USEA Virtual Press Briefing: The Exciting Electricity Technology Future and the Difficult Summer Ahead

There is a general agreement among utility executives that this is the most exciting time ever to be in the electric space. The revolution -- from fossil fuels and renewables to small modular reactors and carbon capture, utilization and storage -- is massive, challenging, and happening. The nation’s 3,000 utilities will be affected in some way, most of them dramatically.

Mixed in with the enthusiasm for a new day in electricity production and delivery is fear that the summer of 2022 may be catastrophic for some regions with rolling blackouts and brownouts. Much depends on the whim of the weather.

High prices and supply chain interruptions are putting pressure on utilities as they endure changes and seek a new normal in operations. Utilities across the board are moving at varying speeds to a carbon-free future and increasing the resilience of their systems.

Tune into this briefing to learn how utilities will look in the future, how they are adapting to technical change, data dominance and integrating renewables, all against the backdrop of extreme weather events and supply chain challenges.

These questions and more will be addressed in this briefing, which will consist of a panel of experts taking questions from a panel of knowledgeable journalists. USEA Acting Executive Director Sheila Hollis will give opening remarks. Llewellyn King, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and broadcaster, organized this briefing and will moderate.

The general audience can submit questions using the Zoom Q&A function, but members of the media will be given preference. A recording will be made available after the briefing.

Panelists:
Arshad Mansoor, President & CEO, EPRI
John Bear, CEO, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
Andres Carvallo, President, CMG Consulting

Journalists:
Vijay Vaitheeswaran, The Economist
Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal
Ken Silverstein, Forbes
Robert Walton, Utility Dive
Rod Kuckro, Freelance