Highlights of the Program
2 days business program:
Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.
SHOWCASING INNOVATION:
Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.
leaders talk:
Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
MULTIPLE STREAMS:
A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES:
Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.
roundtable discussion:
Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.
Program
DAY 1 :
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026
08:00 - 08:50
REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS
08:50 - 09:00
OPENING ADDRESS
09:00 - 09:25
ENERGY POWERING THE GRID: RELIABILITY IN A TRANSFORMING RESOURCE MIX
Mark Lauby
North American Electric Reliability Corporation
- Examining reliability risks from extreme weather, fuel limits, and variable resource uncertainty
- Strengthening resilience through expanded transmission, balanced capacity, and secure energy supply chains
- Integrating no- and low-carbon resources while ensuring essential reliability services are maintained
- Planning for rapid load growth from data centers, AI, electrification, and concentrated large loads
09:25 - 09:30
Q&A SESSION ON RESOURCE ADEQUACY AND BULK POWER SYSTEM RESILIENCE
09:30 - 09:55
AI AND DATA ANALYTICS FOR OPTIMIZING GRID OPERATIONS AND ENERGY UTILIZATION
Sundeep Dakarapu
Infosys
- Modernizing distribution planning with AI-driven load forecasting amid DER growth and electrification
- Transitioning from static feeder forecasts to granular, scenario-based models reflecting local behavior
Jerome Marr
Southern California Edison
- Enabling scalable power flow analysis to identify constraints, defer upgrades, and prioritize investments
- Managing AI responsibly through data integration, explainability, and utility-grade model oversight
09:55 - 10:00
Q&A SESSION ON APPLYING AI FORECASTING IN DISTRIBUTION PLANNING
10:00 - 10:25
RESTORING AT DIGITAL SPEED: ADMS-DRIVEN GRID TRANSFORMATION
Amy Grice
Peninsula Light Company
- Delivering sub-second restoration through advanced automation to reduce SAIDI, SAIFI, and CMI
- Integrating ADMS, OMS, digital twins, and mobile tools for real-time, end-to-end grid visibility
- Designing a future-ready stack enabling AI-driven analytics and automation across utility operations
10:25 - 10:30
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCED DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION AND ADMS STRATEGY
10:30 - 10:50
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
SPONSORED BY FUTURE GRID
10:50 - 11:20
PANEL DISCUSSION ON SMART GRIDS AND THEIR ROLE IN SHAPING NORTH AMERICA'S ENERGY FUTURE
- Assessing how smart grid investments can reduce outages, manage rising demand, and balance affordability with system modernization
- Exploring how grids can support rising data center demand through reliable power, evolving generation, and new policy requirements
- Identifying no-regrets grid investments, balancing capacity with resilience, and accelerating GETs adoption across North America
- Adapting transmission construction practices, as project success depends on data systems, automation, and trust in smart grid assets
- Charting the evolution from traditional grids to AI-driven cognitive networks, enabling real-time optimization and autonomous response
Jonathan Yancy | Yancy Business Consulting, LLC | Moderator
Jeff Ostermayer | Consumer Energy Alliance
Mark Aldrich | Redtree Engineering
Luke Howell | Ampacimon
Steven Thomas | Currie & Brown Holdings Limited
Lars Carlstrom | Statetron New Energy
11:20 - 11:45
ASSET LOADING ANALYTICS AND METER INTELLIGENCE HUB FOR GRID RELIABILITY
Joyce Solomon
Southern Company
- Fusing high-resolution AMI data with predictive models to reveal feeder and transformer stress
- Orchestrating a utility-owned MIH with geospatial views for proactive planning and operations
- Overseeing cloud-native data pipelines and real-time visualization to improve forecast confidence
- Scaling predictive asset management to support DER and EV growth with earlier interventions
11:45 - 11:50
Q&A SESSION ON CLOUD-NATIVE PREDICTIVE GRID OPERATIONS
11:50 - 12:15
POLICY RESPONSE TO AI AND AFFORDABILITY: HOW FEDERAL ACTION SHAPES MARKETS
Jack Painter
Capstone DC, LLC
- Highlighting federal directives pushing non-firm transmission services in organized markets
- Reframing interconnection and cost allocation frameworks for large AI-driven data centers
- Identifying trends in federal and state policy shifts ahead of the 2026 elections and their market impacts
12:15 - 12:20
Q&A SESSION ON FEDERAL POLICY, AI LOAD, AND MARKET STRUCTURE
12:20 - 13:10
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE SMART GRIDS EXHIBITION
13:10 - 13:40
PANEL DISCUSSION ON BUILDING THE FUTURE: CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY STORAGE, AND GRID OPTIMIZATION
- Identifying urgent U.S. grid constraints and scaling safer battery technologies for broader energy storage deployment
- Examining novel battery chemistries, broader AI applications, and near-term strategies to optimize an already constrained grid
- Exploring customer-owned assets, diverse storage solutions, and cross-sector support needed for a clean and reliable grid
- Assessing US energy supply chain localization prospects and hardware constraints limiting long-duration storage
- Harnessing AI across merchant BESS lifecycles for siting, portfolio optimization, and predictive maintenance
Ted (Theodore) Gardner | Marmon Utility | Moderator
Nadim Maluf | Qnovo
Valencia de la Vega | DHC Power
Angelina Galiteva | NEOptions, Inc.
Mark Dryden | WIND Ventures
Arielle Friedman | Alchemy Digital Advising
13:40 - 14:05
NON-WIRES SOLUTIONS: BEST PRACTICES, CHALLENGES, AND CASE STUDY
Kailin Graham
The Brattle Group
- Responding to rate pressure and DER cost declines with NWS as alternatives to grid upgrades
- Integrating NWS into distribution planning as states refine processes and target deferral value
- Identifying best practices and pain points as regulators require broader NWS investigations
- Presenting case-study findings on upgrade traits most suitable for deferral via NWS portfolios
14:05 - 14:10
Q&A SESSION ON INTEGRATING NON-WIRE SOLUTIONS INTO GRID PLANNING
14:10 - 14:35
PRACTICAL AI FOR UTILITY PROGRAMS: STARTING SMALL, SCALING SMART
Yihao Zhou
Exponent
- Optimizing capital delivery using automation, predictive analytics, and AI-enabled workflows
- Improving schedule adherence, cost control, and stakeholder communication through digital tools
Jason Park
Exponent
- Automating reporting and planning execution to reduce risk, rework, and program variability
- Showcasing case-study results, lessons learned, and best practices for technology adoption
14:35 - 14:40
Q&A SESSION ON AUTOMATION STRATEGIES FOR UTILITY PROGRAM DELIVERY
14:40 - 15:05
FROM SMART METERS TO PRIVATE GRIDS, DATA OWNERSHIP, AND UTILITY FUTURES
Teresa Ringenbach
Bloom Advisory Partners
- Tracing smart grid evolution from early HEM meters to data-driven, behind-the-meter decisions
- Assessing regulatory shifts from net metering to grid-responsive programs in the U.S. and UK markets
- Questioning private mini-grids reshaping utility roles, social compacts, and infrastructure ownership
15:05 - 15:10
Q&A SESSION ON THE FUTURE OF SMART GRIDS, DATA, AND OWNERSHIP
15:10 - 15:30
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
15:30 - 15:55
LEVERAGING AI FOR MODERNIZED GRID MANAGEMENT
Nils Frenkel
Schneider Electric
- Addressing load growth, DER expansion, regulatory shifts, and extreme weather, stressing utilities
- Equipping planners and operators with advanced grid tools for safe, reliable, and affordable services
- Applying AI across design, planning, maintenance, and real-time operations by leveraging broader datasets
- Strengthening event readiness through AI-enabled prediction, mitigation, monitoring, and restoration
15:55 - 16:00
Q&A SESSION ON USING AI TO MANAGE EXTREME GRID EVENTS
16:00 - 16:25
THIS OLD GRID: AUTOMATED AI INSIGHTS FOR PROACTIVE GRID MAINTENANCE
Joel Berntsen
Noteworthy AI
- Diagnosing aging distribution assets with proactive, data-driven maintenance amid demand and budget constraints
- Instrumenting vehicle-mounted cameras and AI for real-time inspections during operations and storms
- Complementing drones and satellites with ground inspections for comprehensive grid visibility
16:25 - 16:30
Q&A SESSION ON AI-DRIVEN INSPECTION FOR PROACTIVE GRID MAINTENANCE
16:30 - 16:55
APPLIED AI FOR GRID MODERNIZATION: FROM PILOT TO PRODUCTION AT US UTILITIES
Nikhil Jathar
AvanSaber Inc.
- Prioritizing AI use cases for utility operations, from billing and collections to asset maintenance and outage response
- Architecting AI platforms that bridge enterprise systems (ERP, CIS, billing) with operational telemetry under utility-grade governance and audit constraints
- Designing the next utility ERP AI-first: agents as primary users, operational data as a graph, governance as code, and integration via open contracts
- Quantifying utility ROI through revenue recovery, operational efficiency, and reliability metrics, including SAIDI and SAIFI
16:55 - 17:00
Q&A SESSION ON SCALING APPLIED AI ACROSS UTILITY OPERATIONS
17:00 - 17:25
MODULAR CONTROL CENTER SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING GRIDS WITH 100% RENEWABLES
Mirko Pracht
50Hertz Transmission GmbH
- 50Hertz System Operator: in-house development of a cloud-native modular control center system
- Explaining MCCS architecture enabling, plug-and-play modules for scalable, flexible, fast, and secure grid operations
- Demonstrating ecosystem collaboration with system operators from Europe, the US, and Asia, as well as vendors, start-ups, and research partners
- Sharing transformation lessons from scaling MCCS within a system operator into a mature product organization
17:25 - 17:30
Q&A SESSION ON MODULAR CONTROL PLATFORMS FOR RENEWABLE GRIDS
17:30 - 18:30
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
DAY 2 :
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026
08:00 - 08:30
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
08:30 - 08:40
OPENING ADDRESS
08:40 - 09:10
PANEL DISCUSSION ON PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR INCORPORATING SMART SOLUTIONS AND DER IN EXISTING POWER SYSTEMS
- Assessing solar-storage cost barriers and enabling DERs, demand response, and VPPs as reliable grid capacity
- Strengthening grid visibility with AI inspections, aerial data, and automated analytics to reduce outages and scale utility adoption
- Understanding why power flow control is needed now and how the Sen Transformer addresses critical grid control challenges
- Standardizing UV, IR, and visual inspection within utility asset management systems for consistent fault detection and decision-making
- Matching protection and control, choosing optimal siting, and identifying infrastructure changes required when integrating DER into existing systems
Joyce Solomon | Southern Company | Moderator
Mark Dryden | WIND Ventures
Vik Chaudhry | Buzz Solutions, Inc.
Kalyan Sen | Sen Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Michael (Mike) Kelly | Ofil Systems
Daniel Girard | APG Inc. / A Willdan Company
09:10 - 09:35
SMART GRID PATHWAYS FOR COOPERATIVE RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE
Jeffrey Groenewold
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Highlighting cooperative smart grid investments improving reliability, resiliency, and responsibility
- Reviewing emerging technologies and market products shaping cooperative investment strategies
- Fostering future smart grid partnerships supporting rural electrification and collaboration
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON COOPERATIVE SMART GRID STRATEGIES AND RURAL POWER
09:40 - 10:05
ADVANCING GRID RELIABILITY IN THE NORTHEAST USING TARA AND PSS®E AUTOMATION
Sahilpreet Singh Mann
Dominion Energy
- Automating N-1 and N-1-1 screening plus GD and 300 MW load drop studies using TARA and PSS®E
- Comparing base, stressed, and alternative cases side by side to evaluate operating solutions faster
- Scoring violation tracking and sensitivities to rank mitigations, dispatch patterns, and adjustments
- Accelerating interconnection decisions by selecting reliable and cost-effective Northeast solutions
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON AUTOMATED RELIABILITY WORKFLOWS FOR NORTHEAST PLANNING
10:10 - 10:35
MARKET OR STATE: DIFFERENTIAL APPROACHES FOR MANAGING RESOURCE AND NETWORK ADEQUACY
Farhad Billimoria
Aurora Energy Research
- Contrasting centralized and decentralized approaches for resource procurement within CAISO
- Evaluating reliability, resilience, and cost trade-offs across alternative adequacy frameworks
- Assessing financial and credit implications tied to long-term resource procurement decisions
10:35 - 10:40
Q&A SESSION ON HOW MARKETS AND STATES SECURE RESOURCE ADEQUACY
10:40 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
SPONSORED BY SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SMART GRID SOLUTIONS, LLC
11:00 - 11:25
FROM GRID MODERNIZATION TO GRID INTELLIGENCE WITH AI, DATA, AND DERs
Anushree Ramanath
Schneider Electric
- Evolving utilities from digitalization to AI-driven intelligence amid DER, storage, and EV growth
- Deploying AI at scale across microgrids, storage, and EV systems with a security and reliability focus
- Aligning technology, economics, and policy to accelerate scalable grid modernization outcomes
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON TURNING GRID AI AND DATA INTO OPERATIONAL IMPACT
11:30 - 11:55
FROM TECHNOLOGY TO ADOPTION: MAKING SMART GRID TRANSFORMATIONS STICK
Jonathan Yancy
Yancy Business Consulting, LLC
- Explaining why smart grid initiatives stall without structured change enablement, despite proven technology
- Aligning grid operations, control centers, IT, and field teams across ADMS and DERMS programs
- Tracking adoption, readiness, and operational value using metrics that extend beyond go-live
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON DRIVING GRID MODERNIZATION SUCCESS
12:00 - 12:25
INCREASING GRID EFFICIENCY THROUGH HVDC AND FACTS TECHNOLOGY
Orestes Macchione
Siemens Energy
- Enhancing power electronics and converter innovations, improving efficiency and grid stability
- Integrating HVDC and FACTS to connect remote renewables and strengthen transmission networks
- Addressing planning challenges, balancing flexibility, reliability, and future grid expansion needs
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON HVDC, FACTS, AND FUTURE TRANSMISSION PLANNING
12:30 - 12:55
THE CONVERGENCE OF PHYSICAL SECURITY, SAFETY, AND GRID OPERATIONS
Jorge Campos
EPIC iO
- Bridging physical security, worker safety, and operational visibility across substations and remote assets
- Fortifying grid resilience through intelligent monitoring and real-time situational awareness
- Advancing utility operations beyond passive monitoring toward proactive infrastructure management
12:55 - 13:00
Q&A SESSION ON PHYSICAL SECURITY AND GRID OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
13:00 - 13:50
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING THE SMART GRIDS EXHIBITION
13:50 - 14:15
AI-DRIVEN LOAD SHAPING FOR MODERNIZING GRID INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AI ERA
Surinder Singh
Relyion Energy, Inc.
- Stabilizing AI data center demand as grid-friendly baseload via forecasting and optimization
- Coordinating software-defined storage and battery control to cut peaks, ramps, and SOC drift at scale
- Improving resilience through faster interconnections, fewer upgrades, and reduced load-induced transients
14:15 - 14:20
Q&A SESSION ON AI LOAD SHAPING AND BATTERY CONTROL FOR DATA CENTERS
14:20 - 14:45
METERNET SECURE BLOCKCHAIN GRID SOLUTION FOR ELECTRIC CO-OPS, MICROGRIDS, AND IPPs
Greg Wible
MSBG Corp.
- Introducing MeterNet MyGRID blockchain platform enabling DER metering billing clearing and settlement
- Launching MeterNet GridWatch real-time US grid telemetry dispatch and curtailment automation system
- Unifying DER data and grid automation across co-ops, microgrids, and IPPs with both MeterNet platforms
14:45 - 14:50
Q&A SESSION ON BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED METERING FOR DISTRIBUTED GRIDS
14:50 - 15:15
BUILDING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AGAINST FIRE AND EXPLOSION RISKS
Nathan Lehr
Firetrace International, a Halma Company
- Identifying fire and explosion risks across turbines, substations, control rooms, and BESS assets
- Analyzing root causes and failure modes using real-world fire and explosion incidents
- Recommending detection and mitigation strategies to improve safety, asset protection, and resilience
15:15 - 15:20
Q&A SESSION ON MITIGATING FIRE AND EXPLOSION RISKS IN GRID ASSETS
15:20 - 15:45
ADDRESSING DISTRIBUTION GRID NEEDS AMID PV ADOPTION AND LOAD GROWTH
Luis Rodríguez-García
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Optimizing distribution planning using pilot results from three US utility partnerships
- Identifying cost-effective deferrals through DER and non-wire alternatives under load growth
- Applying decision models to minimize capital costs while maintaining safe grid operations
- Translating pilot insights into practical strategies within existing utility planning processes
15:45 - 15:50
Q&A SESSION ON OPTIMIZED DER PLANNING AND DISTRIBUTION DEFERRALS
15:50 - 16:10
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA
16:10 - 16:35
THREE WAYS TO BUILD A RESILIENT GRID: OVERHEAD, UNDERGROUND, AND SPACER CABLE
Ted (Theodore) Gardner
Marmon Utility
- Reframing resilience beyond overhead versus underground by introducing spacer cable systems
- Defining spacer cable as a distinct aerial covered conductor with unique design and risk traits
- Applying a framework that selects overhead, underground, or spacer cable by cost, risk exposure, and speed
16:35 - 16:40
Q&A SESSION ON CHOOSING OVERHEAD, UNDERGROUND, AND SPACER CABLE SOLUTIONS
16:40 - 17:05
ASSET-SCALE WEATHER INTELLIGENCE FOR GRID RELIABILITY AND WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Jeff Gawrych
Western Weather Group
- Translating forecasts and field measurements into operational decisions using utility weather networks
- Closing weather data gaps with localized sensing to improve outage prediction and system resilience
- Mitigating wildfire risk through asset-level weather intelligence supporting safer grid operations
17:05 - 17:10
Q&A SESSION ON USING LOCAL WEATHER DATA FOR GRID RELIABILITY
17:10 - 17:40
RESERVED PRESENTATION
17:40 - 18:00
FEEDBACK AND RAFFLE DRAW | CLOSING REMARKS
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