Grid Under Pressure Series: Forward Look

Draft Agenda

Building on discussions of integration and affordability from Parts 1 and 2 of this series, Part 3 looks ahead to the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping the grid while data center development continues to accelerate. Increasing cyber threats, climate‑driven resilience needs, and massive infrastructure investments demand new strategies and regulatory innovation. This program explores how utilities, developers, and regulators can collaborate to secure critical infrastructure, modernize the grid, and fund upgrades equitably while preparing for a future defined by reliability, affordability, and sustainability.

9:00 – 9:10         Welcome Remarks
Kristin Gilkes, Executive Director, Customers First Coalition

9:10 – 9:50         Cyber Threats and Mitigation Options – Data centers and utilities are prime targets for increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. This session explores the evolving threat landscape and practical mitigation strategies. Experts will discuss current federal guidance, industry standards, and advanced technologies for detection and prevention as well as potential collaborative approaches between utilities and data center operators to strengthen cyber resilience.
Moderator:
Erik Sonju, President, Power System Engineering
Panel:
Andrew Bochman, Resilience Strategic Lead, West Yost
Nate Melby, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Dairyland Power Cooperative
Jim Stuart, Director, Registration, North American Electric Reliability Corporation

9:50 – 10:30       Resilience and Grid Modernization – Increasing demand and volatile weather have accelerated deployment of grid‑enhancing technologies and increased the need for improved interregional transfers and proactive planning to maintain reliability while meeting clean energy goals. Gain insight into how these technologies are working and what more can be done to strengthen the grid.
Moderator:
Myles Collins, Policy Researcher IV: Energy Analysis Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Panel:
Adria Brooks, Director of Transmission Planning, Grid Strategies
Cynthia Crane, President, Crane Energy Policy
Yaron Miller, Project Director, Pew Charitable Trusts

10:30 – 10:40    Break

10:40 – 11:20    Cost-sharing Mechanisms for Infrastructure Upgrades – Infrastructure upgrades to support large load growth due to data centers require significant investment. Determining how costs are allocated is one of the most pressing challenges facing utilities and regulators today. This session will explore practical frameworks for structuring cost responsibility in ways that enable timely project delivery without unfairly burdening existing customers.
Moderator:
Christopher Ayers, Executive Director, North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff
Panel:
Kimberly Barrow, Vice Chair, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Rob Crain, Founder, Nasc Consulting
Ben Nathan, Director, Affordability and Equity, E-Source
Sanem Sergici, Principal, Brattle Group

11:20 – 12:00    Future of Regulation – The regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly as state commissions confront unprecedented load growth, new technologies, and shifting policy priorities. This session will explore how regulators, utilities, and developers are adopting innovative tools and frameworks to keep pace with these changes while safeguarding affordability and reliability. Attendees will gain insight into what regulatory innovation could look like over the next decade and how these changes will shape investment decisions, market structures, and the integration of large data center loads into a more resilient grid.
Moderator:
Sarah Freeman, Principal, Regulatory Assistance Project
Panel:
Andrew French, Chair, Kansas Corporation Commission
Amparo Nieto, Director, Energy and Climate Practice, BRG
Richard Stasik, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, WEC Energy Group
Tom Wilson, Principal Technical Executive, Energy Systems Climate Analysis Group, Electric Power Research Institute