Perch's CEO Bruce Stewart

Sean White‘s Solar and Energy Storage Podcast

Perch's CEO Bruce Stewart Perch Energy is a leading community solar servicer on a mission to make renewable energy more accessible and equitable for all. We serve both solar project owners and subscribers. We offer solar developers and asset owners a suite of services to maximize ROI on their projects—including subscriber acquisition and lifecycle management, a robust technology platform, and deep policy expertise to help navigate local solar legislation and regulations. By managing the full subscriber experience for solar farm owners, Perch is able to bring electricity bill savings to the masses, from renters and homeowners to businesses, institutions, municipalities and more by connecting them to community solar projects in their area. Perch isn’t just a for-profit company, we’re a for-purpose company—accelerating the shift to renewables nationwide. Everyone deserves to benefit from clean energy. Everyone has a place on this Perch! Bruce Stewart is a strategic business leader and operator with a career focused on successfully delivering business growth, transformation, and driving business results. Prior to joining Perch Energy, Bruce served as President at Direct Energy Home, and Co-President of Centrica US Holdings, where he led the successful sale of Direct Energy to NRG for $3.6B in January 2021, in addition to delivering a 33% increase in operating profit, renewed customer growth, operating cost efficiencies, 29% reduction in churn and top customer service results for the Direct Energy Home business. Over the past 20+ years, Bruce has enjoyed building and leading great teams that have scaled businesses operating in multiple industries facing dynamic market shifts, regulatory and competitive disruption and change. Specifically, he has had the unique opportunity to develop strategy, execute transformation and drive profitable growth for companies in three different industries: (a) cable telcom/broadband/media; (b) technology/internet/mobile; and most recently, (c) the energy and home services industries.
As a change agent, Bruce was an early adopter in engaging data, analytics and insights to drive day-to-day business decisions, and prioritizing customer experience. He takes pride in building and encouraging great teams within environments of continuous learning, transparency, strong communication and engagement.
In addition to international experience leading teams and running P&L’s in EMEA, APAC and LATAM, Bruce has a legal foundation that has underpinned nearly a hundred M&A transactions and strategic partnerships. Bruce has been covered in leading publications on business and leadership topics including technology, mobile, broadband and energy innovation; leading customer-service focused organizations; driving ops and business transformation; M&A deals; and building strategic commercial partnerships as well as industry leading environmental sustainability initiatives within the sports industry.
An active participant as a Board Member and Advisor for start-up, non-profit and public companies, Bruce has served on non-profits such as the Houston Habitat for Humanity, Project Rebirth and Comprehensive Care Center; professional and corporate boards including the Greater Houston Partnership, Collider Media, Telos Corp, Exodus/GlobalCenter, CTIA-Wireless Internet Caucus, and NCTPA.
Early on, Bruce competed in the 1987 America’s Cup races in Fremantle, Australia as a crew member on the Courageous Challenge US syndicate on behalf of the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club. Topics covered: Community Solar only allowed in 20 states What is community solar? Why would someone not sign up? Day to day, what makes community solar different from paying a utility like most people? Net-metering? Community solar state programs? Which states? Why do some states not have community solar programs/laws? How can we change the community solar laws? PUCs, utilities, local, state and federal laws How does community solar make solar more accessible? Poor people – renters Controversial: Should people still have rooftop solar? -what if you move, economies of scale Can you have community solar and community choice aggregation all at once? With community solar, can subscribers get tax credits and tax benefits? Who gets tax credits? Depreciation? All of energy? Will there ever be community energy storage? EV charging? Pass renter to renter p purposeful We're passionate about making clean energy access easier and more rewarding e entrepreneurial We're visionary disruptors, challenging the status quo, unafraid to fail forward r respectful We treat our planet, our customers and each other with humility and respect c collaborative We value each other's contributions and work inclusively to make things better h honest We communicate openly, act transparently and promote environmental justice Reach Bruce Stewart here: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brucestewart Perch energy Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/perchenergy Perch energy website: www.perchenergy.com Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean’s classes at www.heatspring.com/sean