About ETS
Energy Thought Summit
Join the 11th Energy Thought Summit (ETS) in Austin, TX, from April 15-18, 2024, as we embrace the theme of “Imagine.” Reflect on the industry’s past achievements, while anticipating the limitless opportunities that lie ahead. Immerse yourself in the collective wisdom of industry pioneers, thought leaders, and visionaries, inspiring you to push the boundaries of what is possible and shape a future powered by clean, accessible energy sources at the Energy Thought Summit
4
Days of Thought Leadership and Executive Networking
Imagine
Discussion panels featuring utility executives and other subject matter experts
Dream
Curated agenda exploring Decarbonization, Resilience, Equity, Analysis and Modernization
Create
Engaging workshops during the first day of the event
Thought Leaders
Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan
Michael Pesin
Alejandro Moreno
Dr. Joe Nyangon
Guy Payne
Khalil Shalabi
Agenda
April 15
9:00am-5:00pm | NREL Energy Techup
10:30am-11:45am | Workshop 1
10:30am-11:45am | Workshop 2
11:45-1:00pm | Lunch
1:00pm-1:15pm | Welcome to ETS
1:15 – 1:30 PM | Opening Keynote
- Hala Ballouz, President & CEO, EPE
1:30 – 2:15 PM | Analysis Panel | Customer Service: Balancing Convenience, Data Quality, and the Human Element
2:15pm-2:45pm | Resilience Fireside Chat | Proactively Building Resilient Infrastructure
- Alice Jackson, SVP Strategy & Chief Planning Officer, Xcel Energy
- Emeka Anyanwu, CEO, Lincoln Electric System
2:45pm-3:00pm | 🤝 Networking Break
3:00pm-3:45pm | Equity Panel | Individualizing Customer Programs
3:45pm-4:15pm | Decarbonization Fireside Chat | Fleet Electrification
4:15pm – 5:00pm | Modernization Panel | Financing Grid Transformation
5:00pm-5:05pm | Closing
April 16
7:00am-9:00am | Breakfast and Networking
9:00 am-9:15am | Welcome
9:15am-9:30am | Keynote
Bob Khan, Austin Energy, GM
9:30am – 9:45am | Opening Keynote
Daniella Piper, EVP and Chief Innovation Officer, New York Power Authority.
9:45 am – 10:30 am | Equity Panel | Addressing the Energy Burden for Underserved Populations
- Tatianna Cannon, Executive Director, Solar Austin
- Anissa Rodriguez Dickerman, CEO, Pecan Street
10:30am – 11:00 am | 🤝 Networking Break
11:00am – 11:45am | Breakout A (Analysis) | Prioritizing Analytics Investments
This session will focus on how to discern between the multitude of analytics solutions available today in order to determine where the best investments are to address a given utility’s needs
11:00am – 11:45am | Breakout A (Decarbonization) | Expanding EV Programs
This discussion will entail a litany of exciting EV programs across the country as well as ideas about how to take them further.
- Lydia Krefta, Director, Clean Energy Transportation, PG&E
- Jen Szaro, President & CEO, AESP (moderator)
11:00am – 11:45am | Breakout A (Resillience) | Decentralizing Resilience
A conversation about how decentralization of grid assets can make the grid more resilient, as well as how climate is driving decentralization.
- Sandeep Aujla, Director of Fire Science and Climate Adaptation, SDG&E
11:45 am -1:15 pm | Lunch
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm | Breakout D (Modernization) | Adapting our Transmission and Distribution
- Matt Valle, President, NextEra Energy Transmission
- Janet Rehberg,Chief Strategy Officer & VP of Engineering, Tri-county
- Balvinder Deonarine, Project Manager, conEdison Transmission
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm | Breakout E (Equity) | Regulation, Partnership, and Community Goals
- Heather Herndon-Wright, Director Supply Chain Diversity & Sustainability, Vistra
- Lorraine Akiba, President & CEO, LHA Ventures
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm | Breakout F (Analysis) | Data-Driven Proactive Asset Management
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm |
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm | Breakout H (Modernization) | The Evolution of Demand Response
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm | Breakout I (Resilience) | The Increasing Complexity of Cybersecurity
- Ann Delenela, Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Entergy
3:15pm – 4:00 PM | Breakout J (Decarbonization) | The Colorful World of Hydrogen
A deep dive into the worlds of blue and green hydrogen and how they can be a vital part of a decarbonized energy future.
3:15pm – 4:00 PM | Breakout K (Resillience) | The Colorful World of Hydrogen
Harnessing DERs for Grid Resilience
3:15pm – 4:00 PM | Breakout L (Analysis) | AI Tools for Operations and Customers Alike
- Khalil Shalibi, Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Transformation, Lower Colorado River Authority
April 17
7:00am-9:00am | Breakfast & Networking
9:00 am-9:15am | Welcome
9:30am – 9:45am | Opening Keynote
9:45 am – 10:30 am | Decarbonization Panel | Net Zero: Technology and Programs
- Sunny Elebua, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Exelon Corporation
10:30am – 11:00 am | 🤝 Networking Break
11:00am – 11:45am | Breakout A (Decarbonization) | Decarbonizing Heat and Buildings: Innovative Solutions for Energy Efficiency and Electrification
- Liz John, Managing Director, SPEER
- Joe Nyangon, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Partnerships, The Office of State and Community Energy Programs, DOE
- Heidi Kasper, Energy Efficiency Services Director, Green Building, Austin Energy
11:00am – 11:45am | Breakout B (Equity) | Empowering Citizens Beyond the Light Switch
- Utibe Bassey, VP Customer Experience, Dominion
- Mary Palmer, Director, Energy Equity & Inclusion, SEPA
11:00am – 11:45am | Breakout C (Analysis) | Creating Secure and Efficient Data Pipelines
11:45 am -1:15 pm | Lunch
11:45 am -1:15 pm | Breakout D (Resillience) | A Safer, More Connected Utility Workforce
- Josh Gould, Director, Innovation & Strategic Planning, Duquesne Light Company
- Nathan Fulmer – Pedernales
- Venus Pineyro, CEO, SafeSpace (Moderator)
11:45 am -1:15 pm | Breakout E (Resillience) | Working with Customers for a Carbon Free Future
- Hank Stafford, Senior Director Sustainability Strategy, Vistra
- Brandy Bolden, Chief Customer Officer, SMUD
- John Hewa, CEO, Rappahannock Co-op
11:45 am -1:15 pm | Breakout F (Modernization) | Changing the Regulator Dynamics’
- Hank Stafford, Senior Director Sustainability Strategy, Vistra
- Brandy Bolden, Chief Customer Officer, SMUD
- John Hewa, CEO, Rappahannock Co-op
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm | Transition Time
2:15 pm – 3:00 PM | Breakout G (Equity) | Shifting the Cost of Progress off Vulnerable Customers
- Duanne Andrade, Executive Director, Solar and Energy Loan Fund
- Dr. Patricia De Lange, Lead New Products and Services Development, Duquesne Light Company
2:15 pm – 3:00 PM | Breakout H (Analysis) | The Role of Predictive Analytics in Long-Term Planning Processes
- Duanne Andrade, Executive Director, Solar and Energy Loan Fund
- Dr. Patricia De Lange, Lead New Products and Services Development, Duquesne Light Company
2:15 pm – 3:00 PM | Breakout I (Resilience) | Balancing the Grid in an Era of Electrification
- Venkat Tirupati Sr. Director of Grid and Market Solutions, Ercot
3:00pm -3:15pm | Transition Time
3:15pm – 4:00 PM | Breakout J (Decarbonization) | Decarbonizing the Supply Chain
- Lora Anguay, Chief Zero Carbon Officer, SMUD
3:15pm – 4:00 PM | Breakout K (Equity) | Navigating Economic Uncertainty: Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Growth
- Vanessa Edmonds, Executive Director, Utility 2030 (Moderator)
- Laura Dutton, Chief Customer Officer, JEA
- Guy Payne, Assistant General Manager, Distribution & Engineering Service, SnoPUD
3:15pm – 4:00 PM | Breakout L (Modernization) | Fancy Gadgets and Doodads or The Technology that will Shape the Future of the Grid
- Evan O’Mahoney, Chief Information Officer, CPSE
- Rich Ramirez, Head Of Innovation, & Technology Corporate Social Responsibility, DTE Energy
April 18
7:30am – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
8:50am – 9:05 AM | Opening Keynote
Paul Lau, CEO and GM, SMUD
9:05am-9:30am | Analysis Fireside Chat
9:30am-10:00am | Leadership’s Role in Grid Evolution
- Rudy Garza, President & CEO, CPS Energy
10:00 am – 10:45am | The Need for a New Industry Culture
- Nancy Bui-Thompson, Board Director, SMUD
- Carlos Nouel, VP, Transformation Programs, NG
- Janie Gonzalez, Chairman of the Board, CPS Energy
10:45 am – 11:15 AM | 🤝 Networking Break
11:15 am – 12:00 PM | Resilience Panel | 🤝 The State of Storage
A showcase of storage solutions and their applications for our energy future.
- Ryan Kiley, Executive Director, Consumers Energy
- Tracy Alexander, Director of Innovation, NRG Energy
- Eric Dresselhuys, CEO, ESS inc.
12:00 pm- 12:30 PM | Decarbonization Fireside Chat | The Modern Contours of the Nuclear Discussion
A thorough examination of 21st century nuclear power; the risks and opportunities.
12:30-12:55PM | Equity Fireside Chat | The Gen Z Customer Base
A discussion about how the industry needs to adapt to an increasingly young and tech-literate customer base with new priorities.
12:55-1:15PM | Thought Leader of the Year Award