Jeff Schumacher

Jeff Schumacher serves as PowerGrid Communication’s Executive Vice President Operations, Chief Operations Officer and is responsible for consulting services dealing with network design, network deployments, backoffice support and financial modeling. Jeff has considerable experience in developing the Smart Grid network, wireless and fiber networks, and expertise in large scale call center and network operations center management. Jeff comes to PowerGrid from IDACOMM, IDACORP’s Utility CLEC, where he was the EVP of Operations and BPL Launch. He has deployed and integrated multiple BPL network sites including the original CenterPoint Energy, Entergy, IDACORP and Austin Energy. He also works closely with utility customers and retail users. Jeff has led design, buildout and commissioning of hybrid Smart Grid networks using fiber, BPL and wireless access from several different vendors such as Ambient, Amperion, Corinex and Mitsubishi. He has also developed an industry leading Network Management System which can manage the specific Smart Grid network characteristics from a single web enabled portal. Jeff also has developed a unique PowerGrid approach, by working closely with the utilities, FCC and ARRL to identify RF interference and ensure the Smart Grid networks are fully compliant.

He was responsible for developing the utility and consumer applications as demonstrated in the Austin Energy UTC Showcase home. BPL Today said “PowerGrid’s smart grid demo in Austin shows BPL’s real value. (It) may be the widest collection of application(s) anywhere”. The demonstration included working AMI for electric, water and gas meters, alternative energy, Demand Side Management, smart thermostats, home security, surveillance, VoIP, Broadband kiosks, street light controls and even a line sag indicator application.

In addition, Jeff managed IDACOMM’s national ISP for 30,000 users, 3000 VoIP business customers, various carrier class fiber accounts and 4 wireless network infrastructures including its provisioning and back office support organizations. Jeff also integrated various local BPL networks with full content services like internet access, voice, video and AMR.

Before joining IDACOMM, Jeff was the Vice President of Client Services and Testing at Qwest, where he led the integration of information technology through seven mergers and acquisitions. In his role as CIO and Vice President of World-Wide Network Applications, he was responsible for the deployment and management of Qwest’s global fiber, ATM and DSL network monitoring and trouble management applications. He managed more than 1000 employees supporting Qwest’s entire desktop infrastructure. Schumacher brings to PowerGrid his experience in developing and deploying Qwest’s first network monitoring system (NMS) which provided a complete view into Qwest’s fiber and broadband services. Prior to his tenure at Qwest, Jeff managed the deployment of key systems at General Electric.

Jeff has a degree in electrical engineering with a minor in power engineering from Lehigh University. He is also a graduate of General Electric’s manufacturing management program and has attended numerous leadership courses at General Electric. Jeff is a member of IEEE, and has been a licensed Ham Radio Operator.