WiFi sponsor
Mobile App sponsor
Power Alley Sponsor
Registration Desk / Lanyard sponsor
Room Key sponsor
Professional Headshot Photography sponsor
Pre-Conference Networking Events
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Discover Downtown Indy with Nick! Walking Tour | Downtown Indianapolis
Step outside and explore the rich history of Indianapolis on a guided walking tour led by our Member Services Coordinator. This daytime experience offers a closer look at the people, places, and stories that helped shape downtown Indianapolis—from iconic landmarks and architectural gems to lesser-known moments that define the city’s character.
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Self-Guided Tour of Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art | White River State Park
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is dedicated to sharing the stories, art, and cultures of Native American peoples and the American West. Through powerful exhibitions and collections, the museum highlights diverse voices, perspectives, and traditions that continue to shape the nation’s cultural landscape.
The Eiteljorg Museum offers self-guided exploration of its permanent and rotating exhibitions for groups. The JW Marriott Indianapolis is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the museum. Transportation will not be provided for this event.
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Self-Guided Tour of Indiana State Museum | White River State Park
The Indiana State Museum celebrates Indiana’s rich and diverse history, science, and culture through engaging, interactive exhibits that bring the state’s stories to life. Serving as a gateway to Indiana’s past and present, the museum highlights multiple perspectives and experiences that shape the Hoosier State.
The Indiana State Museum offers self-guided exploration of its permanent and rotating exhibitions for groups. The JW Marriott Indianapolis is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the museum. Transportation will not be provided for this event.
6:00 – 9:00 pm
NCAA Hall of Champions | White River State Park
Wear your favorite college gear with pride and join us for an engaging evening of connection at the iconic NCAA Hall of Champions. This reception is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, and kick off a dynamic conference experience. Explore interactive exhibits that celebrate the spirit of student-athletes across 1,000+ colleges and universities, featuring championship history, trivia challenges, and hands-on sports simulators.
8:00 - 9:00 am
Shared Breakfast: PLMA Education Class and Interest Groups | White River Ballroom E
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
PLMA Education Class: “Load Flexibility: The Fundamentals” | Room 205
This is a fast-paced survey class, especially valuable for those new to flexible load management! Taught by a team of PLMA member experts, it provides an overview of many aspects of load flexibility, including demand response and DERs, DER applications, technology, wholesale markets, portfolio management, design and implementation, and program evaluation. Please register for “The Fundamentals” when you complete your conference registration form.
Concurrent Interest Group Activities
9:00 - 10:30 AM
INTEREST GROUP | White River A-B
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 101-102
Coming soon.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE WORKSHOP | White River C-D
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 103-104
Coming soon.
10:30 - 10:45 am
Shared Refreshment Break: PLMA Education Class and Interest Groups | White River Ballroom E
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
INTEREST GROUP | White River A-B
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 101-102
Coming soon.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE WORKSHOP | White River C-D
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 103-104
Coming soon.
12:15 - 1:15 pm
Shared Lunch: PLMA Education Class and Interest Groups | White River Ballroom E
1:15 - 2:45 PM
INTEREST GROUP | White River A-B
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 101-102
Coming soon.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE WORKSHOP | White River C-D
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 103-104
Coming soon.
2:45 - 3:00 pm
Shared Refreshment Break: PLMA Education Class and Interest Groups | White River Ballroom E
3:00 - 4:30 PM
INTEREST GROUP | White River A-B
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 101-102
Coming soon.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE WORKSHOP | White River C-D
Coming soon.
INTEREST GROUP | Room 103-104
Coming soon.
4:30 - 5:30 pm
PLMA Member Meetup | TBD
If you’ve been with us all day in Interest Group sessions or the Load Flex Fundamentals class, it’s time for a well-deserved break! Network with your fellow colleagues and discuss today’s learnings.
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Leadership Council Dinner and Meeting | White River Ballroom E
PLMA invites all members of the Leadership Council to join us for a business dinner meeting and discussion. To check if you should be at this dinner, please see the Leadership page.
8:00 - 10:00 pm
Start Your Engines Welcome Reception | Indiana State Museum
Reception Sponsored by
Reception Entertainment Sponsored by
Photo Op Sponsored by
Marquee Lighting Sponsored by
7:30 - 9:00 am
Breakfast | White River Ballroom E
7:30 - 9:00 am
WOMEN IN LOAD FLEXIBILITY BREAKFAST CONNECT | Room 103-104
Join PLMA’s Women in Load Flexibility Affinity Group for some early morning networking over breakfast.
Whether you are a “woman in load flexibility” or you work with women every day, you are welcome to join us!
Dee Martir
edo
Janet Zavala
Southern California Edison
Michaela Lewin
Uplight
Opening Session | White River Ballroom F-J
Sponsored by
9:00 - 9:05 am
Sarah Chatterjee
Tala Energy Consulting
9:05 - 9:25 am
Opening Remarks from the Chair
Robin Maslowski
Trillium Energy Consulting
9:25 - 9:30 am
Welcome to Indianapolis
Lauren Schuettler
Wabash Valley Power Alliance
9:30 - 10:00 am
Keynote
Jeff Conrad
CEO
Wabash Valley Power Alliance
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break | White River Ballroom E
Sponsored by
General Session 2 | White River Ballroom F-J
Co-Chair
Ross Malme
Malme Consulting
Co-Chair
Allison Hamilton
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
10:30 - 11:30 AM
The Orchestra Needs a Conductor
This session will present findings from a white paper by SEPA and Uplight, focusing on the role of DSOs and key enabling technologies. We’ll explore utility strategies for implementing these technologies, utility-led programs, and flexibility markets, plus regulatory issues. A lively Q&A discussion will highlight the advantages and disadvantages of utility-led, market-based, and hybrid approaches to demand flexibility procurement.
Moderator
Lakin Garth
Smart Electric Power Alliance
Neil Veilleux
Uplight
Zack Pollock
Xcel Energy
Jim Conrad
PPL
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
What's Up at PLMA | Interest Group Reports
Hear from PLMA’s eight Interest Groups on their current and future areas of focus, all in short 3-minute updates.
Presenting Groups: Building Electrification, Commercial & Industrial Load Flexibility, Connected Devices, Customer Engagement, Electric Transportation, Global Load Management, Public Power & Co–ops, and Retail Pricing.
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Lunch | White River Ballroom E
12:15 - 1:30 pm
2026 PLMA Awards of Excellence Winners Luncheon (Invitation Only Please) | Room 101
12:30 - 1:15 pm
EMERGING PROFESSIONALS WORKSHOP | Room 102
The Flex Load Long game: Real Talk from Industry Veterans
The future of load management is coming fast—and it’s smarter, faster, and more connected than ever. As we race toward 2030 and 2040, rapid advancements in technology, evolving regulatory mandates, and new customer expectations are reshaping how we manage demand and ensure grid reliability. This session brings together leading experts in the load management field to explore what lies ahead, share hard-won lessons, emerging trends, and practical advice for navigating what’s to come. However you are looking to level up your career or impact in shaping tomorrow’s grid, join to learn and discuss the trajectory of load management—and the roles that will shape its future.
General Session 3 and 3A
1:30 - 2:30 PM
General Session 3 | White River Ballroom F-J
Co-Chair
Ruth Kiselewich
ICF
Co-Chair
Troy Eichenberger
Tennessee Valley Authority
Who Are Today’s Residential Customers? A Segmentation Perspective
The Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) periodically updates its consumer segmentation framework to reflect changes in the energy industry and society. This framework reveals trends in energy efficiency, demand response, electrification, and DERs. Join us to learn about new attitudinal segments including Gen Z, rural, and low-income consumers, with a focus on their clean energy interests and views on electricity providers, plus strategies for the providers to engage them.
Nathan Shannon
Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC)
Tim Jarrell
Cobb EMC
Arnold Santayana
CPS Energy
Angelika Hoelger
Touchstone Energy
Jeff Adams
ICF
General Session 3A | White River Ballroom C-D
Co-Chair
Hayley Burns
TRC Companies
Co-Chair
Mike Smith
National Grid
Building Enduring Industrial Load Flexibility for Load Growth and Competitiveness
LBNL is spearheading a national initiative to enhance industrial load flex to boost U.S. industrial competitiveness. The initiative promotes LF adoption by expanding programs, increasing industry engagement, and collaborating across the LF delivery chain. Join LBNL to learn about its LF taxonomy for clarifying opportunities, together with NARUC which will discuss regulatory insights on LF-supporting load growth. Plus, utilities will share their industrial DR strategies, addressing challenges and research opportunities.
Jingjing Liu
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Danielle Sass Byrnett
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
Bruce Brazis
APS
Drew Scatizzi
Duke Energy
2:30 - 3:00 PM
2026 PLMA Awards for Excellence in Load Management | White River Ballroom F-J
Join us as we recognize this year’s award recipients.
Gabriel Kjos
Portland General Electric
Michael Ohlsen
Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility
Teague Douglas
DNV
3:00 - 3:30 pm
Refreshment Break | White River Ballroom E
Sponsored by
General Session 4 | White River Ballroom F-J
Co-Chair
Jenny Roehm
Schneider Electric
Co-Chair
Michael Brown
NV Energy
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Integrating DERs into Markets
Join us to explore mechanisms that integrate DERs at scale. We’ll highlight participation models and compensation frameworks by examining three case studies: Ontario’s IESO, ERCOT’s Aggregate DER pilot, and New York ISO’s initiative. Ontario aims to create wholesale participation pathways for DER aggregations, while ERCOT focuses on enabling market-facing resources for energy and ancillary services, and New York’s ISO is enabling aggregated DERs that align with FERC Order No. 2222.
Angeli Jaipargas
Independent Electricity System Operator
Ryan King
ERCOT
Ethan Avallone
NYISO
Long Lam
The Brattle Group
4:30 - 5:00 PM
Sponsor Technology Advancement Roundtable
Don’t miss this fast-paced session with key PLMA sponsors who will each have three minutes to present their offerings and explain how these address today’s most significant load flexibility challenges. Write down each presenter’s “secret word” and you’ll be eligible for some fabulous prize drawings at the 5pm Networking Reception!
Presenters
5:00 - 6:30 PM
Networking Reception in the Sponsors Lounge | White River Ballroom E
7:30 - 9:00 am
Breakfast | White River Ballroom E
9:00 - 10:30 am
TRACK A | White River A-B
Co-Chair
Jonathan Hoechst
Tetratech
Co-Chair
Beth Reid
Olivine
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Quantifying and Operationalizing the Demand Stack
The Demand Stack, which integrates demand-side resources for enhanced grid and customer benefits, is succeeding at harnessing program value. Join the Brattle Group to review its quantitative analysis of Demand Stack advantages which can optimize demand-side investments. Utilities and industry leaders will discuss their experiences implementing these insights into regulatory frameworks, building internal support, and improving customer experiences to deliver savings and megawatts where the grid requires it.
Kari Gehrke
Alliant Energy
Sam Hartnett
Uplight
Ryan Hledik
The Brattle Group
9:45 – 10:30 AM
Integrating EE and DR for Lasting Engagement and Flexible Load: AES Indiana’s Holistic Approach
AES Indiana is aligning EE and DR programs to enhance grid flexibility and meet efficiency goals. By integrating its EE portfolio with DR offerings across segments and creating a unified marketplace, AES Indiana has simplified customer enrollment and reduced program silos. Learn how its approach has increased summer peak DR capacity to ~51 MW while ensuring cost-effectiveness and customer satisfaction. Plus, lessons learned on early tech integration and flexible marketing strategies.
Jesse DeGrendel
CLEAResult
Candyce Offett
AES Indiana
TRACK B | White River C-D
Co-Chair
Rich Hasselman
GDS Associates
Co-Chair
Debyani Ghosh
Guidehouse
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Breaking Down Utility Silos: A Cross-Functional Approach to Scaling Load Flex
Learn about Seattle City Light’s engagement strategy for developing its 10-year DR Strategy by fostering partnerships and buy-in across the utility. It emphasizes the importance of involving the utility teams who are essential for implementing programs, alongside end customers. We’ll explore the journey from a siloed approach to a coordinated effort and showcase the methods that build relationships and trust, plus a review of lessons learned.
Karen Liu
Seattle City Light
Elizabeth (Eli) Font
Resource Innovations
Angela Long
Rockcress Consulting
Robin Maslowski
Trillium Energy Consulting
9:45 – 10:30 AM
Building the Future of Demand Response: A Roadmap for Success
In 2020, BG&E launched its Connected Rewards BYOD load management program to supplement its PeakRewards load control initiative. By 2025, the program had enrolled ~85,000 devices due to thoughtful collaborations with partners including ICF and Resideo. Join us to learn about BGE’s transition to flexible load management, year-round dispatch for ~30% of participants, and the implementation of equitable incentives, which consolidated all of BG&E’s load management into one unified effort.
Danielle Marse
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Eric Ricucci
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Shelby Langlois
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Alex Emond
ICF
TRACK C | Room 201-202
Co-Chair
Corey Wheat
Copeland
Co-Chair
Ari Kornelis
Cadmus
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Inverter-Driven Heat Pump Load Management
Advancements in inverter-driven air source heat pump (ASHP) technology enable efficient electric space heating in colder temperatures. Join us to explore a study on the electric load of ductless and central ASHPs, complemented by fossil fuel systems, for the Midwest’s 2023/2024 heating and cooling seasons. Most ASHPs participated in DR, using backup systems for heating during DR events and maintained a 50% duty cycle in the cooling season.
Moderator
Allison Hamilton
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Rodney De Fouw
Great River Energy
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Grid-Stabilization, -Optimization, and -Growth with 2-way Smart Control
Join us to learn how Lake Region Electric Cooperative in Minnesota and Great River Energy used controllable thermal energy storage to transform surplus wind and solar into a flexible grid resource. This initiative generated $1M+ in member savings while enhancing reliability and affordability. The co-op also established two-way communication between thermal storage devices and the grid, and demonstrated evolving, low-cost communication strategies, optimizing load management performance over time.
Dylan Aafedt
Lake Region Electric Cooperative
John Reinhart
Great River Energy
Paul Steffes
Steffes
10:00 – 10:30 AM
How PG&E and Carrier Energy Orchestrate Grid-Interactive HVAC
PG&E and Carrier Energy have partnered to enhance DR by transforming HVAC systems into dispatchable, reliable grid resources for the commercial and residential sectors. Their collaboration integrates PG&E’s Automated Response Technology (ART), allowing HVAC systems to respond to utility signals while preserving customer comfort. Join us to explore the initiative’s goals, including the delivery of predictable load responses without manual or customer intervention, plus lessons learned to date.
Timothy Watts
Carrier Energy
Dan Coughlin
Carrier Energy
Aaron Kendall
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
John Hernandez
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
TRACK D | Room 203-204
Co-Chair
Gary Smith
Sagewell
Co-Chair
Kate Merson
ev.energy
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Early Findings And Lessons Learned From Deploying A Bidirectional Charging Project
Join us to learn about a local bi-directional charging deployment in AES Indiana’s territory, including the processes, challenges, and solutions identified. Despite widespread interest, to date very few such projects have successfully launched, primarily due to limitations in hardware, software, and technical expertise. Presenters will address these issues from the implementer’s and utility’s perspectives with a focus on program design, customer engagement, and early results, plus their lessons learned.
Varun Thakkar
CLEAResult
Victoria Cooper
AES Indiana
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Charging Ahead: Learnings from the MassCEC V2X Project
Join us in reviewing the midway progress of the MassCEC V2X Demonstration Project which will install 1M+ of bidirectional charging systems by July 2026. Project participants include school districts, private and public fleets, and residents. All will receive, at no cost, hardware, interconnection, installation, and the commissioning of bidirectional charging stations. Session will address lessons learned plus insights from participants that identify knowledge gaps, concerns, and perceptions of V2X technologies.
Katie Peterson
The Mobility House
David Roman Ubeda
National Grid
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Making Residential V2G Work in Practice: Turning a First Installation into a Repeatable Utility Process
Learn how SDG&E launched a residential bidirectional EV charger installation, using a Wallbox Quasar 2 + 2025 Kia EV9, with a goal of overcoming historic challenges including slow interconnection and permitting processes not designed for V2G. The utility and vendor mapped a replicable pathway for future residential V2G projects and will share their blueprint documenting permitting and interconnection workflows, required utility teams, customer prerequisites, and common constraints that limit installation eligibility.
Nick Fiore
San Diego Gas & Electric
10:30 - 11:00 am
Refreshment Break | White River Ballroom E
Sponsored by
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
TRACK E | White River A-B
Co-Chair
Sneha Vasudevan
Uplight
Co-Chair
Katie Parkinson
Pipes And Wires Consulting
11:00 – 11:30 AM
Improving DER Forecasting with Asset Performance Data
Join DNV and Con Edison to learn how they improved system and distribution load forecasting for DERs. They’ll demonstrate their use of AMI, SCADA, and supplemental asset data for developing load shapes for DERs to improve forecast accuracy. These shapes help identify DER-specific trends, improve asset predictability and alignment with system peaks, and predict interactions across DERs. Learn how they addressed challenges, plus considerations for future DER load shape research.
Brittany Proctor
Con Edison
Ari Michelson
DNV
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Systematic Evaluation of Distribution-Level Load Flexibility: A Large-Scale Experimental Approach
In 2025, SCE tested its distribution-level dispatch capabilities, using 200,000+ devices, by assigning 330 distribution and 58 bulk substation banks each into ten groups. Conducted during summer with varied weather conditions, these tests quantified performance and load impacts by dispatching one group while withholding ten for control. Learn about SCE’s experiment and the insights it provides on enhancing grid stress mitigation, and the potential for DR to support T&D planning.
Katie Leinenbach PhD
Demand Side Analytics
Jake Hoffman PhD
Southern California Edison
TRACK F | White River C-D
Co-Chair
AJ Howard
Linden Clean Energy
Co-Chair
Kitty Wang
Energy Solutions
From Peak Shaving to Grid Shaping: How Arizona Public Service Unlocked Flexibility Value
APS is evolving its grid management approach by addressing growing demand and shifting supply needs beyond traditional summer peak hours. Learn how it’s using DR as a multi-faceted resource to enhance reliability and energy value by implementing dispatch strategies for its VPP portfolio. APS integrated these strategies into its Resource Adequacy framework to calculate ELCC. A benefit-cost analysis supports VPP resource valuation and is guiding portfolio selection for its 2026 IRP.
Debyani Ghosh
Guidehouse
Akhil Mandadi
Arizona Public Service
David Alspector
Tierra Resource Consultants
TRACK G | Room 201-202
Co-Chair
Teague Douglas
DNV
Co-Chair
Joel Schofield
Threshold Installation and Outreach
Unlocking Smart Thermostat DR in Rental Properties
Utility residential DR programs often exclude renters, due to fragmented ownership, split incentives, and operational / technical complexities. The result is an increasing share of unaddressed energy load. Learn from APS, SRP, and Duke Energy about how they are breaking these barriers to address the rental market’s need for scalable, equitable, and future-ready DR portfolios. This work is informed by insights from a Tierra/E Source study on smart thermostat DR.
Josh Logan
Salt River Project
Brian Lusher
Duke Energy
Jason Delaney
Arizona Public Service
Matthew Joyce
Tierra Resource Consultants
TRACK H | Room 203-204
Co-Chair
Joana Abreu
VEIC
Co-Chair
Diane Levin
NY Power Authority
11:00 – 11:30 AM
Large-Scale Residential Time-of-Day Rate Migrations on Long Island
PSEG Long Island presents its migration of 900,000+ residential accounts to TOD rates with a 2x peak-to-off-peak price ratio. We’ll explore its three randomized control trials to understand opt-out time-varying rates, customer performance including summer weekdays, large shifting customers with the highest peak usages, customers on balanced billing plans, and shifts by EV owners. We’ll also look at PSEG’s second summer performance, including opt-outs, load impacts, and EV peak reductions.
Tim Larsen
Demand Side Analytics
Josh Bode
Demand Side Analytics
Brian Kurtz
PSEG-Long Island
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Scaling Managed Charging Program Engagement to Deliver Affordability and Grid Benefits
Powered by high-touch outreach, innovative marketing, and seamless customer experience, ConEd’s residential and commercial managed charging programs are now the country’s largest. Join us explore how scaling programs with continuous feedback loops have driven load flexibility that supports affordability for customers, plus reduced grid strain, improved forecasting, and transparent energy insights. Learn more about ConEd’s engagement strategies and their many grid benefits.
Charles Cochin
Con Edison
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Lunch | White River Ballroom E
12:15 - 1:15 pm
WOMEN IN LOAD FLEXIBILITY LUNCH WORKSHOP | Room 203-204
Grab some lunch from the sponsor lounge then join us for a conversation. Whether you’re a woman in load flexibility, or you work with women every day, you’re welcome to attend!
Dee Martir
edo
Janet Zavala
Southern California Edison
Michaela Lewin
Uplight
1:30 pm
Sponsor lounge closes
Closing Session | White River Ballroom F-J
Dain Nestel
Escend
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Data Center Panel
Coming soon.
2:30 pm
Welcome to Seattle for the Fall 2026 Conference!
Patrick Herrman
Seattle City Light
Karen Liu
Seattle City Light
2:40 pm
Closing Remarks
Dain Nestel
Escend