Utility Leaders Summit Agenda

Tuesday, October 3

7:30 a.m. Breakfast  |  Apache Room* 

8:30 a.m. Welcome Address  |  John Wasson, Chief Executive Officer, ICF and Kyle Wiggins, Senior Vice President, Utility and Program Services, ICF  |  Arizona Ballroom

8:45 a.m. Safety message and reminders

8:50 a.m. A global outlook: Understanding the macro drivers  |  Anne Choate, ICF, Nate Gillespie, PHI, Nick Bafaloukos, ComEd, and Sandeep Aujla, SDG&E

The energy transition is introducing opportunities for innovation across the entire sector. This session introduces a big-picture discussion of the summit’s key topics at a global level, including:

• Shift to decarbonization: The who, why, when, and how of shifting to GHG reduction-based targets.
• Utility resilience planning: A look into why utility resilience planning is critical to climate leaders in the region, state, and beyond.
• Addressing equity: Discussion of Justice40, inclusive financing, DBE participation, etc.

10:05 a.m. Break

10:20 a.m.  Leveraging multiple funding sources to develop transformational and sustainable programs and the infrastructure to support the "green economy”  |  Justin Rodgers, ICF, Ryan Arba, ICF, Ed Trumbull, ICF, and Laurie Duhan, BGE

This session will focus on the importance of utilizing all available resources to develop the next generation of programs and services that can deliver multiple objectives. This includes achieving GHG reductions, providing inflation relief, and supporting grid modernization efforts—all while investing in the human capital essential to achieving these outcomes. 

• How federal funding opportunities align with and impact utility priorities.
• Workforce development and investment. 

11:35 a.m. Communicating the energy transition to your customers  |  Nancy Caplan, ICF, Karen Cleeve, PSEG, Laura Baez, National Grid, Matt Silverman, ICF, and Laura Orfanedes, ICF

Learn about the importance of building trust with your customers as we navigate through a new era of energy efficiency and reliability. How can utilities establish confidence among customers with ever-evolving demands for energy that is affordable, equitable, safe, and good for the planet?

12:45 p.m. Lunch  |  Apache Room*

1:45 p.m. Afternoon icebreaker  |  Arizona Ballroom

1:50 p.m. A brighter future: How new program designs and tools will power the industry in the years to come  | Patty Cook, ICF and Haider Khan, ICF

This session will provide a cross-section of perspectives (policy, strategy, customer programs, and distribution grid) that converge on the role of customer programs in managing grid impacts and in enabling the utility’s role to provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Topics include:

• DER grid planning.
• Flexible load management strategy for implementation.
• Emerging industry trends and shifts to the standard program design framework.

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. The electric slide: Navigating the rapidly evolving electrification landscape  |  Chris Watson, ICF, Stacy Noblet, ICF, David Owen, CenterPoint Energy, Christine Measamer, PHI, and Terry Rother, SRP

This session will feature expert and utility perspectives on planning for and flexibly managing increased electricity demand from passenger vehicles, fleets, and buildings. Topics include:

• Transportation electrification trends.
• Building electrification opportunities.
• Utility pilots and programs.

4:15 p.m. Ask me anything: Energy edition  |  Anne Choate, ICF and Karen Reif, PSE&G

6:00 p.m. Transportation to El Chorro Lodge

6:30 p.m. El Chorro Lodge reception

9:00 – 9:30 p.m. Return transportation

*Meals will be in the Apache Room; not the Vista Verde Room

Wednesday, October 4

7:30 a.m. Breakfast  |  Apache Room*  

8:30 a.m. Safety message and reminders  |  Arizona Ballroom

8:35 a.m. Morning icebreaker

8:45 a.m. Innovation and pilots: Failure does not have to be an option  |  Kevin Duffy, ICF, Andrea Gopaulsingh, ConEd, Nick Bafaloukos, ComEd, and Nick Lange, ICF

The “fail fast, fail often” viewpoint is wrong. You don’t have to fail the first time to be successful, but you do have to learn from your mistakes. This session will focus on a structured approach to trying new ideas that minimizes risk and effort.

• How to design pilots for takeoff.
• Program showcase.

10:15 a.m.  Break

10:30 a.m. Empowering the utility program network to support the energy transition  |  Mike Jung, ICF, Matt Georgescu, ASU Urban Climate Research Center, Nathan Morey, SRP, and Tison Reno, Entergy Mississippi

• Discuss complementary and competing priorities.
• Review benefits and risks.
• Discuss locational and grid impacts 

12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Activities and departures

*Meals will be in the Apache Room; not the Vista Verde Room