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Founder / Operator·Grid Infrastructure

Gregg Rotenberg

Executive Chairman at Insight M; Former CEO Smart Wires

Durham, NC

GR
LinkedIn
Why they matter

Runs the leading grid-enhancing-technology (GET) company. Directly relevant to the FERC Order 1920 transmission-planning agenda.

Background

CEO & President of Smart Wires, the leading grid-enhancing technology company. Smart Wires designs and manufactures advanced power-flow-control solutions (SmartValve, SUMO) that dynamically redirect power on the high-voltage grid to unlock latent transmission capacity. Founded in 2010 from Georgia Tech research following the 2003 Northeast Blackout. Now Executive Chairman of Insight M (methane-leak detection) and GTM Operating Partner at DCVC; remains a deep authority on grid-enhancing technology adoption from his Smart Wires tenure.

Notable deals

  • 2022
    Smart Wires received U.S. Federal Government grant boost for grid-enhancing-technology deployment.
  • 2024
    Continued global deployment of SmartValve and SUMO across major utility transmission systems.

Call-prep brief

Background

Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) like Smart Wires' SmartValve and SUMO unlock capacity from existing transmission without building new lines. As FERC pushes Order 1920 transmission planning and interconnection-queue reform, GETs move from niche to mainstream, and Smart Wires is the leading vendor.

What he cares about

  • FERC Order 1920 and 2023 implementation. Tariff acceptance of GETs at the RTO level.
  • Utility procurement cycles. Long sales cycles, but high stickiness.
  • Federal grant flow. IIJA / DOE Office of Electricity programs.

Sensitivities

  • Smart Wires is privately held (Capricorn, others); be precise about whether you're a potential investor, customer-side observer, or competitor.

Questions to ask

  1. Which RTOs are furthest along in actually including GETs in transmission-planning processes?
  2. What's the realistic adoption curve for SmartValve / SUMO over 2026-2030?
  3. How does Smart Wires think about partnership vs. competition with Hitachi Energy, Siemens Energy, GE Vernova?

Outreach draft

Subject
GETs adoption and Order 1920: your view
Hi Gregg, I lead infrastructure investing at [Firm]. Grid-enhancing technologies are squarely in our scope as FERC Order 1920 and 2023 implementation moves forward, and Smart Wires has the most data on actual utility adoption. Would 25 minutes work for a market-state conversation? Best regards, [Your name] [Your firm]

Linked companies

Sources

Strongest evidenceNo name match2 public sourcesVerified2026-05-27How the grades work