Conference Agenda
Grid Modernization Xchange 2026 · May 27, 2026 · Virtual
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
All timings are in Pacific Time (PT / UTC-7)
08:45 – 09:00
Opening Remarks
09:00 – 09:30
Edison Squints: Thriving in Energy's Most Transformative Decade
- Navigate the transformation from centralized carbon-heavy grids to distributed, carbon-free systems powered by energy abundance
- Address the challenge of increased grid stresses with the development of localized avoided costs
- Leverage the Energy-AI-Climate Nexus to build resilient systems capable of supporting total civilizational dependence
09:30 – 10:00
Grid Modernization: Navigating Federal and State Policy
- Examining federal regulatory architectures including FERC Orders 1920 and 2222 to understand national objectives
- Evaluate New York State's Grid modernization efforts and Climate Action mandates, and how they are shaping standardized interconnection requirements
- Understanding the critical policy tensions between energy affordability, grid reliability, and the accelerating demands for more electricity
10:00 – 10:30
Managing High DER Penetration: Utility Insights for Grid Stability
- Analyze operational risks associated with high DER penetration based on leading North American utility case studies
- Develop comprehensive utility perspectives on managing grid stability while integrating record-breaking levels of distributed resources
- Identify proven technical insights and infrastructure requirements that enable the safe scaling of high-penetration energy systems
10:30 – 11:00
Refreshment Break
11:00 – 11:30
Making Flexibility Defensible: Unlocking Capital and Regulatory Confidence
- Address the structural gap between utility DER ambitions and system value to move beyond traditional reinforcement
- Integrate network constraints and market signals to enable grid-aware visibility for credible operational decisions
- Transform flexibility into investable, scalable resources through transparent valuation and internal regulatory alignment
11:30 – 12:00
The Smart Grid Evolution: Transitioning into the AI-Driven Energy Service Era
- Evaluate the historical evolution from foundational Smart Grid 1.0 to the fuel-mix complexities of the modern 2.0 landscape
- Identify new operational opportunities emerging at the intersection of advanced transmission technologies and artificial intelligence
- Strategize the integration of energy storage and data center loads into resilient, AI-enabled sustainable energy infrastructures
12:00 – 12:30
Building the Intelligent North American Grid: US-Mexico Cross-Border Integration
- Transform grid operations using ADMS, AI, and real-time data within diverse North American observability and regulatory structures
- Utilize storage and cross-border transmission as reliability tools for high-renewables and high-electrification environments
- Establish bankable, cyber-secure, and interoperable frameworks to create a competitive, truly connected North American power system
12:30 – 13:00
Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
13:00 – 13:30
Operationalizing AI: From Dashboards to Real-Time Decision Support
- Transition AI from static dashboards to active real-time decision support for control rooms and field operations
- Integrate distributed energy resources and new loads like EVs while maintaining high grid reliability and resilience
- Address critical scaling factors including data quality, cybersecurity protocols, and regulatory alignment for digital grids
13:30 – 14:00
Lowering Grid Intelligence Barriers: AI-Driven Demand-Side Management
- Address how accelerating electrification and DER integration necessitate next-generation grid intelligence beyond traditional AMI capabilities
- Overcome capital barriers for mid-sized utilities by examining financial challenges in deploying full-scale smart meter systems
- Establish scalable, retrofit-friendly data acquisition approaches that leverage existing infrastructure for high-quality load forecasting
14:00 – 14:30
Advanced Transmission Technologies: Unlocking Capacity and Interconnection
- Deploy Advanced Transmission Technologies as low-cost, fast-to-implement solutions for increasing grid observability and capacity
- Incorporate rigorous evaluation frameworks into utility planning processes to identify significant cost-saving opportunities
- Accelerate the integration of new entry from interconnection queues by utilizing Grid-Enhancing Technologies
14:30 – 15:00
Refreshment Break
15:00 – 15:30
Autonomous Aerial Intelligence: Enhancing Grid Visibility with Drones
- Deploy autonomous docked drone systems to achieve real-time situational awareness and rapid response for operational alerts
- Reduce operational costs and field exposure by integrating remote aerial inspections into existing smart grid workflows
- Centralize oversight by enabling subject matter experts to manage multiple utility sites and assets from anywhere
15:30 – 16:00
Power Flow Control: Solving the Infrastructure Puzzle for Efficient Transport of Electricity
- Optimize electricity transport frameworks to accommodate the rapid surge in demand from data centers and EVs
- Bridge the gap between skyrocketing renewable generation and load centers through advanced power flow control technologies
- Enhance transmission reliability and efficiency to ensure affordable electricity delivery across complex, decentralized modern grids
16:00 – 16:30
Open Grid-Interactive Loads: Scaling Affordable Peak Management
- Implement open-source Linux edge controllers to bridge legacy building protocols for affordable, scalable commercial load flexibility
- Utilize OpenADR and interoperable building stacks to automate multi-vendor device discovery and secure peak coordination
- Shift up to 20% of commercial HVAC and water heating loads to reduce system-wide summer peak demand
16:30 – 17:00
A Blueprint for Mass Deployment: Scaling Resilient Microgrids
- Implement scalable microgrid architectures to enhance grid stability and provide robust outage management across multiple sectors
- Integrate EV infrastructure and V2G technology with solar and storage to decarbonize the regional energy mix
- Optimize Distributed Energy Resources to reduce operational costs and build flexible capacity for fluctuating power demands
17:00 – 17:15
Closing Remarks
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