Public Utilities Fortnightly, in association with Llewellyn King, has created a unique conference to address the gathering storm bearing down on the electric utility industry.
The difficult issues include: The inroads of rooftop solar, micro grids, and big self-generators. However, they also present an array of opportunities, such as new demand from electrified transportation, new customers from 3D printing, the role of drones in maintaining the grid, and new materials for construction and transmission.
The preliminary event agenda is as follows:
Day One
Morning Sessions
The scene is set by Steven Mitnick, author, consultant, and former energy adviser to the Governor of the State of New York
"Understanding the Challenge" — Speakers from four utilities explain the threats as they see them.
"The Agony of the Small Public Utilities" — Public power representatives explain their predicaments and their hopes.
Lunch
Afternoon Sessions
Keynote address by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chair, Senate Energy Committee
"Brave New World" — NRG and its vision of a distributed generation future, featuring Chairman David Crane and three respondents.
"As I See It" — Former CEO of major utility (Exelon or AEP)
“View from Europe" — Marc Boillot, Senior Vice President, Electricite de France
Networking Reception
Day Two
Morning Sessions
The Regulators — A panel of federal and state regulators give their views on the future and the regulatory response.
The Wall Streeters — Investment experts peer at the future for electric utilities: How will electric utility stocks fare in the gathering storm?
The Federal Role — Department of Energy or White House perspective, with emphasis on the smart grid.
Wrap up and assessment by Llewellyn King and Steven Mitnick.