Sessions

To register for this course, click here! Effective project management for electric, water, and gas utilities relies on superior implementation approaches, techniques, and skills. Implementation success for utility projects is not a given in our industry in general where as many as 80% of projects fail to meet their technical, cost, or schedule objectives. For projects which have achieved success, strong project management has proven to be the essential ingredient. The documented benefits of good project management are myriad, but the effects are easy to see: projects which deliver to their goals despite the inevitable hurdles present in any large-scale endeavor.  Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.    This course distills lessons learned and best practices from successful projects into an understandable guide and roadmap for those either about to embark, or currently managing a project. Students will be taken through the planning process, from the very first planning steps through the project closeout and operational transition, and how to position the organization for even greater benefit in the future. Specific guidelines, approaches, and techniques to avoid issues and maximize benefits, with examples and case studies tools will be taught. By the end of the course, the student will have gained the knowledge and key lessons learned to manage successfully based on multiple utility implementations.  Who should attend this course? All utility personnel involved in utility projects, from executive sponsors and project management to utility operational personnel, will benefit from the complete understanding of project resource needs, business impacts, customer benefits/impacts, and technology.  Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications  A college education and familiarity with utility operations is helpful.

To register for this course, click here! Course purpose: The course will show attendees examples of how utilities are evolving their grid modernization investments while migrating from Smart Grid 1.0 to Smart Grid 2.0 and into the Digital Utility 3.0 level.  This course lays out a transformation path regardless of the starting point.  What many utilities have found over the last few years, even with the best vendors selected and very good intentions of maximizing the benefits identified in the business cases, is that often after a few years something was missing holding them back from getting all the value from their investments. The following items will be covered: Key Trends for Future Technology Considerations: i) Overall utility technology trends,  ii) Current state of grid modernization taking place, iii) Communications infrastructure future, and iiii) Utility of the future - what does it look like. Learn from the Past: Review of 2001-2021 Smart Grid investment shortfalls that existed even at progressive utilities, which typically were keeping them from maximizing their investment. Approaches for Developing the Digital Utility Roadmap: Establishing digital utility and technology investments in the overall Strategic Plan Migration from current automation to next-generation investments: 1) Nextgen AMI, 2) SCADA to ADMS, 3) Communicating with DER endpoints, 4) Work Management to Asset Management, 5) Next Gen. Mobile Workforce optimization Electric Infrastructure Foundations Next-Generation Communications Infrastructure Managing DER and Behind-the-Meter (BTM) Programs  New Customer Offerings (products/services) Maximizing Analytics Staffing trends needed for the digital utility. Approaches for Justifying and Getting Approval for digital utility investments Describe the specific knowledge, skills, and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.  Insights on separating “industry hype from reality.” An understanding of the differences in the business case output from foundational investments i.e., GIS, MDM, FAN, etc.) to applications-specific investments AMI, DA, DER communications. Approaches to a gradual smart migration to next-generation AMI to the Field Area Network to BTM communications. The methodology for creating a digital utility roadmap. The methodology for maximizing organizational change management. New approaches for growing new types of revenue outside of traditional regulated kWh or Therms driven consumption. Who should attend this course?  Utility and vendor executives tasked with creating a digital utility plan. Utility executives to project managers from IT tasked with building the future digital infrastructure. Experienced engineers that oversee SCADA, ADMS, DA, AMI, and new DER programs that are now tasked with replacing their legacy communications infrastructure with the next generation communications Vendors are creating new product lines to address the digital utility needs of the future. Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications: None

To register for this course, click here! The purpose of this course is to educate utility, regulator, and vendor decision-makers and implementers on the new IEEE 1547.1 Interoperability requirements (section 10 in IEEE 1547-2018); help the audience understand what is/is not included in certified UL 1741 SB products vis-à-vis interoperability; provide guidance on the implications of the new Interoperability requirement for utilities, regulators and vendors; and to suggest strategies for leveraging the game-changing inverter technology.      This course describes the fundamental challenges in integrating inverter-based DERs into grid operations and the significant changes being implemented by inverter vendors to enable more scalable interoperability between all systems in the Grid-DER management infrastructure.    The course is aimed at those decision-makers and implementers working on short-term and long-term strategic plans for scaling DER integration into grid operations.  The understanding and adoption of standard communications protocols for inverter-based communications are critical to success.  Who should attend this course? The course is aimed at senior executives, product managers, engineers, software developers, system architects, and IT professionals who are planning to (or in the process of) design, integrate, or maintain a scalable DER communications infrastructure using standard communication protocols.   Attendees should have a working knowledge of DER products and capabilities as defined by IEEE 1547-2018.   Experience with DER interconnection requirements and management of DERs would be beneficial but not required.  Experience in the field is probably more important as a pre-requisite than specific degrees or certifications. 

To register for this course, click here! This course will provide an overview of the use of the Common Information Model (CIM) for organizing grid model data,  focusing on the use of CIM data constructs to enable effective network model data management solutions inside the utility enterprise. The course will cover a variety of topics related to leveraging the CIM to improve utility management of grid model data, including: The distribution network model management challenge Organizing utility grid model data management using a business function approach Grid Model Manager tool functional requirements CIM data constructs for the modeling of power system data CIM data constructs for the management of power system data CIM-related IEC Standards overview Areas of current CIM activity relevant to distribution grid model management The course is suited to technical and manager-level utility personnel working in the operations, planning, or GIS areas as well as those working in IT roles supporting those areas. It will provide information useful to utility personnel in: designing local solutions for managing network model data from its source in engineering and facilities tools to its ultimate use in planning, protection, and operations network analysis tools specifying CIM-standard interfaces in tool procurements specifying requirements for tools expected to perform the grid model management function It is also suited to vendor personnel who are developers or product managers for tools that are used to supply, consume, or manage grid model data (including GIS, engineering design tools, and network analysis software such as planning/protection tools and OMS, DMS or ADMS). The course will provide information vendor personnel would find useful in: understanding the enterprise-wide requirements of distribution utilities related to grid model management designing CIM-aligned tool interfaces that enable effective utility model management solutions understanding the functional requirements of tools intended to deliver grid model management capability Attendees familiar with the use, creation, or management of grid model data at utilities will gain maximum benefit from this course.  

To register for this course, click here! The purpose of this course is to educate students on:  The role of Outage Management Systems (OMS) at utilities  The core OMS modules and functions   The role of GIS models in OMS  How Emergency Management practices are being embraced and used by utilities  How customer communications are evolving related to outages Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.    Learn about:  Outage Management System Modules and Capabilities  Outage communications   ADMS and OMS operations business processes and trends  Maintaining OMS models  Seattle City Light’s OMS (a case study) Use of OMS at CenterPoint Energy and one other utility in both blue sky days and during storms  Overview of the future directions of OMS   Who should attend this course?    New OMS (and ADMS) end-users  OMS administrators  Control Center Managers  Customer Service managers  People involved in the procurement of a new or replacement OMS or ADMS.  Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications  A limited and/or minimal understanding of electric utility practices  No IT, OMS or emergency management experience needed 

To register for this course, click here! The hype around storage is only matched by the need for storage as the grid transforms.  This course will provide the following information: Fact based comparison between the different types of storage available An understanding of the characteristics of storage  11 different types of standard batteries,   7 different kinds of flow batteries, and   24 different types of non-battery storage (e.g., hydrogen, ammonia, small pumped hydro, etc.).   Safety, capital cost, O&M cost, facility life, storage life, ramp rates, charge time, round trip efficiency, etc.  Discussion of uses cases, duration and value   Regulations and compliance standards for storage including an introduction to NFPA855 An understanding of which questions to ask storage vendors. Who should attend this course?   Energy industry professionals who want have basic knowledge about energy storage in order to help identify which type of storage will meet their needs.   This course is designed to be jargon-free and provide a basic understanding of storage in layman’s terms. It is useful for all levels from final decision makers to line engineers.  

To register for this course, click here! Course purpose This course will provide information electric utilities need to plan, integrate, and commission an advanced distribution management system (ADMS) that includes functions for electrical optimization, outage management, DER Management, and other advanced applications. Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.  System integration guidelines and challenges Current vendor offerings Implementation strategy Lessons learned by at least two leading utilities who have recent ADMS implementation experience Who should attend this course Electric utility operators, engineers and managers involved in the operation, design and optimization of electric distribution systems Representatives of electric distribution companies that are implementing or planning to implement ADMS functionality Information technology and business process personnel responsible for system integration and transitioning to modern distribution control centers Financial personnel interested in the business case for deploying ADMS Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications Knowledge of electric distribution operations Business processes for managing customer outages General knowledge of communication media for remote monitoring and control of electric power apparatus

To register for this course, click here! This course provides an examination of the fundamentals of electric utility supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems with a focus on case studies, industry best practices, and application of the concepts. Key topics to be covered include:  SCADA system benefits, building blocks, and system integration  The business case for SCADA  Delivering reliability outcomes through digital technologies  Introduction to and comparison of communication technologies and protocols  The use of SCADA in emerging applications  Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.  A student new to SCADA will leave with a thorough understanding of why these systems are so important to reliable grid operation as well as what other technologies and considerations accompany an actual deployment. A critical component of this class is the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters and share experiences/issues with follow classmates. The presenters have over 60 years combined experience in this area so the talk will include many “real world” equipment and project examples (utility case studies) to go along with the technology narrative.  Who should attend this course?  Engineers and managers responsible for planning and cost justifying SCADA, communications, and smart grid  Engineers responsible for designing and implementing a SCADA, communications, or smart grid project, or contributing to its design and implementation  Nontechnical professionals who wish to get an introduction to SCADA and smart grid  technologies  Operators and technicians working with SCADA, communications or smart grid  systems  Project Managers  Engineers and sales personnel working for suppliers and integrators of hardware and software products used in SCADA, communications or smart grid  and related fields  Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications  No prior knowledge of SCADA or certifications required 

To register for this course, click here! In this course the Chair of the IEEE DNP Technical Committee will explain the philosophy (and terminology) underpinning IEEE Standard 1815 (DNP3); explain its structural components and clarify a number of areas that people sometimes find difficult to grasp. Some lesser-known features of DNP3 and current developments will also be discussed. The course is structured to encourage attendees to question or discuss any aspect of DNP3 or SCADA systems that interest them, without being restricted to the course’s topic areas.  Topics:  DNP3 Philosophy & Terminology Addressing Data Models, Data Types & Structures Data Collection & Control Mechanisms DNP3 Classes DNP3 Subset Levels Less well-known features: Engineering Cybersecurity Mapping to IEC 61850 DER applications Conformance Testing Prerequisites:  Attendees should have familiarity with SCADA systems, but are not required to have detailed knowledge of DNP3. Target Audience:  Engineers and technicians responsible for design, specification, configuration, installation and fault-finding of SCADA equipment that uses DNP3 for transmission of SCADA data. 

To register for this course, click here! As the power system is moving toward an inverter-dominated system, this course is intended to inform the audience on the need for grid-forming inverters, including the definition, use cases, and performance requirements of these inverters.  Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.   Attendees of the course will acquire knowledge on:   System needs from inverter-based resources in an inverter-dominated system  The definition of a grid-forming inverter and how it differs from a grid-following inverter  Grid-forming control methods and their high-level operation principles  Use cases for grid-forming inverters in the distribution and transmission grid  Performance requirements of grid-forming inverters in utility-scale microgrids    Who should attend this course?    Engineers and consultants working in the areas of  Transmission planning and operations  Distribution planning and operations  Microgrid design and operation  Owners of inverter-based generation resources  Inverter vendors    Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications  Basic understanding of power system operation and grid support from inverter-based resources 

To register for this course, click here! The purpose of this course is to educate students on:  Outage Optimization and Digital Strategies for OMS  Advanced ADMS/OMS Data Exchanges   Visibility of Network Models Outside of the Control Center  Advanced Outage Analytics  OMS Product Roadmaps  Using Fault Data and AMI Data to Improve Outage Predictions  Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.    Learn about:  Digital Communications Strategies   Outage Data Exchanges, Standards and Protocols   Network Model Visibility  Maintaining OMS models  Advanced Outage Analytics  Future Directions of OMS Products  Fault Data and AMI Data Integration  Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Management   Who should attend this course?    Experienced OMS (and ADMS) end-users  OMS administrators  Control Center Managers  Customer Service managers  People involved in the procurement of a new or replacement OMS or ADMS  Emergency Preparedness Managers  Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications  Some exposure to electric utility practices  Basic experience withs OMS or emergency management practices and/or Outage Management Fundamentals 

To register for this course, click here! This course provides an in-depth look at the systems that utilize supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) information, functionality, and secure networks for advanced applications. Key topics to be covered include:  Distribution Automation (DA) and Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS)  Integration with other systems such as distributed energy resources (specifically solar PV and energy storage systems), new power electronics devices, and microgrids  The impacts of IT/OT convergence and data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robots  SCADA system design and best practices  Cybersecurity considerations and perspectives   Describe the specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course.    Those wishing to build on an existing background in SCADA should expect to learn how other applications utilize the data, implementation challenges, and the latest tools for securing the system against cyber threats. As with the "fundamentals” course, attendees will be encouraged to bring questions and experiences to share. The presenters will address these and facilitate discussion on how the time-tested methods of utility data acquisition and control can be married with new, more complex applications.  Who should attend this course?    Engineers and managers responsible for planning and cost justifying SCADA, communications, and smart grid Engineers responsible for designing and implementing a SCADA, communications, or smart grid project, or contributing to its design and implementation  Nontechnical professionals who wish to get an introduction to SCADA and smart grid technologies  Operators and technicians working with SCADA, communications, or smart grid systems  Project Managers  Engineers and sales personnel working for suppliers and integrators of hardware and software products used in SCADA, communications or smart grid and related fields  Prerequisite skills, knowledge, certifications  No prior knowledge of SCADA or certifications required 

To register for this course, click here! To discuss the rapidly changing demographics of the current and incoming workforce, and how this relates directly to achieving goals of gender and LGBTQIA+ based diversity and inclusion (D&I). To explain the basic principles of showing respect, equity, fairness, and inclusion towards employees, vendors, clients, and all persons worldwide - regardless of the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity. To demonstrate via an example how building this positive goals-oriented respectful culture will empower all your employees to be their very best. Throughout the session, attendees participate in role-playing using real-life examples to help us recognize our own unconscious bias and how it impacts the organization. These examples will help us consider “How that situation made us feel?,” what you thought about while the situation was happening,” and what did you learn about yourself and others?” We will talk about microaggression and macroaggression and their impact on the work environment. You will gain best practices to remove misconceptions and stereotypes and engage in dialogue that will be the catalyst for change. The presenter will provide practical tips that help you manage situations positively and productively. Describe the specific knowledge, skills, and /or capabilities that attendees should acquire through this course. Learning specific action plans for engaging management and employees as a team to create an inclusive workspace, as well as communicating your commitment to such both internally and externally. Successful strategies for crafting or changing Human Resources guidelines, updating management and employee training materials, and having meaningful enforcement of these policies – including ensuring that employee benefits programs are inclusive and fair. How to encourage D&I in employee recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention. The role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and community participation, and how to develop workable and sustainable programs. Addressing sub-contractor, supplier, and vendor diversity concerns. Developing and tracking internal and external compliance metrics for success. Being aware of continuing “change as usual.” Who should attend this course? Supervisors and managers at all levels, customer-facing professionals, human resources and talent development personnel, corporate training, and education staff, etc. especially those who work with others from various countries and cultures from around the world? This topic is highly applicable to the STEM fields where a significant gender-based division exists that has been traditionally weighted heavily towards one side. Prerequisite skills and knowledge: Nothing specifically required.

To register for this course, click here! This course provides a fresh unbiased perspective on communications technologies for critical applications for both existing automation programs and for future programs as defined in your Grid Modernization Master Plan.  Most utilities already have some form of backhaul communications for SCADA, AMI, and DA.  However, the emerging grid modernization programs are being expanded by adding new applications and greatly expanding existing programs. Communicating with customer-owned DER endpoints has become a growing challenge, the communication requirements for DA and AMI backhaul are also expanding and substations are becoming communication node locations.     The latest communications breakthroughs listed below will be reviewed with case studies used to enhance the learning outcomes.  Comparisons will be made regarding: latency, reliability, spectrum required, communication protocols, ease or challenge of obtaining end-point coverage, throughput potential, power requirements, typical pricing and several other characteristics.  The architecture, vendor solutions, costs and cost justification process and value proposition will be covered while addressing the following:  Private LTE Overview Including a Private LTE Case Study  Private LTE as your Long-Term AMI Metering Solution:    802.16s WiMAX Overview:    Licensed Broadband Spectrum Sources: 900 MHz, 700 MHz, 600 MHz, 220 MHz  Review the Narrowband Communication Alternatives:   AMI as a Backhaul for the Field Area Network Programs:    Communications Beyond the Meter  Fiber Optics as part of the WAN:  Commercial cellular Specific knowledge, skills and/or capabilities that attendees will acquire: Learn about private LTE and 802.16s and the use of licensed spectrum for your Field Area Network applications.   Discover new opportunities to commercialize communication assets.  Learn about new applications that are now requiring communications – C&I DER, home automation Behind-the-meter (BTM), private drone communications, expanded DA program, others.   The ability to separate technology hype with great future promise versus technologies that are ready for a 2022 deployment. Who should attend this course?    This course is targeted for a variety of skill sets and experience levels including the following:   Senior Executives who are tasked with approving recommendations that involve millions of dollars of smart utility infrastructure can benefit by learning about the trade-offs of different communication technologies and key questions they should be asking their staffs.  Utility strategy personnel looking for new opportunities to expand a utilities revenue (either regulated or deregulated).  For experienced engineers that oversee SCADA, ADMS, DA, AMI and new DER programs that are now tasked with replacing their legacy communications infrastructure with the next generation communications.  For IT staff that that may have focused more on internal applications that are now assigned to project teams that involve the WAN and FAN for the future selection or deployment of next generation communications infrastructure.  For project managers that may not be experts with communication technologies but will be involved with procuring, deploying or managing communication infrastructure projects.  For attendees that only have time for a four-hour class and want to receive a fresh update on the state of industry for Field Communications for mission critical programs like SCADA, DA, AMI and DER backhaul. 

To register for this course, click here! As cybersecurity requirements continue to grow, utility industry vendors and suppliers are constantly challenged to keep up with the latest requirements in a cost-effective way. The purpose of this course is to familiarize attendees with the latest cybersecurity requirements, proven methods to achieve compliance, and how cost savings and enhanced business operations can be realized through the latest designs of cybersecurity infrastructures and modern communication networks. Attendees will acquire An overview of IEC 61850 and its role in efficient information-based operations in utilities going forward. Who should attend: Cyber security personnel, compliance managers, protection and control engineers/ managers; asset managers, system planners, maintenance personnel, utility IT personnel, operations personnel   Prerequisite skills and knowledge: Utility operation and communication fundamentals.

To register for this course, click here! This course is focused on Data Operations in the real-time world of AMI and IoT.  This course answers these questions: What are the critical activities for monitoring and managing the real-time and near real-time data from smart meters and the plethora of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors being added to utility communications? How can you simplify the millions of data elements which flow into the utility data operations by automating the monitoring and management, filtering the noise and getting information to the systems and personnel who can utilize the information? How do you increase the utilization of the valuable data from millions of metering and sensing endpoints? What are the right systems and personnel to monitor, manage and analyze this overwhelming amount of data? AMI and IoT are moving to edge computing, how do you move data operations from a static to a dynamic view to take advantage of this? Who should attend this course and what knowledge is required? Project managers, IT managers, Operations and Analytics personnel.  Basically, any utility personnel who expect to be involved in the utilization or operation AMI and IoT with millions of real-time endpoints.  Anyone considering the implementation of AMI, MDM, MAMS and/or Enterprise Analytics and would like to understand how the solution will be operated and why consideration of operation is important at the start, rather than the end, of the project. Attendees must understand the metering and sensing requirements and data required by utility operations.

With the backdrop of 14 years as governor of the nation’s second-largest state and a lifetime of public service, former Texas Governor Rick Perry shares with audiences his thoughts on current events and conveys what he’s learned from his extensive executive and legislative experiences with examples he faced as governor of the Lone Star State.

This keynote session sets the stage and kicks off three exciting days of education and networking at DISTRIBUTECH International®. Day one will open with a keynote address by Jim Greer, Executive Vice President and COO of Oncor; Tom Deitrich, President and Chief Executive Officer to Itron; Braden Cammauf, Head of FPT Industrial Brand Nafta; and Rick Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and Governor of Texas.

Initiate is the hub at DISTRIBUTECH to hear about new technology, innovation, and up and coming talent in the energy sector. There will be 25 amazing startup companies pitching for a chance to win an award from Duke Energy and Clarion Energy Events. Stop by booth #3755 on the POWERGEN side to hear pitches and content centered around energy innovation.

Distributed energy resources can deliver significant value to grid operators, prosumers, and customers in general. When well managed, DERs create a more resilient grid, provide grid services to enhance reliability and improve supply economics, and enable the move towards a decarbonized grid.      This session provides a broad overview of DERMS requirements and capabilities as an essential system for a modernized grid. A number of use cases and case studies will highlight applications, implementation approaches, value streams, and field experience. Roles of DERMS in contrast to ADMS will be discussed along with deployment strategies and requirements.

To register for this session, click here!

Utility companies are facing tough challenges this year due to the energy transition. From boosting clean energy to ensuring reliable and resilient services, utilities need to rethink their operational strategies to help keep pace. Companies are turning to technology to help meet these new demands. But how can utilities with complex systems take on the challenge of new technology?
Join this session to learn how your organization can navigate digital transformation. You'll learn how to gain operational efficiencies, strengthen customer relationships, and speed up your road to net-zero.

The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) in the distribution system is creating an unprecedented series of opportunities and challenges for grid operators. The ability to harness the power of DERs through a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) is critical in order to gain visibility into the location and operational characteristics of DERs with control over those assets also being key. This session will present diverse viewpoints from an investor-owned utility, a public power authority, and a co-op on the value of DERMS, how to optimize DERs for multiple use cases, where each organization is on their DERMS journey, and where they see the final destination of that journey. font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;

To register for this session, click here!

The industry is undergoing a fundamental change faced with unpredictable climate change and move towards electrification, non-traditional energy sources and providers. But the investments in infrastructure have failed to keep pace leading to catastrophic results in some cases. Electricity has also gone from a novelty to a necessity in the last 100+ years, and we’ve seen a varied response, often dependent on geography, socioeconomics, and the partnerships and vision of individual utilities to address the challenge of re-imaging the very nature of the grid. Utilities must establish a comprehensive and strategic vision to re-building the grid with resiliency, sustainably and with affordability in mind. Integrating modern technologies within existing infrastructure, testing them in real time while maintaining current services. These organizations, historically slow moving and risk adverse must learn to turn (and innovate) fast. At the same time, some utilities are well ahead of the curve, topping the leader board in supporting sustainable energy. However, these frontrunners also serve as our frontline, dealing with the pain of first-time issues and new challenges unique to early adopters. Join us for an insightful panel discussion that will explore the challenges and some real-world examples of how utilities, state and local governments are rising to meet these challenges head on.The industry is undergoing a fundamental change faced with unpredictable climate change and move towards electrification, non-traditional energy sources and providers. But the investments in infrastructure have failed to keep pace leading to catastrophic results in some cases. Electricity has also gone from a novelty to a necessity in the last 100+ years, and we’ve seen a varied response, often dependent on geography, socioeconomics, and the partnerships and vision of individual utilities to address the challenge of re-imaging the very nature of the grid. Utilities must establish a comprehensive and strategic vision to re-building the grid with resiliency, sustainably and with affordability in mind. Integrating modern technologies within existing infrastructure, testing them in real time while maintaining current services. These organizations, historically slow moving and risk adverse must learn to turn (and innovate) fast. At the same time, some utilities are well ahead of the curve, topping the leader board in supporting sustainable energy. However, these frontrunners also serve as our frontline, dealing with the pain of first-time issues and new challenges unique to early adopters. Join us for an insightful panel discussion that will explore the challenges and some real-world examples of how utilities, state and local governments are rising to meet these challenges head on.

More residences and small-to-medium commercial buildings are adopting smart, internet-connected devices that could enable simple, scalable, and low-cost interactions between utilities and residential electrical loads and generation sources. These residential distributed energy resources (DERs), if aggregated and efficiently cost-controlled, could help balance grid operations, thus improving operational efficiency, reliability, and resiliency of the power grid. The challenge is that these loads are widely dispersed, relatively small, and operate under user constraints. Some utilities use third-party companies to sign up customers for voluntary curtailment programs for specific appliances such as air conditioners. But those services can be costly for utilities, they typically use proprietary software, and don’t take advantage of the range of multi-vendor devices available in the emerging smart appliance world. To address this industry challenge, the Department of Energy, working through the national laboratories of the Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium (GMLC), has sponsored a research project to provide electric utilities with the necessary software and hardware, all based on open standards, to bring intelligent, coordinated control of residential DERs. The team has developed and validated a home energy management system (HEMS), which provides a standardized grid interface with a utility. The system serves as a platform for deploying intelligent algorithms to execute grid-responsive functionality of a broad portfolio of residential multi-vendor devices. The project team developed hierarchical, decentralized control and optimization technology capable of providing the response needed to deliver guaranteed grid services to utilities. The team has partnered with utilities in the Southeast, including Southern Company, Duke Energy and Tennessee Valley Authority, to identify, test and validate grid-responsive services including peak demand reduction and renewable responsive load shaping using residential loads. The project team has tested control signals and interactions in a laboratory environment and has deployed devices for five appliance types in several locations with utilities across the region. The project team has used these field trials to validate advanced control functions that support distribution resiliency and end-to-end interoperability, using open standards and open-source platforms. This presentation will report on the results.

The future of energy in Texas and the US is one of carbon-free promise, but numerous challenges face us in designing and operating an electrical system to meet the growing demand for power while ensuring resiliency, reliability, and security. How do we manage these challenges within a changing regulatory regime and with an evolving threat environment? Deepa Poduval, Vice President & Global Advisory Leader at Black & Veatch kicks off the Leadership Summit with a short introduction. Following his remarks will be a conversation with former US Secretary of Energy and former Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, Massoud Amin, professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, and Julia Matevosyan, Chief Engineer at ESIG Energy. This give-and-take discussion will offer a candid assessment of the policy, technology, and cybersecurity issues that are crucial to the bulk power system’s future.

DERMS technology is essential to managing the increasing quantity and variety of DER on the grid. But the integration of these new tools and assets is still in its infancy, with no manual to guide the most cost-effective way to transition to the grid of the future. Expectations around optimal use of DERMS have largely focused on energy trading and less on harnessing value on the operations side. However, DERMS technology is underutilized compared with its potential. Advances in sensor technology combined with a DERMS platform offer new business models to optimize operations and derive additional value. For example, the DERMS model may show that a utility has 50 GW of capacity when data from a real-time operational sensor shows a capacity of 75 GW. To explore this potential, Enbala and PSEG-Long Island are working with Micatu to apply real-time operational sensing with DERMS technology. This project aims to help utilities open capacity and develop business models better adapted to DER proliferation. This presentation will discuss the battery/genset program deployed at PSEG-LI and the deployment of optical sensors. The DERMS/sensor model is configured to manage both active power consumption and generation downline of a sensor on a distribution network, ensuring the operator can maintain power flows between desired operating thresholds for grid stability and reliability. Configuring the DERMS with real-time sensor data supports DER operation, alleviates hosting capacity discrepancies, and provides better awareness of the impact on power quality with increasing DER. Sensors can be directly integrated with the DERMS using DPN3 to support threshold control, providing situational awareness for dispatching assets during VPP power breaches. We will discuss lessons learned from relaying real-time data to the DERMS and technical and operational best practices for optimizing hosting capacity and increasing ROI on VPP investments.

Sponsored by PxISE

Using utility Horizon Power as a case study, CEO & co-founder Patrick Lee of PXiSE Energy Solutions will share how a DERMS and microgrid controller work together to optimize a microgrid powered by DERs and traditional utility assets. The project successfully demonstrated how this combined technology enabled a microgrid powering a small town to run exclusively on solar assets with the support of relatively small capacity battery storage units. This accomplishment of coordinating hundreds of inverter-based resources to operate without spinning generators has implications well beyond this use case. When combined, these powerful software solutions can solve grid stability issues in the immediate term, enable the incorporation of a higher percentage of DERs (including intermittent renewables) to the grid, and facilitate the storage and dispatch of power in infinite ways that use BTM and FTM assets to their maximum potential.

Initiate is the hub at DISTRIBUTECH to hear about new technology, innovation, and up and coming talent in the energy sector. There will be 25 amazing startup companies pitching for a chance to win an award from Duke Energy and Clarion Energy Events. Stop by booth #3755 on the POWERGEN side to hear pitches and content centered around energy innovation.

Heads of companies and thought leaders discuss specific challenges they have to meet their decarbonization goals or those set by government agencies, and how R&D can help individual companies and industries. The panel would focus on specific challenges and opportunities industries are facing, on electrification and its limits, and on specific measures/technologies needed.

Take 5 for a drink and a quick chat at our cantina receptions located throughout the exhibit hall

Networking Bar Locations:

Company	Booth Number
Cleaveland Price	1322
Burns & McDonnell	2941
ABB	2323
Sensus	1723
Black & Veatch	2115
Urbint	3353
Generac Grid Services	3233
NV5 Geospatial	235
IFS/Clevest	723
Investissement Quebec	1015
Exelon Clearsight	1247
Utility Broadband Alliance	1026

The always complicated process forced upon developers and builders of new energy projects gets more challenging and problematic every year. Financial constraints, regulatory hurdles, political pressures, and, last but not least, environmental goals are not always in alignment, so utilities and their EPC partners have hard rows to hoe in bringing those together. This session will look at how both utilities, system operators, and contractors navigate the building of the road to Destination 2050. This session will look at how the IOUs, IPPS, EPCs, and public power planners are using new architectural goals and methods to create the path to net-zero.

The Initiate Hub (booth #3755) will host an invite-only mixer on Monday, May 23rd, from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm. This exclusive mixer will bring together startup companies and utility innovation managers for an informal hour of networking and connecting.

Kick-off DISTRIBUTECH International® by joining us at the opening reception on the exhibition floor! 

To register for the roundtables, click here!

These roundtable discussions provide excellent opportunities to network with peers while engaging with industry experts. Roundtables focused on specific industry topics are moderated by leading professionals in each field. The roundtables sell out quickly—don’t delay reserving your seat! These roundtable discussions provide excellent opportunities to network with peers while engaging with industry experts. Roundtables focused on specific industry topics are moderated by leading professionals in each field. The roundtables sell out quickly—don’t delay reserving your seat!

This session will explore the different financing mechanisms and capital structures that will be critical to enabling a more sustainable energy future and what actors will be key to making this a success. Alternative financing for medium sized players: Reconciliation, direct-pay tax credits What's next for Project Finance? CPPAs, VPPAs, and what about other options?

In this presentation, we will discuss the recent implementation of a new DRMS solution at Con Edison in New York City. The new system has been designed to enable all 3.5 million electric customers to participate in Demand Response programs through enrollment of Curtailment, Distributed Generation, and Energy Storage System assets. Each asset is individually modeled and monitored to the meter level for each distribution network or feeder. The system is capable of dispatching all forms of events, from system-wide down to individual service points. The presentation will provide an overview of new business models enabled by the platform, a business-led development approach, an intense focus on customer experience, and the IT integration challenges faced to build this highly configurable off-premise solution.

To register for this session, click here!

Moderated by AWS Energy & Utilities business development leader Rolf Gibbels, this panel of utility chief information officers (CIOs) and energy security experts explores current utility digital transformation programs and their role in meeting the decarbonization and decentralization challenges posed by the energy transition. Hear updates from Duke Energy and Sempra Energy, and learn about an AWS energy and utilities global research study. Key Takeaways: Examples and lessons learned from current utility digital transformation programs and plans. Summary review of top utility cloud solution use cases. Review of AWS cloud security resources to support customers.

Portland General Electric (PGE) is Oregon’s largest electric utility serving more than 862,000 residential and 105,000 commercial customers over 4,000 square miles. PGE is an Investor-owned utility managing electric generation, transmission and distribution with the goal of providing 50% of energy from renewable resources by 2040 up from ~16% in 2016. In order to address the increasing operational challenges and enable a clean energy future while ensuring reliable service and exceptional customer service, PGE is in the process of deploying a real-time, comprehensive ADMS and DERMS on a single OT platform that seamlessly integrates with the existing Transmission Energy Management System. Working collaboratively with Open Systems International Inc. (OSI), PGE is implementing an ADMS/DERMS to increase operational efficiencies, reduce system loss, reduce peak demand, improve SAIDI/SAIFI, enable new customer services and maximize DER utilization. The DERMS functionality will enable real-time visibility, forecasting and control of DER’s, including PV, vehicles, battery, wind, microgrids, and more. The OSI DERMS is interfacing via OpenADR with Enbala, PGE’s existing Demand Response provider to enable real-time dispatch of DER to reduce periods of peak load. In the future, PGE will explore how DER can participate in CAISO Western Energy Imbalance Market. This presentation will explain the utility’s ADMS/DERMS strategy, share design decisions and lessons learned."Arial",sans-serif;

For a growing number of utilities, renewable and DER penetration has reached a point where grid operators require additional operational flexibility to maintain high levels of power reliability and service quality. As the owner of all of Northern Ireland’s 45,000 km of electric transmission and distribution infrastructure serving about 880,000 customers, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks is investing in DER management technologies to mitigate grid congestion, infrastructure overload and global system challenges from having more renewable generation capacity (just over 2,000 MW) than system minimum demand (about 1,500 MW). In this presentation, NIE Networks will describe its grid management challenges, outline its approach to DER management technologies, and share preliminary findings from its explorations and DERMS pilot that led to the decision in early 2021 to deploy DERMS systemwide. The session will give an overview of the current Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland until 2030, how this aligns with the progress of the DERMS implementation and how these could evolve into the management aspects of NIE Networks' DER strategy. This example will be informative for North American utilities and others who are working with ISOs on a scalable DER market model through either FERC 2222 or another regulatory framework.

Industry leaders will discuss the roles that different technologies can play in decarbonizing the economy and helping the U.S. reach its goals as well as the main technical, economic, and policy barriers slowing down their commercialization, adoption, and optimal integration and operation.

To purchase a ticket, click here!

Workplace diversity is becoming a more common conversation in the business world and placing a focus on diversity and inclusion should extend farther than the hiring department. Diversity is a range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values, national origin, veteran status, and political beliefs. Join us for a networking lunch to hear industry leaders speak on the topic of diversity in the workplace and share the best practices they have experienced in this space.

Dominion Energy Innovation Center's DEIC Accelerate program introduced 15 startups to dozens of business units across Dominion Energy in its first two years. In this session, Adam Sledd of DEIC and Michael Beiro of Linebird will discuss how the program creates value for both the utility and the startups.  They will cover how a startup can maximize its opportunity to quickly build customer relationships, and how the utility benefits from creating a formal framework to engage startup companies.

Whether we have more jobs or less is a debate only time will settle, but there is no doubt 100% of jobs will be reskilled. How we work and Why is being recalibrated, and society overall will take a radical shift as we head into what has been described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. How can we build the new capacities necessary? How will new tools shape new behaviors and drive new expectations? Which old practices to manage risk are actually now putting us at risk? And how will we measure we are doing it right?

Dominion Energy Innovation Center's DEIC Accelerate program introduced 15 startups to dozens of business units across Dominion Energy in its first two years. In this session, Adam Sledd of DEIC and Michael Beiro of Linebird will discuss how the program creates value for both the utility and the startups.  They will cover how a startup can maximize its opportunity to quickly build customer relationships, and how the utility benefits from creating a formal framework to engage startup companies.

Sponsored by Oracle

With growing DER penetration, federal regulation and subsidy support, leading utilities are now making sizable investments in systemwide DERMS with capabilities that go beyond direct device modeling and control. Drawing from active projects, Oracle Utilities’ Brad Williams will share some insights from utilities in North America and Europe as well as the technical, programmatic and business elements of an Enterprise DERMS framework. Brad will discuss how certain DERMS elements are allowing utilities to incorporate customer-side DERs as a grid flexibility resource.

The past decade has seen an exponential growth in technologies to collect, store, handle and compute data for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. ML/AI is a growing field with an enormous number of algorithms available readily for usage in different sectors of the industry today. In a future power grid with large amount of renewable generation, a major challenge for grid operators will be how to handle the myriad of data from a smart grid with DER and intelligently use it for planning and operational decisions. Managing DER operations to maximize customer and grid needs is the key to fully realize the benefits of DERs. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to develop systems, such as DERMS, which can improve on the DER decision-making capabilities when managing a fleet of DER. While AI can play a major role in mining data and helping utilities make informed decisions, research on their current applications and effectiveness in the DER domain has only just begun. When managing dispatchable resources like storage, DERMS need to have a look-ahead understanding of resource capability before committing to provide flexibility to the grid operator. For DERMS to predict DER output, some estimation and forecasting technique is needed. While AI based solutions are available, its usability and application needs to be discussed. Some potential applications where AI techniques can be used for efficiently operating the grid are DER forecasting, DER availability estimation, self-tuning control strategies etc. This panel will explore the multiple applications where AI can be integrated into DERMS, focusing on understanding: Current status of commercial technologies that focus on AI applications for DERMS Foundational technologies to effectively integrate AI technologies in utility applications Learnings from real-world examples that have implemented AI technologies in the past. How AI can provide efficient solutions for DERMS and grid operators to improve DER availability, performance and utilization for real-time grid operation and self-tuning systems This cross-functional panel will include experts who are developing such technologies and those who are implementing commercial solutions in the field.

Take 5 for a drink and a quick chat at our cantina receptions located throughout the exhibit hall.

Networking Bar Locations:

Company	Booth Number
Burns & McDonnell	2941
Black & Veatch	2115
Crystal Group	735
DNV GI -Usa Inc	2341
Twistarp Twistool	3811
Sentient	829
Exelon Clearsight	1247
Nokia of America Corporation	4311

The fostering and nurturing of young talent is a central pillar of Initiate, whether an undergraduate or postgraduate student or a young professional at the beginning of their career.

Located on the exhibit floor at sponsored booths—enjoy one of the most productive hours at DISTRIBUTECH International® as you mix, mingle and enhance your networking game

Networking Bar Locations:

Company	Booth Number
Scott Engineering	1441
ABB	2323
ELM Fieldsight LLC	4215
Open Systems International	2008
Landis + Gyr	2602
Clevest/IFS	723
Locusview Solutions	729
Hdr Engineering Inc	434
Veritone Inc.	2753
Urbint	3353
Conseillers Cgi Inc.	1815
Irth Solutions	515
Power Engineers	2435
Dominion Resources Services, Inc.	856
HITACHI	2123

Join us for the POWERGEN & DISTRIBUTECH Joint Networking Party, Power Play. Network with your industry peers at our sports-themed event.

PG&E has interconnected more Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to its grid than any other utility in the country and as the distribution grid interconnects more DERs onto it, it needs to have a way to monitor and control it all. Like a symphony, the system aims to eventually maximize the use of DERs on the grid to avoid curtailment, to enhance grid operators' visibility of masked loads and charge and discharge at opportune times. PG&E is currently setting the foundations of this system by enabling low-cost telemetry and control devices to be available for its 1MW customers. Using the IEEE 2030.5 protocol the utility has approved vendors producing remote site gateways that can communicate back to PG&E's IEEE 2030.5 headend server. This methodology lowers the price of telemetry for interconnecting DER customers from existing methods, which further encourages the installation and adoption of DERs onto our grid. In a phased rollout, PG&E plans to integrate more and more features into this capability meeting the objectives of a full DERMS system and integration into a future Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS).

Increasing amounts of wind, solar, battery storage and other DER interconnections on the distribution system require operating platforms to monitor and manage those systems. ComEd’s implementation of a DERMS platform in 2021 has helped the utility overcome a potential back-flow issue through a substation that could occur during high wind, high solar and lower customer demand situations. This presentation will highlight the functional performance and benefits of the implementation along with the Operations Center approach to integrating a new real-time platform and the creative testing and go-live strategies that were developed to overcome COVID challenges.

North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives (NCEMC with its 26 coops) has deployed a fleet of microgrids and solar + storage sites throughout its service territory to bring generation flexibility, system resiliency, and economic benefit to its member cooperatives. All sites are observable and controllable by an upstream, centralized DERMS to optimize their operation for maximum value. This presentation from NCEMC and its vendor partner OATI will cover NCMEC’s philosophy around deploying microgrids and solar+storage sites, the controlling system architecture, including a centralized DERMS operating in three balancing authorities with local controls, design considerations, project implementation and real-world results.font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;

Join us for the Initiate awards, where Clarion Events will announce 3 winners and Duke Energy will announce one 1-to 3 winners from the startup pitch competition.