Research

Bridging Innovation Series: Scaling Resilience & Flexibility on the Distribution Grid

SEPA convened electric industry stakeholders to discuss scaling grid flexibility and resilience.
Speakers shared insights on scaling pilots, building utility-vendor partnerships, and developing a technology stack.
This brief includes keys to success, barriers to progress, and takeaways from real-world projects.
Participants highlighted effective collaboration, integrated planning, and intentional design as keys to scaling pilots.
Technology leaders emphasized the value of integrating data, process planning, and technologies into a technology stack.

The U.S. electric grid is at a turning point. Growing electricity demand and evolving customer needs are reshaping how the grid is planned, operated, and maintained. Strengthening the distribution system to deliver clean, affordable, and resilient power requires the thoughtful planning and implementation of smart grid technologies and tools. This concerted planning ensures that utilities have the visibility and control over their system to leverage grid resources effectively and efficiently.

In March 2025, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) convened utilities, technology developers, and regulators at an industry conference workshop. Featuring insights from guest speaker organizations, SEPA’s workshop explored what it takes to scale resilience and flexibility on the distribution grid, and how utilities and their partners can move from pilots to sustained impact. This briefing summarizes the key themes, best practices, and actionable insights shared during the workshop.

Authors and Contributors:

Jared Leader, Senior Director, Research & Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
Weston Dengler, Senior Analyst, Research & Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
Mac Keller, Manager, Research & Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
Brittany Blair, Manager, Research & Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance