Gridwise Alliance
GridWise Alliance is a 2003-founded, Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit coalition of 200+ electricity-sector members that produces the Grid Modernization Index, runs the gridCONNEXT conference, and advocates for U.S. grid modernization policy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gridwise Alliance does
GridWise Alliance, Inc. is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit industry coalition founded in 2003 that convenes 200+ member organizations across the U.S. electric grid supply chain — investor-owned utilities, public utilities, rural cooperatives, technology providers, ISOs/RTOs, state energy offices, and academic institutions — to advance grid modernization policy and practice. Its core assets are the Grid Modernization Index (GMI), a state-by-state assessment covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia across State Support, Customer Engagement, and Grid Operations (nine editions since 2013), and GridMap™, an interactive web tool that maps technologies used in electric grid infrastructure. The organization also runs the annual gridCONNEXT conference, the DC Fly-In advocacy program, working groups on AI, EV, and Resilience, and the GridWise Forum member engagement platform launched in 2025.
The business model is membership-based with tiered annual dues ranging from $1,000 (academic affiliate) to $25,000 (full membership for organizations with more than $1B in annual revenue), supplemented by event sponsorships and grants from partners such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the Energy Foundation. GridWise monetizes its policy influence and convening role rather than a software product; it has no app, no API, and no disclosed paid data product, although it has a registered GridWise® trademark and sub-brands (gridCONNEXT®, GMI™, GridMap™, GridWise Forum). Recent product activity has expanded into AI applications for utilities, FERC Order 2222 implementation guidance, and GRIP program recommendations.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by CEO Karen Wayland, with Jane Zaretskie serving as Executive Director since 2024, and operates with 1–10 employees from its headquarters at 1800 M Street NW, Suite #400S, Washington, D.C. It holds strategic partnerships with the U.S. DOE, the Energy Foundation, EY, E9 Insight, Clean Edge, and recent member envelio, Inc., giving it both funding support and intellectual reach across the policy and research value chain.
Gridwise Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gridwise Alliance
- Legal name
- GridWise Alliance, Inc.
- Website
- https://gridwise.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GridWise Alliance is a 2003-founded, Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit coalition of 200+ electricity-sector members that produces the Grid Modernization Index, runs the gridCONNEXT conference, and advocates for U.S. grid modernization policy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gridwise Alliance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Industry Coalition & Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grid Data, Monitoring & Analytics (PMU, Power Quality, Event Detection, Digital Twins) (EUAMAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- DER & Microgrid Interconnection / Grid Edge Integration Services (EUAEANAF)
Keywords
Where Gridwise Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gridwise Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: GridWise Alliance generates revenue through tiered membership dues based on organization size. Full Membership ranges from $3,750 to $25,000 annually depending on annual revenue. Associate and Affiliate memberships are also available at different price points.
- Event Sponsorships: Revenue from sponsorships and attendance at annual conferences including gridCONNEXT and DC Fly-In events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership for organizations >$1B annual revenue |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership for organizations $100M-$1B annual revenue |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership for organizations $10M-$100M annual revenue |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership for organizations <$10M and Rural Cooperatives |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership for eligible organizations |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Membership for educational institutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gridwise Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GridWise Alliance is a Washington, D.C.-based industry coalition that convenes electricity sector stakeholders—utilities, technology providers, grid operators, and policymakers—to accelerate U.S. electric grid modernization. The alliance delivers value through tiered memberships, the Grid Modernization Index (GMI) research framework, the GridMap interactive tool, white papers, working groups, the annual gridCONNEXT conference, and the DC Fly-In advocacy event.
Product overview
GridWise Alliance is a Washington, D.C.-based industry coalition founded in 2003, representing electricity stakeholders focused on accelerating innovation for a secure, reliable, resilient, and affordable grid. The organization operates as a platform of programs and tools rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include the Grid Modernization Index (GMI), a state-by-state assessment framework evaluating grid modernization progress across three categories (State Support, Customer Engagement, and Grid Operations), and GridMap, an interactive web-based exploratory tool for understanding grid infrastructure technologies. The Alliance also organizes the annual gridCONNEXT conference and DC Fly-In events, and convenes working groups including an AI and the Grid Working Group that produces white papers on AI applications in utilities. The organization publishes reports including technology portfolios, AI and grid analyses, FERC Order 2222 investment guides, and GMI reports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- gridCONNEXT: Annual conference hosted by GridWise Alliance focusing on grid evolution and modernization
- GMI
- GridMap
- GridWise Forum
Products and services
- Grid Modernization Index (GMI) A research and benchmarking framework that evaluates and ranks all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia on grid modernization progress across three categories: State Support, Customer Engagement, and Grid Operations. Designed for state energy offices, regulators, and utilities.
- GridMap An interactive online tool that allows users to explore technologies used in electric grid infrastructure and how they support grid modernization today and in the future. Targeted at electricity industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers.
- gridCONNEXT Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in grid modernization, with sponsorship opportunities available.
- GridWise Alliance DC Fly-In Annual member-exclusive advocacy event bringing members to Washington, D.C. for Capitol Hill meetings with congressional offices and federal agency representatives.
- GridWise Alliance Membership Program Tiered membership structure (Full, Associate, Affiliate) targeting utilities, technology providers, government entities, and academic institutions involved in grid modernization. Full Membership dues range from $3,750 to $25,000 annually based on organization revenue, with voting rights, board eligibility, and participation in working groups.
Quantifiable outcome
- GMI reports benchmark all 50 states and DC on grid modernization policies, investments, and accomplishments
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Gridwise Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gridwise Alliance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Gridwise Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- envelio, Inc.coreenvelio joined the GridWise Alliance as a provider of advanced grid planning and interconnection software for electric utilities. Through membership, envelio participates in working groups focused on grid investment, technology policy, and distributed energy resource (DER) integration, positioning within a network influencing U.S. electric grid priorities.
- EY (Ernst & Young)coreGridWise partnered with EY to examine trends in the accelerated energy transition, producing a comprehensive report on the rapid changes taking place in the electricity sector.
- E9 InsightcoreGrid Modernization Index reports produced in collaboration with E9 Insight, including the 2018 GMI report assessing and ranking all 50 states and DC on grid modernization progress.
- Clean EdgecoreGrid Modernization Index reports (GMI-3 in 2016 and GMI-4 in 2017) produced in collaboration with Clean Edge, Inc., assessing and ranking all 50 states and DC on grid modernization.
- U.S. Department of EnergycoreDOE supported the Grid Modernization Index 2024/2026 with funding, and GridWise provides technical input to DOE on grid modernization priorities including GRIP program implementation.
- Energy FoundationminorThe Energy Foundation provided support for the Grid Modernization Index data collection and reporting efforts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gridwise Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): Association of state utility regulators that influences grid modernization policy and ratemaking — overlap with GridWise on convening state officials around grid investment frameworks.
- Edison Electric Institute (EEI): The principal trade association for U.S. investor-owned utilities, also focused on grid modernization, federal advocacy, and industry convening — overlaps directly with GridWise on policy advocacy for electricity stakeholders.
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): National trade association for rural electric cooperatives, representing member-owned utilities on federal policy and grid modernization — overlapping constituency with GridWise's full-membership tier for cooperatives.
- National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO): Membership association for state energy offices that convenes on federal-state grid policy — directly comparable as a multi-state convening and advocacy platform aligned with GridWise's State Energy Office segment.
- WIRES: Industry group promoting investment in electric transmission infrastructure — directly comparable convening-and-advocacy mission focused on a subset of the grid ecosystem GridWise represents.
- Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): Membership-based organization focused on grid modernization, DER integration, and utility transformation — closely comparable mission and constituency to GridWise Alliance.
- American Public Power Association (APPA): Trade association serving U.S. public power utilities, with advocacy and education programs that overlap with GridWise on grid modernization and federal engagement.
Broad incumbents
- Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): Large R&D consortium funded by utility members producing grid-modernization research — broader, research-oriented counterpart that shares GridWise's utility-membership constituency.
- American Clean Power Association (ACP): Trade association representing wind, solar, and storage companies — adjacent to GridWise on clean-energy policy and grid integration of renewables and storage.
Emerging players
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): Nonprofit focused on clean-energy regulatory policy and grid integration of DERs — partial overlap with GridWise on DER aggregation and state-level regulatory advocacy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gridwise Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceGridwise Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gridwise Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Gridwise Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gridwise Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gridwise Alliance
What does Gridwise Alliance do?
GridWise Alliance is a Washington, D.C.-based industry coalition that convenes electricity sector stakeholders—utilities, technology providers, grid operators, and policymakers—to accelerate U.S. electric grid modernization. The alliance delivers value through tiered memberships, the Grid Modernization Index (GMI) research framework, the GridMap interactive tool, white papers, working groups, the annual gridCONNEXT conference, and the DC Fly-In advocacy event.
Is Gridwise Alliance a public or private company?
Gridwise Alliance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gridwise Alliance founded?
Gridwise Alliance was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Gridwise Alliance based?
Gridwise Alliance is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gridwise Alliance make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships.
Who are Gridwise Alliance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), WIRES, Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and American Public Power Association (APPA). Broad incumbents are Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and American Clean Power Association (ACP). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Gridwise Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gridwise Alliance.
What industry is Gridwise Alliance in?
Gridwise Alliance's product category is Energy Industry Coalition & Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAIAL, Grid Data, Monitoring & Analytics (PMU, Power Quality, Event Detection, Digital Twins), with a secondary code of EUAEANAF, DER & Microgrid Interconnection / Grid Edge Integration Services. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.