Attend Our Sessions

Track: Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Time: 1:00 -4:00 p.m. PST
Location: 6E

Utilities are sitting on oceans of underutilized data from AMI systems, grid sensors, and customer programs – further complicated by the proliferation of AI. Siloed systems and departmental divides often prevent this valuable data from achieving maximum business value. This interactive, utility-led workshop is designed for utility executives and directors in operations, asset management, engineering, planning, and customer strategy to tackle this challenge head-on to create regulatory and business “wins.” Through case studies, peer discussions, and data-stream mapping exercises, participants will learn how to integrate key datasets, design value stacks that strengthen rate case narratives, and align customer-side and operational benefits into a unified investment strategy.

This workshop will explore data use cases that reflect every utility’s journey: basic AMR, various stages of AMI 1.0, “AMI 2.0” grid edge computing apps, and strategies for managing complex integration strategies (multiple head ends, interoperability, pilots, proprietary networks, etc.). Attendees will leave with a clear framework for “de-siloing the utility dataset” — unlocking new flexibility, resilience, and ROI across their organizations.

High-Level Session Agenda:

• Intro: Data Foundations & Interoperability
• Identifying Problem Statements
• Building the Business Case & Value Stack
• Integration Strategies & Architecture Choices

Speakers:

Hagen Haentsch
Director, Distribution Operations Center West
Oncor

Jimi Conway, PE
Sr Manager of AMI Strategy and Data Analytics
Commonwealth Edison

Carlos Nouel
Managing Director
Ernst & Young

Tony Calabro
Senior Manager, Digital Grid Practice
Ernst & Young

Matt Wakefield
Director, Information, Communication and Cyber Security (ICCS) Research
EPRI

Ben Christenson
Advanced Concepts Project Engineer
Otter Tail Power

Marcelo Sandoval
Director of Advanced Grid Solutions
Landis+Gyr

Mike Vecchi
Director of AMI and Network Solutions
Landis+Gyr

Marguerite Behringer
Director of Regulatory Policy & Industry Relations
Landis+Gyr

Track: Partner Event
Time: 12:00 -4:00 p.m. PST
Location: 11AB

Building on the success of previous SEPA-led workshops, the session will feature roundtable introductions, technology company and utility co-presentations, speaker Q&A, and facilitated roundtable discussions. The workshop will focus on barriers, keys to success, case studies, and lessons learned. The format is designed to be highly engaging and interactive, encouraging collaboration and networking between technology companies and utilities. Report-out from SEPA’s DTECH 2025 workshop: https://sepapower.org/resource/bridging-innovation-series-scaling-resilience/

Speakers: 

James Frasher
Director of Research and Development, Grants, and Partnerships
SMUD

Alex Pratt
VP of Business Development
SPAN

Tracks: Advanced Operations, DER, Grid Edge, Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Time: 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. PST
Location: 26AB

Innovative electric cooperatives from across the country are pioneering new approaches to grid modernization—bringing cutting-edge solutions to rural and traditionally underserved communities. In this session, leaders from forward-thinking co-ops Tipmont and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative will share how they are deploying advanced metering infrastructure (AMI 2.0), utility-owned fiber networks, and advanced DER management platforms to enhance reliability, speed outage response, and unlock real-time visibility into their systems.

Co-ops have the opportunity to lead the way on electrification by enriching consumer energy management and interacting with distributed energy in new ways. This session dives into how coops are enabling demand flexibility, supporting agricultural load management, powering EVs, and supporting data center growth by investing in the edge.

Speakers:

David Chris
VP of Sales and Marketing
Landis+Gyr

Jeremy Konkle
Chief Operating Officer
Tipmont

Karan Patel, PE
Manging Director - Energy Solutions and Clean Energy
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Chairperson:
Giovanni Herazo
Head of Solution Architecture
Schneider Electric

Time: 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speakers:

Marcos Aguirre
Portfolio Manager
Landis+Gyr

Chris Patton
Solutions Director
Landis+Gyr

Tracks: Grid Edge Intelligence, DER, DERMS
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PST
Location: Grid Edge Intelligence – Booth #4845

Integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) can be complex—but also full of opportunity. In this session, SMUD shares how it’s scaling smarter at the grid edge through grid-aware devices, DERMS, dynamic load management, and non-wires alternatives to improve flexibility and avoid costly upgrades. Learn how practical, interoperable solutions like smart panels, ADMS/DERMS integration, and load flexibility programs are transforming grid operations and accelerating electrification. Discover how SMUD’s forward-thinking yet pragmatic approach is redefining distribution planning and shaping the next generation of utility-customer interaction.

Speakers:

Alex Pratt
VP, Business Development
SPAN

James Frasher
Director of Research & Development, Grants, and Partnerships
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)

Marcelo Sandoval
Director, Advanced Grid Solutions
Landis+Gyr

Time: 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speakers:

John Kisch
SmartGrid IoT Senior Solutions Engineer 
OATI

Arup Barat
Product Manager, Flexibility Management
Landis+Gyr

Time: 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speaker:

Colin Gibbs
SVP
Sense

Time: 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speakers:

Emily Fisher
Regional Sales and Business Development Manager
Net2Grid

Marcos Aguirre
Portfolio Manager
Landis+Gyr

Time: 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speakers:

Jeffrey Provine
Gas Practice Director
Landis+Gyr

Bill Mitchell
Gas Portfolio Manager
Landis+Gyr

Tracks: Grid Modernization, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Reliability and Resilience
Time: 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. PST
Location: 31AB

Reliability and resiliency challenges confront every utility—whether from extreme weather, equipment failures, cyber threats, or shifting load dynamics. In this session, utility leaders share firsthand accounts of high-impact events that tested their systems and teams. Hear how they are rethinking traditional emergency playbooks by leveraging digital tools, integrated data, and more agile operational models. Panelists will offer concrete insights into how technologies like AMI, grid edge intelligence, GIS-integrated outage management systems (OMS), and more are enhancing situational awareness, accelerating restoration, and strengthening public trust. This session showcases how utilities are redefining resiliency—not as a reactive response, but as a proactive, data-driven discipline that ensures a smarter, more adaptable grid for the future.

Speakers:

Daniel Hall
VP, Distribution
Oncor

Perry Welch 
Manager, AMI and Metering
Cleco

Tiffany Dennison
VP of Revenue Services and Metering
Duke Energy

Jay Lasseter
VP, Customer Delivery
Landis+Gyr

Tracks: Digital Transformation, Grid Edge, Digitalizing the Knowledge Hub
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. PST
Location: Digitalizing the Grid – Booth #6045

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the utility landscape — optimizing grid planning, improving operational efficiency, and enabling deeper customer engagement. But as utilities embrace AI, new challenges emerge around ethics, transparency, and trust. This Knowledge Hub session explores how utilities are integrating AI across planning, operations, and customer programs in ways that uphold safety, reliability, and affordability. Attendees will gain insights into emerging governance frameworks, data-protection strategies, and proven methods for integrating AI responsibly.

Speakers:

Evan O’Mahoney
Chief Information Officer
CPS Energy

Ankush Agarwal
Director of Innovation, Technology and R&D
Exelon

Jeff Fanning
VP, Software and Services
Landis+Gyr

Tracks: Strategy and Workforce, Digital Transformation
Time: 1:00 – 1:50 p.m. PST
Location: 32AB

The changing energy industry demands deep transformation, from the workforce up through utility operations. This panel brings together powerhouse women leading the utility industry to share how they’re navigating the energy transition, building inclusive cultures, and shaping the future of the grid. Attendees will hear personal insights and strategic perspectives on decarbonization, innovation, employee retention, and resilience—from the boardroom to the substation. This is not a conversation about representation alone—it explores how diverse leadership drives smarter decisions and workplace culture. In an industry with a highly-specialized workforce, culture and innovation are essential components of an operational grid.

Topics To Include:

• Leading through utility transformation and decarbonization
• How diverse leadership teams impact performance and risk
• Strategies for mentorship, allyship, and building inclusive pipelines
• Navigating legacy systems—culturally and technically

Speakers:

Tamla Oliver
President and CEO
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.

Lora Anguay
Chief Zero Carbon Officer
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)

Jody Allison
VP, Customer Transformation
Xcel Energy

Funmi Williamson
Chief Customer Officer & SVP Customer Service
Southern California Edison

Marguerite Behringer
Director of Regulatory Policy and Industry Relations
Landis+Gyr

Chairperson:
Jim Walters
Utility Executive Advisor
Utilitech Advisors

Time: 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speakers:

Takeru Taira
Business Development Manager
Mitsubishi Electric

Satoshi Kurosawa
Senior Manager
Mitsubishi Electric

Tracks: Grid Modernization, Communication Networks, Grid Edge
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 p.m. PST
Location: 6C

Learn how Duke Energy and National Grid are advancing their smart grid with AMI 2.0-capable meters, leveraging their existing networks and Wi-SUN interoperability standards to integrate multiple vendors, enhance energy management, and drive greater operational efficiency.

This session will explore how interoperability is not just a technical preference but a strategic imperative for the electro-industry. By enabling utilities to foster a supply chain-secure ecosystem, open standards like Wi-SUN allow for accelerated innovation, reduced vendor lock-in, and more flexible deployment of emerging technologies. As utilities prepare for the next wave of distributed energy resources, grid-edge intelligence, and consumer-centric services, flexible AMI 2.0 becomes the foundation for scalable solutions that align with clean energy and resilience goals.

Panelists will discuss real-world deployment strategies, procurement lessons, and how interoperability enhances system integration.

Speakers:

Mike Mokey
Head of AMI
NY – National Grid

Joe Vale
Director of AMI Operations & Meter Engineering
Duke Energy

Phil Beecher
President and CEO
Wi-SUN

Mike Vecchi
Director of AMI and Network Solutions
Landis+Gyr

Chairperson:
Brian Walsh
Beacon

Tracks: Grid Modernization, Grid Edge, Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 p.m. PST
Location: 26AB

Utilities are navigating a surge of challenges—aging infrastructure, affordability pressures, load growth, evolving software and data, and extreme weather. Wherever you are on the AMI wave—1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or somewhere in between—your system should be creating value today. AMI+ technologies offer opportunities to address these challenges through smarter deployments and integrations. In this session, utility leaders share strategies for maximizing AMI investments at every stage, from next-generation network designs and AI-driven edge applications to interoperability andNext Gen AMI planning. Learn how utilities are leveraging AMI for storm management, replacement strategies, and grid edge innovation to meet the needs of utilities across the U.S.. Whether you’re solving rural reliability issues or driving smart city initiatives, discover how to ride the AMI wave and unlock value from edge-to-enterprise.

Speakers:

Derek Tysdal
Manager, Advanced Concepts Systems Operations
Otter Tail Power

Katie Richards
Director, Meter Technology & Automation
APS

Jesse Harvey
Head of Advanced Metering Infrastructure 
National Grid

Peter Muhoro
Chief Strategy, Technology & Innovation Office
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Time: 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. PST
Location: Booth 2213

Speaker:

Richard Caperton
VP of Public Policy
SPAN