Commissioning a battery energy storage system (BESS) is a major milestone, but it’s far from the finish line. Behind every successful battery project is a team of people working quietly behind the scenes to make sure that asset continues to operate safely, efficiently, and profitably—day after day, year after year.

In this edition of The People Who Power Stem, we spoke with three leaders from Stem’s Managed Services team: Katie Skende, Senior Director, Market and Program Operations; Jacinto Amante Jr., Director of Remote Operations Services; and Dillon Fuerth, Director of Engineering and Construction Project Management. Together, they offered a candid look at what really goes into long-term battery operations, the tools and processes that make it possible, and what asset owners should know about managing energy storage over its 10- to 20-year lifespan.

Why Commissioning Is Just the Beginning

For Dillon Fuerth, Director of Engineering Construction Project Management at Stem, the work of getting a battery online is a complex, phased process that requires constant communication with developers, EPCs, and equipment manufacturers.

“Our job is to make sure a system is built and commissioned properly before it’s handed off to Jacinto’s team for long-term operation,” Dillon explains.

That means identifying potential issues as early as the design phase, like interconnection constraints, utility testing requirements, and site-specific safety regulations.

“Catching mistakes before construction starts is a lot easier than fixing them later,” says Dillon. “We have multiple design and construction checkpoints with partners, and then a very detailed commissioning phase. Timelines at the end of a project are always tight, so the goal is to avoid surprises.”

Beyond construction, engineering and project management teams, like Dillon’s, often serve as a resource for partners, whether they’re local fire marshals or developers navigating battery requirements for the first time. “We tailor our approach based on the partner’s experience level. Whether it’s their first project or their tenth, we make sure they’re supported,” he says.

What Happens After It’s Live: Battery Oversight in Action

Once a battery goes live, oversight typically shifts to a managed services team, like a Remote Operations Center (ROC) or Power Plant Operations Engineering (PPOE) team. Luckily, we got to sit down with the man who leads both, Jacinto Amante.

A critical part of the ROC’s job is anomaly detection. Using various tools to monitor the battery during all hours of the day and night, a ROC team would receive automated alerts when something looks off—whether it’s a voltage issue, communication failure, or unexpected dispatch behavior.

“In our case, if a fault triggers (like the voltage gets too high or a communication link drops), the system creates a ticket for our team,” Jacinto explains. “We remotely access the site to investigate, and if it’s something we can’t fix from afar, we coordinate with our field services team–or the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) directly–to dispatch a technician.”

“While the ROC team does what they can to prevent issues with the battery, if there is one, response time almost always depends on the OEM,” Jacinto notes. “Many Teir 1 OEMs are typically fast and responsive, leading to a lot less downtime for the battery. Others, however, may take longer to schedule technicians because they rely more heavily on third party teams for diagnostics and don’t have remote visibility into their own systems.”

“We’ve seen cases where it takes a week or more to get someone on-site,” Jacinto said. “That’s why choosing the right OEM and understanding their service model is so important for asset owners. This can save you a lot of time, money, and heartache in the long term.”

Connecting Physical Performance with Financial Outcomes

While Jacinto’s team focuses on system health, Katie Skende’s team ensures that assets are able to perform financially over their full lifetime.

“Our job is to make sure each system is earning as much value as possible, while staying compliant with market and program rules,” Katie explains.

That includes monitoring market changes, utility interconnection limits, and emerging revenue streams.

“The financial landscape for storage assets is constantly shifting,” she says. “Market rules change. New programs launch. Utilities adjust charge or discharge limits. We’re here to help customers manage all of that and take advantage of the opportunities available to them.”

Katie points to recent updates in ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) as an example. “They’re rolling out a storage-specific participation model, which changes how assets qualify and participate,” she says. “Our team tracks those changes, implements new strategies in our optimization platform, and communicates with clients about what it means for their revenue.”

For more complex projects, especially those stacking multiple revenue streams like incentive programs, demand response, wholesale markets, and coincident peak mitigation, Katie emphasizes the need for a specialized partner.

“When you’re balancing competing value streams, you need expertise,” she says. “You’re making trade-offs between value now versus value later. It’s not something you can manage with a spreadsheet, so you not only need sophisticated tools but people who have experience navigating these evolving market landscapes.”

Trends in Battery Operations: What’s Changing?

Looking ahead, all three leaders agreed that the industry is moving toward faster, more automated processes, but with an even greater need for expert oversight.

Dillon expects to see more battery OEMs adopting automated commissioning processes that allow partners to take more control over project timelines. “The goal is to make commissioning smoother and faster as everyone gains more experience,” he said.

Katie anticipates more market structures designed to unlock additional value for distributed storage assets. “Non-wires alternatives, local capacity programs, and virtual power plants (VPPs) are all gaining traction,” she said. “And as grid constraints grow, utilities are going to need storage in more targeted locations.”

Jacinto is focused on scaling operational capabilities as storage fleets grow larger and more geographically diverse. “We’re managing close to 800 sites right now,” he said. “The tools and processes we’re building today need to be ready for fleets that are twice that size in the next few years.”

Advice for Asset Owners: Don’t Cut Corners

If there’s one piece of advice all three would give to new asset owners, it’s this: Don’t cut corners, especially when it comes to quality and ongoing support.

“Don’t just focus on the lowest CAPEX (upfront capital expenditure) price,” said Jacinto. “Look at the total cost of ownership, including service quality and long-term support.”

Katie added, “Not all hardware is the same, and not all optimization providers are the same. You want a partner who’s going to stick with you for the full lifecycle–not just hand you a black box and disappear.”

Dillon echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of leveraging expert partners. “Whether this is your first project or your tenth, rely on the resources available to you,” he said. “Third party O&M (operations and management) teams and your battery OEM have the experience to help you avoid costly mistakes.”

What Powers the People Behind the Projects

Finally, when asked what keeps them motivated to work in this fast-evolving, high-pressure field, each interviewee had a personal take.

For Katie, it’s the mission: “Storage plays a critical role in enabling renewables and fighting climate change,” she says. “That’s what powers me every day.”

For Dillon, it’s the satisfaction of seeing a complex project come to life after months of planning and coordination.

And for Jacinto, it’s the teamwork and the adrenaline that comes with monitoring live, grid-connected assets across hundreds of sites.

Conclusion

Together, these teams ensure that every battery in Stem’s portfolio isn’t just operating but thriving. As the energy landscape continues to advance, it’s the expertise, dedication, and problem-solving spirit of people like Katie, Jacinto, and Dillon that help asset owners turn complex projects into long-term success stories.