CONFERENCE PROGRAM: T&D World Live 2026

Tuesday, September 1, 2026
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM	Registration & Information Open 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Exhibitor Move-in 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM	PowerUP Lunch - Let's Talk UAS: Value, Challenges, and the Road Ahead 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Jay Jenkins, Cyberhawk Matt Zafuto, Cyberhawk	PowerUP Lunch - Predictive Fault Intelligence: Detecting Grid Failures Before They Happen 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Mike Burns, Safegrid	PowerUP Lunch - Total Asset Optimization in Renewables – The NovaSource Story 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Alexander Carbone, Clairvest Akshay Sagar, NovaSource Power Services
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM	General Session 1: Xcel Energy & CenterPoint Energy: Building Grid Resilience Through Asset Intelligence, AI, and Digital Twins Strategy, Policy, People & the Customer 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM Ben Lanz, ESARA Mike Adams, Osmose Utilities Services Robert Brook, Neara Todd Conner, Xcel Energy Matthew Sattler, Detect Paul Mathew, CenterPoint Energy
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM	101: Grid Resilience Under Pressure: Managing Weather, Data Center Demand, and Cyber-Physical Threats Grid Operations, Reliability & Resilience 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Freddie Wright, Georgia Power Co Mythili Chaganti, CenterPoint Energy Bala Kotharu, Burns & McDonnell	102: Scaling Workforce Readiness Through Multimodal Training Strategy, Policy, People & the Customer 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Kyle Bush, Florida Power and Light (FPL) James Merlo, North American Generator Forum Sam Elkins, Index AR Solutions	103: From Pilots to Operations: How AI and Digital Twins Are Transforming Grid Management Digital Transformation & Future Technology 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Ann Moore, AVEVA Santiago Grijalva, Georgia Institute of Technology Chiranjeevi (Chiru) Madvesh, California ISO Sirajul Chowdhury, California ISO
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM	General Session 2: Innovation Shares 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM Six solution providers will deliver fast-paced presentations showcasing innovative solutions for today’s biggest transmission and distribution challenges. After each presentation, attendees will vote to select the “Most Innovative Solution at T&D World Live 2026.” Jay Jenkins, Cyberhawk Matt Zafuto, Cyberhawk Mark Esguerra, Southern California Edison Codie Boggs, Exodigo Jason Huang, TS Conductor Georg Rute, Gridraven Miguel Cordeiro, Spotlite \| Infrastructure Remote Monitoring
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Welcome Reception: Where Connections Power What’s Next 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Wednesday, September 2, 2026
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM	Attendee Breakfast Roundtables in Exhibit Hall 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM	Registration & Information Open 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
8:00 AM - 6:30 PM	Exhibit Hall Open 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM	General Session 3: The Florida Playbook: Storm Response from the Utilities on the Front Lines 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Join executive leaders from Florida's electric utilities for a candid discussion on storm preparedness, grid resilience, and restoration. Drawing from real-world experience, this keynote panel will explore the strategies, technologies, and lessons shaping the future of storm response and helping utilities build a more resilient grid.
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM	201: Building the Software-Defined Grid: The Case for vPAC Architecture Grid Operations, Reliability & Resilience 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Russell Boyer, Dell Technologies Nicole Rexwinkel, Southern California Edison Adam Kampa, Pacific Gas and Electric Joshua Manski, Salt River Project	202: Orlando Utilities Commission: From Reactive to Proactive Grid Management Through Real-Time Visibility Digital Transformation & Future Technology 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Troy Freissle-lewis, Ubicquia, Inc. Melvin Liwag, Orlando Utilities Commission
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM	Beverage Break on Exhibit Floor 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM	301:Safety by Design: Reimagining Traffic Control Through Early Partnership and AI-Driven Planning 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Don Pitalo, AWP Safety	302: If You See an Opportunity, Jump: A Culture of Utility Innovation at Sault Ste Marie PUC 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Danny Miedzinski, Overstory Darren Seabrook, PUC Services, Inc.
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM	Attendee Lunch on the Exhibit floor 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM	401: Executive Panel: Grid Investment Strategies for the 21st Century T&D System Grid Operations, Reliability & Resilience 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Mike Beehler, Power Delivery Intelligence Initiative (Chair and Panel Moderator) Brian Chen, Southern California Edison Peter Muhoro, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Jim Gill, PG&E	403: ComEd: Building a Hybrid Communications Network With Private LTE Grid Operations, Reliability & Resilience 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Brook Windham, ComEd Omerullah Mohammed, ComEd Margaret Foy, ComEd
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM	501: Beyond the Forecast: How Utilities are Leveraging Advanced Modeling Solutions to Translate Weather Into Grid Impact and Improved Storm Restoration 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM Pavel Grechanuk, Technosylva Cullen Armet, CenterPoint	502: Beyond Wildfire Mitigation: Scaling Aerial Inspections and Analytics at PG&E (Part 2) Digital Transformation & Future Technology 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM Anna Dille, Cyberhawk Angelique Gosse, Pacific Gas & Electric
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM	Beverage Break on the Exhibit Floor 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM	General Session 4 - Smarter Grid Planning with Free Tools from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM Miguel Heleno, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Youba Nait Belaid, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Networking Reception & Expo Prize Giveaway 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Thursday, September 3, 2026
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Attendee Breakfast 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM	Registration & Information Open 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM	General Session 5: Emerging Technologies Driving an Affordable, Resilient T&D Grid Digital Transformation & Future Technology 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM Mark Esguerra, Southern California Edison Shane Powell, Alabama Power, Southern Company Justin Kramer, Orlando Utilities Commission Chrissy Carr, Kimley-Horn Mike Beehler, Power Delivery Intelligence Initiative (Chair and Panel Moderator) Shawn Adderly, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM	Beverage Break 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM	601: What Utility Leaders Are Losing Sleep Over—and How They Are Responding Digital Transformation & Future Technology 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Brian Chen, Southern California Edison Julio Romero Aguero, Danovo Energy Solutions Sarah Wambles, Duke Energy	602: Changing Safety Culture From the Inside: A Lineman's Story of Survival and Transformation Grid Operations, Reliability & Resilience 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Chad Schimpf, Ameren
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM	701: American Electric Power & Lancium: Rebuilding a Critical Substation While a Data Center Moves In Next Door Grid Operations, Reliability & Resilience 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Daniel Chatelain, Beta Engineering Forrest Farson, AEP Espen Johansen, Lancium Kyle Kight, Beta Engineering	702: Grid Enhancing Technologies in the Field Strategy, Policy, People & the Customer 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Michael Craig, Great River Energy
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM	"Take-it Home" Insights 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM