
The 2021 Virtual Experience
Utility Conference is exclusively for the busy utility professional responsible for distributed and renewable energy programs. They need answers from the community they trust.
This is an experience where peer-to-peer utility learning is emphasized and supported by subject matter experts.
Get the tools, experience and expertise to increase performance, innovation, and peer-to-peer collaboration as the energy system moves to a carbon-free future.
- Utility thought leaders responsible for carbon reduction and grid modernization programs from across the U.S.
- A utility-only community experience
- Intense, collaborative learning with your peers
What’s new this year
Be the office legend
Bring all of your coworkers (the entire company if you want, no caps, no limits) for the cost of one in-person event registration.
Learn better in a team?
Let SEPA do the legwork so you can nail down takeaways and brainstorm with utility peers.
Make networking fun with pub-style trivia
- Monday, April 12
- Tuesday, April 13
- Wednesday, April 14
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4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Incentivizing Innovation Through Thoughtful RegulationThe 2021 Utility Conference opening general session will feature a fireside chat with SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm. This chat will investigate the challenges, opportunities, and realities of the shifting economics changing utilities, and the interstate wholesale power markets that serve them. The conversation will discuss the role of distributed energy resources in transmission, the investment risk of fossil fuel assets, an analysis of recently implemented carbon reduction strategies, and much more.
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Julia HammPresident and CEOSmart Electric Power AllianceModerator
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6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Welcomes, Introductions, and Trivia Quiz
This year’s virtual event is a different experience from past years, but we’ve done our best to create a creative, instructional, and engaging event. One of the biggest challenges we face with the virtual experience is facilitating organic collaboration between attendees. Attendees have been grouped together in diverse groups with similar educational goals, and we've organized a bit of what we hope will be a fun, competitive utility trivia challenge. The next 90-minutes will provide you with an opportunity to get to know your group, and have some fun competing with your fellow attendees.
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1:00 PM - 1:45 PM What a Long Strange Year it's Been: Navigating Uncertainty to Create a More Resilient UtilityAfter the initial shock in March 2020, utilities faced significant, and urgent, internal challenges to first maintain services and then continue with the general business of the utility, including the essential efforts of grid modernizations. Most successful utilities have turned these challenges into opportunities and led with exceptional courage and compassion.
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Jenell McKayPolicy & Strategy Manager, Advanced Clean TechnologySDG&ESpeaker
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2:00 PM - 2:45 PM Is Stakeholder Engagement Zooming Along?When it comes to developing pilots, programs, and other customer offerings stakeholder engagement is the secret sauce. How are utilities supporting the communities they serve while proactively engaging stakeholders in a virtual environment? This session will investigate the opportunities for utility/stakeholder engagement, lessons learned, and best practices when face to face isn't an option.
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Mary C PalmerEnvironmental Program CoordinatorAustin EnergySpeaker
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2:00 PM - 2:45 PM Integrated Distribution Planning: Strategy Stories from Peers
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3:00 PM - 3:45 PM The Tale of 2222: Emerging Technologies and Wholesale MarketsDERs are rapidly changing the way the grid is managed. This session will investigate the rapid adoption of these technologies and the effects they have on overall utility performance both at the circuit level and in different applications from high density feeders to rural circuits. Our panel of experts will discuss emerging regulatory and technological advances including cluster studies, performance metrics, the proliferation of dispatchable smart inverters and how FERC order 2222 will tie it all together.
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3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Equitable Program Design for a Carbon-Free FutureMaximizing participation in clean energy programs and initiatives is a group effort. This session will discuss how the emPOWER campaign became a scalable model for addressing the needs of low to moderate income customers and improving access to environmental benefit programs in California.
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Tom KnoxExecutive DirectorValley Clean Air NowSpeaker
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1:00 PM - 1:45 PM A Clean and Modern Transition: Ensuring the Table is Set for What Comes NextCustomers and external stakeholders are hungry for what comes next with a clean and modern grid but we know effectively managing that transition is a challenge for utility leadership, their teams, and the systems and services their customers rely on. How can we set the table today by thoughtfully implementing carbon reduction and grid modernization plans that will ensure customers enjoy a sustainable and reliable system down the road. Start off your last day of Utility Conference with an appetite for solutions!
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Jolene ThompsonPresident and Chief Executive OfficerAmerican Municipal PowerSpeaker
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Sharon AllanChief Strategy OfficerSEPAModerator
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2:00 PM - 2:45 PM The Customer is Always Right: Tailoring Solutions Through Green Tariff ProgramsFor large buyers, purchasing clean energy is not one size fits all. Utilities can utilize green tariffs as a bespoke option for meeting customer's clean energy needs and goals. This session will compare different green tariff solutions from across the country.
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Heather MulliganManager, Customer Renewable Energy ProgramsPuget Sound EnergyModerator
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Kevin BrannanManager, DER Products and ServicesEvergySpeaker
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2:00 PM - 2:45 PM Achieving Municipal and Transit Agency Electrification GoalsMunicipalities and transit agencies across the country are rapidly adopting clean transportation goals. This session will cover strategic approaches to help these entities achieve their goals including increasing charging infrastructure and utilizing microgrids, energy storage, and grid energy services.
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Garrett FitzgeraldPrincipal, ElectrificationSEPAModerator
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Yamen NanneElectric Transportation Program ManagerLADWPSpeaker
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3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Deliberate Collaboration: Building the Utility of the Future at the Expense of NoneAggressive state and local carbon reduction goals have led to an increase of renewable generation and transmission assets, many of which need to be sited on land under the stewardship of proactive community leadership. How can utilities proactively collaborate, and not compete with these communities? This session will identify how PNM successfully transitioned to a culture of thoughtful, deliberate collaboration with 23 sovereign tribal nations across the state to partner for the effective stewardship of the environment to the benefit of all parties.
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3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Unique Pairings: Rate Design for a Carbon-Free FutureConcerned with developing modern utility pricing solutions that accelerate carbon reduction efforts? This unique made for virtual session will feature pre-recorded interviews and a live Q&A with our panelists who will investigate recent efforts to renovate rate design to support carbon reduction efforts. Get ready to challenge your pre-existing assumptions about rate design.