Spring 2026
PLMA Conference:
May 11-13, 2026
Indianapolis, IN
Tips for Submitting a Successful Presentation Proposal
PLMA is searching for exceptional session proposals from across the industry that explore lessons learned and best practices from practitioners who develop, implement, and evaluate flexible load management, demand response (DR), distributed energy resources (DER), and managed charging initiatives. PLMA highly values proposals that highlight credible real-world examples of flexible load management with speakers who can share balanced, varied view of these examples in practice. Please, no sales pitches.
Presentations of any length or style will be considered with the typical format of 30- to 60-minute case study presentations in which 1/3 of the time is reserved for audience discussion. All topics and presenters will be considered however PLMA especially values sessions having specific, actionable ties to flexible load management, DR, DERs, and/or managed charging, as well as its specific areas of strategy and interest, as follows:
Topics of interest include:
- Retail Pricing
- Connected Devices
- Customer Engagement
- Electric Transportation
- Flexibility Solutions to Address Growth from Data Centers
- How Load Flexibility Can Positively Impact Affordability
- Load Flexibility with Beneficial Electrification
- Load Flexibility for Decarbonization
- DERs as a Grid Resource, including Load Flexibility in Distribution Planning & Operations
- Load Flexibility Valuation, including Locational Value
- Affordable and Equitable Solutions in Load Flexibility, including Addressing Underserved Communities and Impacts on DR Program Incentives
- Global Load Management
- Small Utility Programs
Completing your Presentation Proposal
Proposal acceptance decisions will be made by PLMA’s Conference Planning Group on January 30, 2026.
If your submission is selected, the presenters identified in your proposal will receive an invitation to present at the Spring 2026 PLMA Conference, plus a discounted registration code. All presenters MUST register for, and plan to attend, the conference to confirm their acceptance to speak.
Presenters are responsible for their own conference registration cost, travel, and if applicable, hotel expenses.
All presenters must agree to comply with the PLMA Presenter Policy and Code of Conduct.
Important Note about Conference Deadlines
- March 6: All speakers and co-presenters must be registered to attend the conference.
- March 13: A current speaker bio and headshot portrait for each presenter must have been sent to Monica Hammond.
- April 17: All draft slides, polls, and quizzes must have been submitted for review to your conference session co-chairs.
- April 27: All rehearsals and presentations must have been practiced, reviewed, and finalized.
Volunteer to Score Presentation Proposals
PLMA member practitioners are invited to serve as volunteer scorers of the presentation proposals for this event. The scoring task requires reviewing and scoring submissions based on a list of criteria that includes industry relevance and the interest level for each presentation’s approach. If you would like to score, but have also submitted your own presentation proposal, you will have the opportunity to recuse yourself from scoring your own or your organization’s proposed presentation
Please email Monica Hammond if you’d like to volunteer to score the Spring 2026 Conference presentation proposals.
Thank you!