Is Meeting Data Center Demand an Opportunity to Redefine the Future for Utilities?

Demand from data centers and AI represents the most significant load growth challenge for the utility sector in a generation. However, this challenge isn't just about adding capacity but is instead about fundamentally rethinking how, when, and where that power is generated and delivered. Ensuring reliable, affordable power for all will create transformative opportunities across the sector.

Join EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoor for an opening address that will detail how and why meeting this demand isn't just about energy efficiency, but a critical opportunity for utilities to shape their own future and enhance system resilience. His remarks will highlight how utilities can move beyond traditional planning to address data centers' unique needs and what it means to lead the conversation around distributed generation and new energy sources. Attendees will learn strategies to establish the next-generation energy paradigms that will help define the path forward.

The Next Evolution of AI: Defining the Future of Utility Forecasting

Unprecedented demand from data centers and AI mean that forecasting is no longer about extrapolating historical trends but instead about anticipating behaviors and needs, driven by DERs, extreme weather, and new load profiles. This panel will explore how leaders from across the space are doing so, as they move beyond proof-of-concept and discuss production-ready models that fundamentally redefine grid planning and operations.

Panelists will outline what it means to leverage advanced AI to simulate thousands of real-world future grid states, enabling utilities to stress-test resource portfolios and optimize interconnection queues by accurately forecasting unknown, high-growth load types. The discussion will also address the necessary data standards and required governance to ensure AI-driven forecasting is not only accurate but also understandable.

As demand for data centers and other large energy loads continues to rise, strategic grid and interconnection planning is becoming more critical than ever. This session will explore the growing role of data centers in modern energy infrastructure and the need for innovative solutions that balance reliability, sustainability, and customer priorities. Panelists will discuss how organizations can manage increasing load demand through stronger utility collaboration, improve customer resilience with flexible energy solutions, and leverage emerging technologies to support both business growth and broader community needs.

The conversation will also address the increasing pressure on data centers to reduce carbon emissions and meet evolving corporate and regulatory climate goals. As energy markets and customer expectations continue to shift, leaders must find ways to integrate sustainability into long-term planning while remaining agile in a rapidly changing landscape. This panel will highlight how organizations can align operational performance with environmental responsibility to ensure lasting business resilience.