The presenters will explain the BPTM’s technical capabilities, installation process, and compliance advantages, with real-world data from PG&E’s rollout of over 11,000 units across Northern California. A special focus will be placed on how the BPTM integrates with distributed energy resources (DERs), battery systems, and bidirectional EV charging to support the future of grid resilience.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how this proven solution can be deployed at scale and customized for diverse utility environments.The webinar will outline opportunities to align BPTM deployment with regulatory incentives, equity programs, and grid modernization efforts. Whether you're an engineering lead, utility executive, or regulatory strategist, this session will provide a clear blueprint for safely expanding backup power access while reducing liability, enhancing customer satisfaction, and preparing for a decentralized energy future.
When
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 · 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (US & Canada) (GMT -4:00)
Agenda
  • The Need: With increasing preemptive shutdowns due to wildfires and extreme weather, utilities face mounting pressure to offer safe, automatic backup power options. Manual transfer switches are costly, and extension cords are unsafe and noncompliant.
  • The Solution: TESCO’s Backup Power Transfer Meter (BPTM) – a utility-installed, utility-managed device that safely and automatically switches between grid and generator power.
  • PG&E’s Deployment: Over 11,000 BPTMs installed since 2021, with proven safety benefits and strong customer satisfaction. Future expansion supports California’s resiliency mandates
  • Use Cases & Equity: Targeting wildfire zones, medically vulnerable populations, and disadvantaged communities. Integrates with battery storage, solar, and EV-based power.
  • Scalability: Positioned as a national model for utilities seeking to modernize outage resilience, reduce liability, and enhance grid reliability.
Presenters
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Alan Jones
Senior Manager of Meter Engineering Programs and Technology; Pacific Gas & Electric
Alan Jones is Senior Manager of Meter Engineering Programs and Technology at Pacific Gas & Electric, where he leads strategic initiatives to optimize PG&E’s Smart Meter Network and advance Connected Cities programs. With over a decade at PG&E, Alan plays a critical role in integrating next-generation smart grid technologies across Northern California, serving more than 10 million customers. He collaborates with wireless providers, systems integrators, and smart meter innovators to deliver scalable broadband, advanced metering infrastructure, and intelligent lighting systems. With prior leadership roles at SanDisk, Deloitte, and Archstone Consulting, Alan brings deep expertise in energy systems, IT strategy, and customer-driven technology solutions. He holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a BSEE from Northeastern University.
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Tom Lawton
President & CEO; TESCO Metering
Tom Lawton is the President & CEO of TESCO – The Eastern Specialty Company, and a recognized leader in the electric metering industry. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Tom founded TESCO in 1984 and has been deeply involved in electric metering ever since. Under his leadership, TESCO has grown into one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of metering and grid technology solutions. Through strategic acquisitions—including Knopp, Inc., Mesurina Ltd., Power Measurements, Inc., and Nighthawk—TESCO now traces its metering heritage back to 1904.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom accelerated reshoring efforts to strengthen U.S.-based manufacturing, reduce foreign dependency, and enhance supply chain resilience. TESCO’s growth and innovation earned it a place on the Philly 100 list of fastest-growing private companies. The company is now at the forefront of electric metering, AMI technologies, and the electric vehicle charging industry. TESCO is also a pilot member of NEMA’s Make It in America (MiA) initiative, reinforcing its commitment to domestic manufacturing and supply chain integrity.
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Aaron Larson
Executive Editor, POWER magazine
Aaron Larson joined the POWER team in September 2013 as an associate editor and was named executive editor in 2017. Aaron has a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering technology and a master’s degree, specializing in finance. He spent 13 years in the U.S. Navy nuclear power program, advancing to Chief Petty Officer. He has worked at commercial nuclear, biomass, and coal-fired power plants, functioning in operations, maintenance, safety, financial, and management capacities. Aaron holds a Chief A Engineer boiler operator license in the state of Minnesota.
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