2023 Conference Tracks

Keep calm and DER on: Building tomorrow's grid today

Room: 29A, Upper Level

The electric grid of the future will look dramatically different than the electric grid of today. Today and as always, utilities forecast demand, then plan and dispatch the supply to meet it. In the future, this model will be reversed. The grid will handle complex tasks not originally imagined by utilities, while providing a safe, secure, reliable, and resilient resource to customers. Emerging features at a large scale, such as renewables (wind, solar, etc.) and distributed energy resources (DER) -- challenge the fundamental design of steady one-way power flow. In addition, these new sources of power are often not controlled by the utility and appear as non-dispatchable resources. The way to navigate the complex path forward will differ for each utility; however, new technologies and some common concepts will facilitate the journey for all. Come learn from leading utilities and industry partners as they examine challenges in areas such as planning, load handling, energy storage and microgrid integration, and share their lessons learned and best practices.

 

Topics include:

• Aggregating DER

• Demand Response Technologies

• Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERMS)

• Distributed Energy Resources (DER)

• Distributed Solar

• Flexible Load Management

• Grid-Edge Computing

• Microgrids

• Situational Awareness

• Virtual Power Plants

• Distribution System State Estimation

• Grid-Edge Computing

• Behind-the-meter Energy Storage

• Ancillary services

• Vehicle-to-X

Sponsored by:

View DER for Flexibility and Resilience Sessions

Helping to pave the way to a DER-heavy grid of the future.

Room: 29B, Upper Level

While there are successes to celebrate, interconnection of DER continues to be a challenge – the technologies, rules, and use cases are in flux, situations vary by locale, and in the US, FERC 2222 (allowing small DER to ‘aggregate’ and participate in wholesale electrical markets) is on the way. DER interconnections and associated approval processes challenge utility planning and operations, and associated process delays are seen as impeding more widespread and rapid DER adoption. IEEE 1547 and other standards are in place, but many are still on the steep part of the learning curve. Industry trends indicate the need for increased communication and integration between utilities, customers, other diverse DER stakeholders, and (coming soon) NERC regional ISO’s. 

The Interconnecting DER track attempts to address many of these industry concerns and share the latest developments, learnings and best practices with DISTRIBUTECH attendees, as all work toward a higher DER penetration future.

Topics Include:

• Battery Interconnection
• Fleet Charging Equipment Interconnection
• Grid Forming Inverters
• Hosting Capacity Analysis
• Integrating Renewables
• Interconnecting EVSE
• Net Metering
• Solar PV Interconnection 
• Dynamic Hosting Capacity Analysis
• Reverse Power Flow
• Interconnection Studies
• System Impact Studies
• Interconnection Queue Management
• Project Development
• Community Solar Farm Interconnection

Sponsored by:

View Interconnecting DER Sessions

The "E" in LTE still means evolution...Solving today's critical communication challenges and preparing for the grid of tomorrow

Room: 29C, Upper Level

The evolution of mission critical communications has created more questions than answers. Beyond first generation AMI, utilities are testing operational use cases across broadband networks, determining the best spectrum, and private LTE options for wide-area-networks. Utilities have the opportunity to invest, develop and deploy ubiquitous connectivity via wireless networks for the next generation of mission critical networks.
This track showcases utilities who have jumped at the opportunity to lead the way with communication network strategies and modernization plans. supported by the technology and service providers who must play a vital role toward facilitating the transformation.

Topics include:

• IoT
• 5G
• Broadband
• Private LTE
• Mission Critical Networks
• Strategies and Modernization Plan
• s3GPP Networks
• 900 Mhz Spectrum
• Network Security
• Fiber Optics
• Field-Area Networks
• Local-Area Networks
• Wide-Area Networks
• Wireless Communication Equipment

Sponsored by:

View Communication Networks Sessions

Machines, models, and advanced algorithms that keep utility assets performing

Room: 29D, Upper Level

Utilities must maintain their assets to keep electrons flowing safely to their customers. This track covers the methods — both proactive and reactive — utilities use to perform asset management, including activities like analytics, digital twin development, machine learning, innovation in inspection, and advanced software integration. Hear how asset managers create decision support tools that assist in repair, replacement, and maintenance. These sessions illustrate enhanced asset performance, strategy, and investment planning.

Topics include:

• Aging T&D Infrastructure
• Artificial Intelligence
• Asset Investment Planning
• Asset Performance/Health Management
• Asset Risk Management
• Augmented Reality
• Condition Monitoring
• Diagnostics
• Digital Substations
• Digital Twins
• Machine Learning
• Predictive/Proactive Maintenance
• Climate Risk Analysis
• Performance Guarantees
• Insurance
• Production Guarantees

Sponsored by:

View Asset Management Sessions

The customer is the "grid edge”

Room: 30A, Upper Level

The customer as the "Grid" edge is busy indeed. They increasingly are connected and sharing control. Participating in elements of enhanced resiliency, connecting with markets and programs via advanced mobile apps, and leveraging new rate and demand options, the modern customer is highly engaged--because they need to be. Customers now have more options from other energy services providers and utilities will need to continue to innovate to meet customer needs. DTECH 2023 C&I and Residential Customer program will cover a myriad of topics from program and app design, As a Service (e.g., SaaS, Energy SaaS, etc.) and Cloud offerings, engagement approaches, and customer success stories from numerous utilities’' experience.

Topics include:

• Billing and Collections
• C&I Energy Management
• Customer Engagement
• Data Privacy
• Demand Response Programs
• Energy Audits
• Energy Efficiency
• Energy Usage Monitoring
• Rooftop and Community Solar
• Social Media and other Customer Communication Strategies
• CRM
• Building Management Solutions
• Home Energy Management Solutions
• Disaggregation
• Prosumers
• Smart Appliances
• Thermal Energy Storage

Sponsored by:

View C&I and Residential Customers Sessions

Anticipating emerging threats by transitioning to defense in depth.

Room: 30B, Upper Level

New threats are constantly emerging ranging from hardware to software and everything in between. With topics focusing on Operational Technology, Asset Management, Organizational Planning, and Standardization, learn from industry leaders on how to anticipate and respond to these threats while transitioning to a secure and resilient future operating model.

Topics include:

• Cyber Hygiene
• Cybersecurity of Operational Technology
• Cyberthreat Detection and Hunting
• Cyberthreat Response
• Data Security
• DNP3 Secure Authentication V6 Protocol
• Emerging Threat Vectors
• IT/OT Convergence
• NERC/CIP Standards and Compliance
• Password Management
• Remote IED Access
• Surveilence
• Cloud Security

Sponsored by:

 

View Cyber and Physical Security Sessions

Towards the data-driven utility.

Room: 30C, Upper Level

The Data Analytics track is focused on data driven insights in grid operations and customer experience, advanced network model management leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning and current business drivers for next generation data architecture. The Data Analytics track is designed for a broad audience of utility and industry attendees including IT executives, Operations executives, Data Scientists, Network Engineers and anyone who is looking for real-world examples of how best-in-class companies capture and analyze data for operational excellence.

Topics include:

• AMI Data Success Stories
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented Reality
• Data Analytics
• Data Gathering Tools and Techniques
• Data Management
• Data Mining
• Data Privacy
• Data Quality
• Data Syncing
• Digitalization of Operations
• GIS/Geospatial Technologies
• Information Management
• Infrastructure Modeling and Analytics
• Organizational Analytics
• Cloud Solutions

Sponsored by:

View Data Analytics Sessions

Find that fault, get the lights back on, optimize feeder voltage -- Distribution Automation does it all.

Room: 30D, Upper Level

Successful distribution automation requires the integration and enhancement of various technologies, including smart switching and protective devices, smart sensors, Distributed Energy Resources, intelligent controls, telecommunication protocols, devices and infrastructure, along with analytical and simulation software, to facilitate real-time decisions and meet growing customer expectations. Due to smart distribution technology implementations, software tools are being developed to integrate information from dissimilar devices and systems and summarize the information to facilitate and enhance decisions addressing reliability, distributed energy resources, conservation and power quality.

This track focuses on applications, technologies, and equipment used for distribution feeder automation development, including distribution automation, protection and control, fault location and service restoration; Volt/Var optimization; smart sensors applied in DA or FLISR applications; and challenges and successes in implementing and integrating automation.

Topics include:

• Capacitor Banks
• DA and DER Integration
• Distribution System Network Monitoring
• Distribution System State Estimation
• Fault Indication Monitoring
• Flisr
• High-speed Switching
• Operations Management
• Protection and Control
• Reclosers
• Remote Switches
• Root Cause Analysis
• Sensors
• Synchrophasors
• System Architecture
• Volt/Var Optimization
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented Reality

Sponsored by:

View Distribution Automation Sessions

Exploring opportunities for utilities to respond to inevitable explosion of electric vehicles.

Room: 30E, Upper Level

Electric Vehicles and EVSE have seen substantial interest in the last year. Federal and state policy is ramping up both the investment and the support to accelerate transportation decarbonization. Transportation electrification is here and will have an outsized impact on electric utilities. From the forecasting of adoption rates to the planning of charging infrastructure across residential, commercial, light-duty and heavy-duty industries, the opportunity and the challenge is real. This track focuses on major topics including fleet electrification, grid impact, utility infrastructure needs, and advanced grid technologies. With billions in EV investment and ESG policies prioritizing positive climate impacts, there is a very real opportunity for us as an energy industry to make an impact on decarbonization as well as equitable infrastructure investment all the while ensuring adequate grid advancement.

Topics include:

• Charing Infrastructure
• Electric Aviation
• EV Rate Design
• Fast-charging
• Fleet Management
• Micromobility
• Mobile Load Management
• Public Charging Infrastructure
• Rebates and Incentives
• Regulatory Considerations for EVs
• Smart Charging
• Vehicle to X (V2X) Technologies
• Managed Charging
• Inclusive electrification
• Bi-directional Charging

Sponsored by:

View Electric Vehicles Sessions

Strategies and tools to manage today’s evolving grid 

Room: 31A, Upper Level

Real-time data is essential for optimal situational awareness to ensure utilities can make decisions with the most accurate information about the state of the electrical system. Comprehensive grid management solutions have evolved to address the increasingly complex nature of the distribution environment. This track focuses on how utilities can leverage technology to improve grid operations with automation. The emphasis of the track concentrates on solutions and processes to monitor, control, and optimize the grid. Topics include grid management, storm response, and damage assessment, centralized operation, and distributed energy impacts to the distribution system. The technology focal point of this track incorporates outage and advanced distribution management systems, advanced applications, SCADA and control systems, network model management / GIS, and other operational systems. This track is where utilities of all sizes share case studies that discuss strategy, implementation challenges, results, and lessons learned from their enterprise grid management journey. 

Topics include:

• ADMS
• AMI
• Enterprise Grid Management
• Enterprise/Systems Integration
• Grid-edge Intelligence
• IEC 61850-based Digital Substations
• Non-conventional Instrument Transformers
• Smart Sensing
• Substation Equipment Condition Monitoring
• System Top-down Configurations
• Mapping / GIS
• SCADA and Control Systems

Sponsored by:

View Grid Modernization Sessions

Not your parent's utility: how customers, policy, and technology are animating a new energy ecosystem.

Room: 31B, Upper Level

This track discusses future business models that will help utilities migrate the energy transition. A variety of approaches are covered, including new pricing paradigms, flexibility markets, dynamic carbon accounting, and customers as partners. Changes required to reshape an efficient and skilled utility workforce of the future and methods of accessing capital markets to manage the risks of changing technology and market forces are reviewed by industry experts.

Topics include:

• Blockchain
• Business Models
• Energy Markets
• Grid of the Future
• Innovative Management Solutions
• Investment and Financing
• Rate Design
• Revenue Generation Opportunities
• Time of Use Rates
• Transactive Energy
• Utility of the Future
• Value of DER
• Workforce Management
• Policy/Regulation/RTOs
• PPA/REC/Carbon Trading
• Corporate Energy Buyers
• Forecasting/Day-ahead Markets
• Infrastructure & Trading
• Market Intelligence

Sponsored by:

 

View Utility Business Models and the New Energy Provider Sessions

Resiliency, reliability, sustainability, and affordability. Can we have it all?

Room: 31C, Upper Level

Resiliency covers many aspects, from technology to security, physical infrastructure, and utility operations. This track explores the many factors that make up delivering resilient, safe and reliable services to consumers in a rapidly changing landscape. 

Climate change and the drive to carbon neutral and sustainability have impacted resiliency and utility operations like never before. See how utilities are adapting to these challenges with innovative programs and pilots, in areas such as vegetation management, wildfire response, undergrounding, physical grid security and storm management, working with their technology partners, to not only survive but thrive in the new world.

Topics include:

• Customer Communications
• Disruptive Events
• Drones
• Earth Observation
• Emergency Preparation
• Grid Hardening
• LIDAR, GIS and CIS Data Analytics
• Load Shed Strategies
• Outage Management Systems
• Overhead/Underground T&D
• Pandemic Planning and Response
• Satellite Analytics
• Storm Damage Assessment
• Storm Restoration
• Sensors
• Vegetation Management
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented Reality
• Disaster Management
• Climate Risk Analysis

Sponsored by:

View Resiliency Sessions

Collaborating to build smart cities all over the world. 

Room: 32A, Upper Level

The Smart City concept is as wide as it is deep. This track highlights utility/city collaboration and includes North American and international case studies with a broad range of topics from smart streetlights to policy and net zero emissions.

Topics include:

• Building Efficiency
• Financing Smart City Plans
• Intelligent Devices
• Roadmaps and Pilot Projects
• Smart Communities
• Smart Streetlights
• Sustainability Initiatives
• Public Private Partnerships
• Electric Franchise Agreements
• Decarbonization Plans / Strategies
• Energy Management Systems

Sponsored by:

View Smart Cities Sessions