Summit Course Topics
The Summit's intensive three-day format features nationwide industry thought-leaders grappling with the challenges of the 21st century.
Keynote Sessions
Leading expert Greg Guthridge examines how technology advances are powering new ways to engage consumers in the increasingly diverse energy ecosystem.
Leading expert Charles Durant provides an assessment of foreign cyber threat to the U.S. including areas of greatest vulnerability, strategies to detect and deflect attacks on critical utility infrastructure, and challenges in building up the resiliency of our infrastructure to withstand disruptions.
The session explores how utilities are managing climate impact across diverse stakeholders (investors, customers, and activists) while maintaining a focus on resilience and affordability. Topics include the impacts of climate on the grid, insurance, risk, etc., and how utilities need to position themselves for the future.
Simulation
Expert facilitator Lyall Samaroden leads a dynamic, skill-building workshop on the essentials of human-centered design and customer-centricity.
Executive Panels
A panel of human resource executives examine challenges in the energy industry and the impact on the workforce. Topics include the digital workforce, culture and engagement, talent crisis, and the workforce of the future.
A panel of industry experts examine how big data is transforming the energy industry. Topics include using predictive analytics to prioritize risk, how energy companies are using big data to deliver what customers want, and machine learning.
A panel of industry CIOs discuss the opportunities and challenges of the digital transformation. Topics include the search for new talent, investing in new technologies, launching new products and services, and cybersecurity.
A panel of operations officers discuss the challenges of operating and coordinating a more complex grid with more information, distributed resources, and diverse customer expectations. Topics include managing a distribution system in transition, and balancing supply and demand by enabling more flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness.
A panel of energy industry leaders will discuss how their organizations are integrating sustainability into their vision, strategy, risk management framework, operations, and investment decisions. Topics include how organizational core values guide ESG strategy, balancing the needs and expectations of stakeholders while maintaining a focus on core values over the long term, and tailoring ESG goals to the unique characteristics of your customer needs, geographic location, and company size.
A panel of industry experts explore the legal and regulatory issues facing utilities in the new marketplace. Topics include solar, electric vehicles, community energy, microgrids and storage, and home energy management.
An energy industry CFO and an investment banker discuss the economic impact of new technologies, customer expectations, and changing business models. Topics include the impact of disruptive technologies on the planning and investment cycle, how customer expectations and changing policies are impacting investment decisions, and how rating agencies and Wall Street perceptions affect raising capital.
Stellar instructors Ralph Cavanagh and David Owens examine a view forward, responding to comprehensive energy and climate legislation and a new regulatory model.
A panel of industry CEOs explore today’s fast-paced change and discuss how they are aligning their vision with changing policy, regulation, and business models. Topics include increasing customer and employee expectations, new competitors, integrated grid, growing threats to resilience, and decarbonization.
"The Summit is an excellent forum on the latest energy industry trends through an informed and knowledgeable set of speakers and a highly engaged group of attendees - very well done with great customer focus!”Tom O’Brien, Vice President, Information & Technology Services PJM Interconnection, LLC.