2027 PLMA
Flexible Energy Forum:
Call for Presentations
Now Open
Tips for Submitting a Successful Presentation Proposal
We are searching for exceptional proposals from across the energy industry that explore lessons learned, use cases, and topics for discussion. PLMA and SECC highly value educational proposals that reflect various perspectives (utilities, consumers, and other market actors). The purpose is to inform and share lessons. Sales pitches will not be accepted.
Presentations of any length or style will be considered with preference for 30 to 45-minute interactive sessions, or 60-minute workshops, in which up to one-third of the time is reserved for audience discussion. All topics and presenters will be considered; however, PLMA and SECC are focusing on the following areas for this workshop:
- Grid Resilience & Reliability: Discover practical approaches leveraging customer-sited DERs to strengthen the grid and help manage rising electricity demand.
- Affordability: Understand how leveraging existing, customer-sited resources can apply downward pressure on increasing electric rates.
- Customer Engagement: Learn how to better communicate the value of smart energy and build deeper, fruitful relationships with customers.
- Optimized Outcomes: Explore how flexibility can lead to “speed-to-power” outcomes, allowing projects to connect significantly faster to meet growing loads.
- Dispatchable vs. Structural Flexibility: How to coordinate residential DERs and demand response to mitigate grid stress.
Presenter Notifications
The submission form requests information about your presenters, your topic, its relevance to the Flexible Energy Forum audience, and your intended learning objectives.
Proposal acceptance decisions will be made by the PLMA/SECC Planning Committee by November 17, 2026.
If your proposal is selected, the presenters you identified will receive an invitation to present at the Flexible Energy Forum, together with a discounted registration code. To confirm their acceptance to speak, all presenters MUST register for, and plan to attend the Forum. Registration for DTECH and the Flexible Energy Forum will open at the end of September.
Presenters are responsible for their own event registration costs, travel, and if applicable, hotel expenses.
All presenters must agree to comply with the Presenter Policy and Code of Conduct.
Important Note about Forum Deadlines
PLMA and SECC deeply appreciate the best efforts of all Forum participants to adhere to all event deadlines, which makes it possible to complete the event planning process accurately and on schedule without significantly over-taxing our volunteer leaders and staff.
As such, ensuring your session proposal is presented at the Forum is conditional upon meeting the speaker deadlines listed below. Missing these deadlines, or being unresponsive to requests, will unfortunately result in the removal of your session from the agenda.
- December 16: All speakers and co-presenters are registered to attend the Forum.
- December 16: A current speaker bio and headshot portrait has been sent to Angelica Paul.
- February 1: All draft slides have been submitted for review to the Forum Co-Chairs and PLMA/SECC Staff.
- February 17: All rehearsals and presentations have been practiced, reviewed, and finalized.
Volunteer to Score Presentation Proposals
PLMA and SECC 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 Angelica Paul if you’d like to volunteer to score the Flexible Energy Forum presentation proposals. Participation requires approximately 4-6 hours.