The reliable electricity that reaches your home or business begins with proactive planning. As a Portfolio Analyst, Kevin Yarbrough helps plan for the energy future by analyzing forecasts, market trends, and ODEC’s power supply resources to support the delivery of reliable, affordable power for our members. While his work may happen behind the scenes, its results are felt at the end of the line by our members across the region.
Describe your role in one sentence.
As a Portfolio Analyst on ODEC’s Power Supply team, I help ensure our members have access to reliable, affordable energy by analyzing forecasts, market conditions, and the performance of our power supply portfolio.
As a Portfolio Analyst on ODEC’s Power Supply team, you help support power supply planning. For those who may not be familiar, what is involved in planning?
Power supply planning is about making sure ODEC has the right resources in place to meet our members’ energy needs both today and in the future. That involves forecasting energy demand, evaluating generation and market options, assessing risks, and developing strategies that allow us to reliably serve load while managing costs over the long term. By understanding these factors we can develop strategies that maintain reliability while keeping rates as competitive as possible for our member cooperatives.
How closely do you work with our members in helping them power opportunities in their local communities?
While much of my work happens behind the scenes, it directly supports our member cooperatives and the communities they serve. The forecasts and analyses we provide help ensure ODEC is prepared to meet future energy needs, which allows our members to support economic growth, business development, and new opportunities in their communities with confidence. The work we do helps ensure our members have the power they need to serve their communities and power new opportunities.
A major part of your work involves forecasting ODEC’s future costs, revenues and energy needs. Why is that forecasting process so important to ODEC’s operations?
It gives ODEC the visibility needed to make smart long-term decisions. Energy infrastructure requires significant planning and investment, so understanding future demand, market conditions, and financial impacts helps us position ODEC to meet our obligations reliably and cost-effectively while adapting to changing conditions.
Your work also involves analysis of ODEC’s portfolio. What is ODEC’s portfolio and what makes it reliable?
ODEC’s portfolio includes a mix of generation resources, market purchases, contracts, and other assets used to serve our members’ energy needs. Its reliability comes from diversification. By utilizing multiple resources and planning strategies, ODEC can respond to changing conditions while ensuring dependable service for our members.
What’s one thing that might surprise people about the amount of analysis that goes into managing ODEC’s power supply portfolio?
People might be surprised by how many variables are constantly being evaluated. Everything from weather patterns and economic growth to fuel prices, market trends, and evolving regulations can impact the portfolio. We regularly analyze a variety of data points and scenarios to support informed decision-making.
The energy landscape is constantly changing and expanding. Talk about how this new landscape impacts your work.
The industry is evolving rapidly with new technologies, changing regulations, growing electrification, and increased interest in renewable resources. That means we are continuously evaluating new opportunities and risks, updating forecasts, and helping ODEC remain flexible and prepared for future changes.
What makes ODEC a great place to work?
ODEC has a great team environment where people work together to solve challenges and support our members. It’s rewarding to be part of an organization that plays such an important role in our communities.
Finally, tell us a fun fact about yourself.
One of my favorite things to do outside of work is spend time with my two boys. I enjoy watching my oldest play soccer and coaching my youngest in baseball. It’s a great way to stay involved, make memories, and support them in the activities they love.
