2026 Event Schedule

Get an inside look at Xcel Energy's multi-year grid modernization journey. Discover how the deployment of a consolidated ADMS/OMS is transforming outage management and wildfire risk reduction through advanced capabilities like Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration (FLISR) and targeted fire mitigation measures, boosting both operational efficiency and community safety.

Presenters: 

Chad Nickell, Xcel Energy, Senior Director of Grid Transformation 
As the Senior Director of Grid Transformation at Xcel Energy, Chad is responsible for managing the delivery of the company’s Distribution Grid Modernization portfolio, including oversight of costs, schedule, and scope. He supports grid modernization governance, change management, and training structures across project management, resource management, financial management, and organizational change, ensuring the successful execution of projects of significant scale and complexity.

John Morris, Mosaic, Senior Vice President – Grid Operations 
John brings over 20 years of experience in the energy industry, working with grid operations teams at utilities across North America. His expertise spans ADMS, OMS, EMS, GIS mapping, union labor relations, and NERC compliance. He has a proven track record of improving profitability, reliability, safety, and operational value. John excels at optimizing processes for efficient, consistent operations while leading and influencing high-performance teams, and is passionate about helping clients navigate change and deliver excellence across the utility sector.

This session is part of the Wildfire Risk Mitigation & Vegetation Management Symposium.