Practical utility solutions to manage data center growth

Join us for an interactive workshop designed for utility planners, demand-side management leaders, and program design and delivery experts navigating these challenges. We’ll explore practical, data-driven strategies to manage load, coordinate with developers, and create meaningful value for customers and communities.

Attendees will gain actionable insights into:

• Evolving DSM programs to extract value from data center participation.
• Strengthening grid reliability and flexibility.
• Delivering lasting benefits for both customers and communities.

Agenda

Wednesday, April 15

6:00 PM    Welcome dinner - Location to be announced

Thursday, April 16

8:30 AM     Breakfast

9:00 AM     Navigating data center market trends

Learn how current market and policy trends are shaping data center growth. This session will explore demand projections, evolving regulations, and electrification impacts, and how these factors affect utility planning, developer coordination, and community outcomes. Attendees will hear actionable approaches for guiding investments, coordinating siting with developers, and designing DSM programs in this evolving landscape.

9:45 AM     Break

10:00 AM   Accelerating growth with intelligent grid and siting solutions

We'll address real-world challenges in securing power, navigating local permitting, and meeting community expectations, along with strategies to accelerate timelines and reduce costly grid upgrades. Participants will gain practical insights to guide siting decisions that enhance resilience, efficiency, and stakeholder value.

10:45 AM   Collaborative DSM design: Aligning utilities, planners, and developers for grid solutions

With the right approach, utilities can do more than simply involve data centers in their energy initiatives; they can collaborate with these facilities as key partners to help meet and address grid requirements. In this session, we’ll reveal strategies and best practices for utilities to effectively engage data center operators, overcome common barriers, and design programs that deliver measurable benefits. Join us to discover proven methods for building successful collaborations and driving energy savings in one of the most critical sectors of our digital economy.

11:30 AM   Break

11:45 AM   Connecting growth to value: Customer and community impact

Explore how utilities, developers, and other community leaders can translate data center growth into tangible benefits for customers and communities. This session covers best practices for engagement, strategies to balance grid needs withlocal priorities, and key policy considerations shaping siting decisions and community outcomes.

12:30 PM   Lunch

2:00 PM     Data center tour - Location to be announced

4:30 PM     Closing