By integrating key functions—such as outage management, distribution management, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)—into a single platform, ADMS provides operators with a comprehensive, real-time view of the grid. This topic will explore how utilities are leveraging ADMS to improve reliability, enhance situational awareness, enable distributed energy resource (DER) integration, and support advanced functions like fault location, isolation, and service restoration (FLISR), volt/VAR optimization, and predictive analytics.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) has long been a cornerstone of grid modernization, providing utilities with real-time data to enhance grid visibility, improve operational efficiency, and engage customers more effectively. With AMI 2.0, utilities are unlocking even greater potential through expanded capabilities such as two-way communication, enhanced data analytics, and integration with other grid technologies. This topic explores how AMI 2.0 is transforming utility operations, supporting demand response, enabling dynamic pricing models, and enhancing customer service with granular, real-time insights. Sessions will delve into the evolution of AMI, best practices for deployment, security considerations, and how utilities are leveraging AMI 2.0 to drive more intelligent, data-driven decisions.

As the electric grid evolves to support greater complexity, resilience, and sustainability, utilities are deploying advanced tools and strategies to optimize operations across both transmission and distribution systems. This topic explores cutting-edge developments in grid monitoring, automation, and system flexibility. Sessions will examine how utilities are leveraging data, real-time analytics, and emerging technologies— such as DERMS, ADMS, SCADA, and grid-enhancing technologies- to manage and control the future grid through orchestration, flexibility and stability

In an era of record-breaking demand and aging infrastructure, maintaining equitable rates is a strategic necessity. This topic explores how digital innovation, regulatory reform, and transparent communication strategies can be leveraged to address these issues on all sides. Sessions focus on bridging the gap between operational reality and consumer perception to allow utilities to move from awareness to empowerment, ensuring the benefits of grid modernization are both visible to the consumer and sustainable for the ratepayer.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the energy landscape—and electric utilities are uniquely positioned to utilize generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to drive innovation, improve resilience, and enhance customer experience. This topic explores how AI-driven technologies, including machine learning, data collection and, data analytics, are optimizing operations, improving decision-making, and increasing efficiency in power distribution and management.

As utilities face mounting pressure to do more with aging infrastructure, effective asset management has become essential to grid performance, safety, and long-term planning. This topic explores how utilities are adopting data-driven strategies to assess asset health, prioritize investments, and extend the life of critical infrastructure. Topics include condition-based monitoring, risk modeling, digital twins, GIS integration, and lifecycle planning. Learn how utilities are evolving from reactive maintenance to strategic, value-based asset stewardship that supports reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Large commercial and industrial (C&I) customers and data centers are driving significant changes in how utilities plan, operate, and invest in their systems. From 24/7 clean energy commitments to ultra-high reliability expectations and rapid load growth, these customers are reshaping the utility-customer relationship. This topic explores how utilities are partnering with C&I customers and data center operators on capacity planning, interconnection, energy-as-a-service models, and decarbonization strategies. Sessions will cover tailored rate structures, grid infrastructure needs, and the role of utilities in enabling sustainable, scalable growth for these critical sectors.

As electric utilities deploy more connected devices across transmission and distribution systems, the need for secure, high-performance communication networks has never been greater. This topic explores how utilities are investing in fiber, wireless, and private LTE networks to support grid monitoring, field communications, AMI, DER integration, and control room operations. Sessions will examine network architecture, mesh networks, automation, field area networks, wide area networks, cybersecurity, spectrum strategy, interoperability, and the critical role of private networks in enabling real-time data exchange, resilience, and system automation.

As transmission and distribution systems become more complex—with increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), renewable generation, and bi-directional power flows—the demands on control room operations are rising. This topic explores how utilities are evolving their control room strategies, tools, and teams to enhance situational awareness, improve system reliability, and enable faster, data-driven decision-making. Topics include advanced visualization, automation, operator training, Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs), and the evolving role of the control room in an increasingly digital and decentralized grid.

As customer expectations evolve, utilities are reimagining engagement through digital platforms, personalized communications, energy programs, and equity-focused solutions. This track highlights how utilities build trust, improve satisfaction, and deliver value while addressing the diverse needs of customers. Learn how data, technology, and human-centered design strengthen utility-customer relationships.

The FBI has issued a stark warning to the utility industry: critical infrastructure is now the top target for U.S. adversaries. Attacks, both cyber and physical, are becoming more frequent, threatening the reliability of grid operations, as well as sensitive customer information and asset performance. This topic will cover the implementation of cyber and physical security frameworks, asset security standards for distributed energy resources, software integration considerations, and NERC CIP requirements for the bulk power system.

Data analytics plays a critical role in optimizing grid operations, enhancing reliability, and improving decision-making for utilities. This topic explores how utilities are leveraging big data, AI-driven insights, and predictive analytics to improve asset management, outage detection, demand forecasting, and customer engagement. Discussions will also focus on integrating real-time data, improving situational awareness, and developing strategies to harness the full potential of utility data.

Distributed Energy Resources (DER) are reshaping the power grid by integrating renewable energy sources, battery storage, and demand response mechanisms. This topic covers advancements in DER deployment, management strategies, interconnection challenges, regulatory frameworks, and the role of DERs in improving grid resilience and reliability.

As distributed energy resources (DERs) proliferate across the grid, utilities need advanced tools to manage their growing complexity. Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) give utilities the visibility, control, and intelligence needed to integrate and optimize DERs across both transmission and distribution systems. This topic explores how DERMS supports real-time grid operations, enhances forecasting and load flexibility, and enables grid services from customer and community energy assets. Sessions will highlight DERMS architectures, utility implementation strategies, case studies and technical analysis.

Digital transformation is reshaping how utilities operate, plan, and serve customers—unlocking new levels of agility, efficiency, and insight. This topic explores how utilities are embracing digital tools and platforms to modernize everything from grid operations and asset management to customer experience and enterprise decision-making. Topics include data architecture, cloud adoption, IoT integration, digital twins, AI/ML applications, and change management.

Utilities are partnering with cities to deploy smart technologies, but as grid infrastructure grows more complex, the industry must shift decision-making to the edge. Discover the structural updates that are needed across currently siloed departments to integrate operations and decentralize energy management for a more resilient, responsive grid.

Sessions will detail how AI acts as a conduit between disparate functions, which can vary from identifying and planning for the next large-load interconnection to syncing units with real-time field operations. Beyond internal alignment, the track outlines the external integration required to bridge the gap between the utility and RTOs, defining market models of the future.

Energy storage is a critical tool for electric utilities navigating the demands of a more dynamic, distributed, and decarbonized grid. This topic explores how utilities are testing and deploying storage to enhance grid flexibility, support peak load management, enable renewable integration, and provide fast-responding ancillary services. Sessions will highlight storage applications across transmission, distribution, and behind-the-meter contexts—along with evolving business models, ownership structures, and regulatory considerations. Learn how utilities are leveraging storage as a strategic asset to improve reliability, reduce system costs, and accelerate the transition to a cleaner energy future

The grid edge is where innovation meets opportunity—spanning technologies and strategies that operate at or near the end user, including DERs, EVs, smart meters, flexible loads, and home energy systems. For utilities, the grid edge presents both operational challenges and powerful tools to support grid flexibility, customer engagement, and decarbonization. This track explores how utilities are managing and integrating grid-edge technologies, enabling two-way power flow, and partnering with customers to deliver new value streams. Topics include interoperability, data management, grid services from behind-the-meter assets, and utility-business model evolution.

Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) are reshaping how utilities optimize the performance and capacity of the transmission grid without the need for major infrastructure upgrades. By using advanced hardware and software solutions—such as dynamic line ratings, power flow control devices, and topology optimization—GETs allow utilities to unlock unused grid capacity, improve system flexibility, and accelerate the integration of renewable energy.

Grid modernization aims to fortify the distribution and transmission grids through physical infrastructure investments, as well as software, to improve system operability and resilience. This topic covers system hardening, undergrounding, ADMS, AMI, grid-enhancing technologies, and non-wires alternatives.

This topic will explore critical topics such as streamlining the interconnection process, maintaining grid reliability, integrating renewable energy, and meeting regulatory requirements. Attendees will gain insights into innovative tools, technologies, and strategies that ensure a seamless and efficient interconnection process while supporting grid resilience and sustainability.

For electric utilities, microgrids offer opportunities to support critical infrastructure, improve reliability in vulnerable areas, and partner with communities, campuses, and commercial customers on tailored energy strategies. This topic explores the role of utilities in planning, operating, and enabling microgrids—whether utility-owned, customer-driven, or hybrid models. Sessions will cover system architecture, islanding capabilities, regulatory challenges, and how microgrids fit into broader grid modernization and resilience strategies.

Evolving policies and regulations shape how utilities plan, operate, and invest—especially regulated utilities balancing innovation, reliability, and compliance. This session covers federal, state, and regional policy developments, interconnection rules, GET incentives, reliability standards, and market reforms. Learn how utilities align regulatory compliance with modernization, resilience, and clean energy goals.

With increasing pressure from extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and new demand patterns, utilities are prioritizing reliability and resilience across both transmission and distribution systems. This track explores how utilities are hardening assets, modernizing infrastructure, and strengthening the bulk power system to minimize disruptions and accelerate recovery.

Disaster Response is a crucial area for utilities, focusing on the preparedness, response, and recovery from natural or man-made disasters. This topic will explore best practices in emergency planning, real-time communication, wildfire mitigation, and grid restoration strategies. Emphasis will be placed on leveraging technology and data analytics to enhance situational awareness, minimize downtime, and ensure quick and safe power restoration in the aftermath of disasters.

A strong business strategy must align with a skilled, adaptable workforce. This track covers how utilities equip field teams with tools like mobile management, drones, and AR to improve safety and productivity, while also addressing talent attraction, upskilling, leadership development, and building diverse, inclusive teams. Learn how utilities invest in technology and people to strengthen today’s operations and build tomorrow’s workforce.

The electrification of transportation is accelerating—from passenger vehicles to medium- and heavy-duty fleets—and utilities are at the center of enabling this transformation. This topic explores how electric utilities are supporting EV adoption through infrastructure planning, rate design, fleet electrification programs, grid readiness, and cross-sector partnerships. Special focus will be given to public and private fleets, depot charging strategies, managed charging, and the role of utilities in supporting equity, resilience, and carbon reduction goals. Sessions will highlight utility-led initiatives, policy drivers, and scalable solutions for a rapidly electrifying transportation sector.

Vegetation contact remains one of the leading causes of outages, wildfire ignition, and reliability events—making vegetation management a core component of utility operations and risk mitigation. This topic explores how utilities are modernizing vegetation programs with the help of advanced technologies like satellite imagery, LiDAR, AI-enabled analytics, and mobile field tools. Sessions will also cover regulatory compliance, contractor coordination, risk prioritization, and strategies for operating in high-fire-threat or storm-prone areas. Learn how utilities are evolving vegetation management from a reactive task to a data-driven, proactive discipline.

These awards shine a spotlight on the breakthrough strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and bold leadership that are redefining grid reliability. We’re looking for the individuals, teams, and projects that are driving value on the ground today while building the definitive, real-world blueprint for tomorrow’s energy ecosystem.