WIA Article: Powering Telecom Ahead of the Grid

Power interruptions don’t just disrupt towers—they disrupt the customers and critical services that depend on them. Today's environment expects networks to be always-on, making power one of the most fragile links in the telecom value chain.

Joe Kessinger, CEO of HCI Energy, recently contributed an article to the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA)
(published September 2025). The piece explores the business case for hybrid energy in telecom and why operators and tower companies are rethinking their approach to power as infrastructure expands and grid pressures mount.

Article excerpt:

“Hybrid power systems are emerging as a transformative force. By integrating batteries, renewables, and generators into a single modular platform, operators gain resilience and visibility. Battery-first operation, combined with intelligent monitoring, keeps networks connected in adverse conditions while shifting power from a reactive fix to a proactive strategy.”

In the article, Joe discusses:

• The growing grid reliability concerns flagged by NERC as demand outpaces new infrastructure.

• The strain of tower growth and 5G densification on already-stressed power systems.

• How hybrid energy shifts operators from reactive maintenance to proactive management.

• The financial and environmental upside of moving away from diesel-centric site design.

Read the full article on WIA’s website to see why smarter power is becoming a business imperative for telecom.