Agenda

Registration Open

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Board of Directors Breakfast & Meeting (Closed Session)

Innovation Zone and Plugfest Setup

Board Luncheon (invitation only)

Tuesday Tech Session – Seamless Private/Public Network Transitioning

As utilities go down the path of building private LTE networks, they are faced with a number of different strategies for private/public network transitioning.  The pro and cons of these options will be explained by seasoned experts who have successfully deployed them.

SPEAKERS:  Cole Crews and James Rose

Tuesday Tech Session – Roadmap to Private 5G

Join us for a session on network evolution to private 5G led by Carlos L’Abbate, CTO of Anterix,  Mauricio Subieta, CTO of Energy Segment at Nokia, Gautam Talagery, CTO of Utilities at Ericsson, and Olli Junnila, VP of Sales of Infrastructure & Mobile Broadband at Qualcomm.  As utilities consider private LTE to meet clean energy targets and increase grid resiliency and security, LTE’s interoperability, longevity, and future evolution become critical requirements. In this session we will discuss 3GPP initiatives supporting 5G for private networks including the ability to operate in the 900MHz spectrum block.

SPEAKERS: Carlos L’Abbate  Mauricio Subieta, Gautam Talagery and Olli Junnila

Tuesday Tech Session – Building Future Ready Hybrid Network Infrastructure

Learn how public and private hybrid network infrastructure supports the broadest range of utility use cases. Building next-generation private wireless networks with interoperability with public networks and network slicing unleash automation and enablement of critical systems and grid sensors with 5G massive machine-type communications, ultra-reliable low latency communications, private edge computing infrastructure and advanced security controls.

SPEAKER: Shamik Basu 

Tuesday Tech Session – Fiber Without Glass

Join Wesco in discussing new optical technologies that deliver broadband speeds up to three kilometers away, without fiber.  Recent advances in free space optics technologies allow unparalleled flexibility at the network edge, delivering highly secure links without the need for wireless spectrum coordination.  Come learn how you can expand your fiber network by leveraging next-generation point-to-point laser communications.

SPEAKER: John Caselli

Tuesday Tech Session – Data: The Other Fuel for the Energy Transition

Data will fuel the next-gen utility, providing the much-needed intelligence to manage and control electricity supply and demand with an increasingly complex grid.  Black & Veatch explores grid edge PLTE architectures, the technology ecosystem and options to scale and deploy, so your PLTE and IT networks are in sync with grid technology, cybersecurity and operational investments.

SPEAKERS: David Hulinsky, Greg McGovern, Adam Rhodes & James Yang

Tuesday Tech Session – Deploying Cost-Effective Private LTE Networks in the Unlicensed US 915 MHz Band

Eliminating the significant expense of securing spectrum can enable utilities to build-out a pLTE network to connect their evolving smart grid devices.  Ubiik’s newly released, FCC certified 4G LTE-M base station, freeRAN™, offers unprecedented wireless connectivity for utilities by leveraging the unlicensed band.  In this session, in addition to outlining key product features and network configurations, you will learn about the range of utility applications suitable for the unlicensed band plus discover the results of recent CAT-M1 Itron endpoint connectivity tests conducted in Itron’s lab using freeRAN™ in the ISM band.

SPEAKERS:  Paul Reid,  Fabien Petitgrand, and Jeff Sanders

Tuesday Tech Session – Cellular Network Cybersecurity Risks Reduction

Join this session to learn how private LTE/5G networks create a new attack surface, and see the different private cellular networks’ attack vectors, real-life examples, and use cases. We will learn how organizations can prepare in advance, and the security actions that need to be taken, to detect and prevent such attacks.

SPEAKER: Dave Mor

Tuesday Tech Session – Key Strategic Architectural Considerations

Are you considering going to Private Cellular, but have a lot of questions? Are you wondering if you should start with 4G or go straight to 5G? Which use cases to start with? Which geographies? Is there a SIM strategy that could future-proof me? Do I have to build everything myself or can I make the build more business-driven? How do I balance options like roaming, MOCN? What steps can I take while I’m figuring it out?

Based on extensive work with those utilities who have already begun their journey to private wireless and leveraging utility-specific business case consulting experience, WWT will share key strategic architectural considerations that can enable Utilities to optimize their private wireless deployments, reduce risks and technical debt, and broaden long-term options while opening the door to the increasingly intriguing options across Public and Private networks available in the market.

SPEAKERS: Adam Nathan and Mike Robinson

Plugfest Primer – Get a quick look at what testing will be shown during the Plugfest hours

Welcome Reception

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Registration Open

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Breakfast

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8:00 am – General Session Welcome

SPEAKERS: Bobbi Harris (Utility Broadband Alliance),  Ali Mohammed (New York Power Authority) and  Jennie Bratten (Ericsson)

8:15 AM – Special Guest Keynote – “Innovation & Inspiration Beyond the Digital Divide”

SPEAKER: Laurent Therivel, CEO of UScellular, with an introduction by Kim Kerr, SVP at UScellular

8:45 AM – Utility Industry Perspectives – “Trends in Utility Innovation”

Jennie Bratten will open with session with her insights on the latest trends in the energy/utility industry, and then invite panelists to join her for the Panel – “Balancing Digital Innovation with Technology Investments.”

SPEAKERS: Jimi Conway, PE (ComEd REACTS), Ian Troughton CEO (4RF), Patrick Nolan (SCE) and Charles King SVP & CTO (Evergy)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Jennie Bratten (Ericsson)

Break

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General Session Panels Continued

10:00 AM – “The Future Looks Bright” – a fireside chat with the Xcel Energy leadership

Join Xcel Energy’s Tim O’Conner, EVP & COO, Eric Levin, Chief Architect and Tawnya Fielder, VP of Applications  for a candid discussion with Rob Schwartz, CEO of Anterix. This executive panel will share insights about their journey to pLTE and the future of grid modernization and digitalization across the Xcel Energy territories.

SPEAKERS: Tim O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer (Xcel Energy), Eric LeVin,  Chief Architect (Xcel Energy) and Tawnya Fiedler, VP of Application Delivery (Xcel Energy)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Rob Schwartz, CEO (Anterix)

11:00 AM – Digitalization & Private LTE Networks in Utilities Benchmark 2023

Grid modernization and digitalization require that utilities have more visibility into their operations than ever before. With the evolution of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), intelligent sensor networks, and demand of heightened security measures, etc. utilities need to take more control over their communications networks. Zpryme has teamed up with the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) to better understand the Private LTE landscape and how utilities are pursuing these networks to build the grid of the future. This session will reveal what we learned as we dive further into the topics and look forward into the 5G future.

SPEAKERS: Ken Rabedeau (Nokia), Ashley Pearson (Aclara), Tim Johnson (T-Mobile for Business) and Ali Mohammed (NYPA)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Joyce Deuley (Zpryme)

Lunch

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Plugfest & Innovation Zone

Join UBBA technical committees for Plugfest 2023 as we test the utility use cases failing-over between private and public networks…

In the same room will be our 2023 Innovation Zone and Xcel Energy Solutions Showcase

Afternoon Break with Snacks and Beverages

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All Attendee Party

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Registration Open

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Breakfast & Members Meeting with Chairman’s Awards

8:00 am – General Session Day Two Welcome & Announcement of 2024 Summit Host Utility & City

SPEAKERS: Bobbi Harris (Utility Broadband Alliance), Ali Mohammed (New York Power Authority) and Jennie Bratten (Ericsson)

8:15 AM –  “Zero Trust in a Consumer-Driven World”

Join utility industry experts as they explore communications strategies and integrated technologies designed to ensure safety across the energy grid. From substations to meters, and from initial detection to final response, utility physical and cyber security challenges are ever evolving in a world of bad actors. Utilities are building a safe and reliable grid to meet 21st-century power needs; Come hear what your peers are saying about securing the future of critical infrastructure.

SPEAKERS: Dave Mor (OneLayer), Jeff Tufts (Cisco), Ken Kaminski (Ericsson) and Emily Allen (Motorola)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: David Batz (EEI)

9:00 AM – “EVs, DERs & AMI 2.0 – Oh My!”

Grid Modernization goals for enhancing reliability and resiliency require a highspeed network to enable a variety of supporting utility use-cases. Integrating Electric Vehicles and Distributed Energy Resources, and migration of the next generation of AMI are not just hype. Demands on the aging metering network are accelerating, driven by increasing operational costs, the need for more bandwidth, higher reliability, and better security. Over the next 5-7 years, utilities will see a greater growth in data usage driven by an expanded number of grid devices connected to real time grid controls demanding more frequent data exchanges. To address these challenges, utilities need to plan now for additional EVs, DERs and AMI 2.0. Attendees gain insights on the best approach and the benefits to the utility and their customers.

SPEAKERS: Rich Creegan (Anterix), Steve Merrill (Itron), David Hulinsky (Black & Veatch), Chris Trabold (GE), and Carlos Carazo (SCE)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: John Engel (Clarion Energy)

Break

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General Session Panels Continued

10:00 AM –  “A Successful Journey to PLTE”

No one size fits all in the utility space! This session will offer insights into four utilities’ journeys to private LTE for operational use cases and future grid solutions.

SPEAKERS: Alan McIntyre (SoLinc), J.J. Stutler (Evergy), Wendall Reimer (Xcel Energy), Chris Vana (Ameren) & Bobby Saddler (LCRA)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR:  Adam Nathan (WWT)

10:45 AM  – “Identifying priorities and driving collective action to accelerate grid transformation with private broadband: Insights from Utility Technology Leaders”

Utilities collectively are under increasing pressure to act to ensure their critical infrastructure is ready to meet aggressive clean energy targets and harden the electric grid for improved resilience and security.  Data and communications technologies underpinning grid operations play a key role in advancing utility modernization solutions to solve these challenges while also mitigating risks, increasing customer satisfaction, and improving operational metrics.  Leaders from across the utility industry will provide their insights on how utilities can come together to collectively drive industry development to address these challenges by leveraging utilities’ shared interests, priorities, knowledge, talent, technology, and resources.

SPEAKERS: :  Charles King, SVP & CTO (Evergy), Ken Price, COO (LCRA), and Kelly Bloch, AVP Distribution Engineering and Grid Modernization Delivery (Xcel Energy)

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Ryan Gerbrandt, (Anterix)

11:30 AM – “The Rise of AI in the Digital Grid”

From forecasting demand to advanced self-healing grid management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered utility  infrastructure is the talk of the year.  These next-generation intelligence systems can monitor equipment for potential outages or failures and respond to disruption or predict maintenance needs. AI labs are developing new ways to extract insights about the electric grid from vast quantities of data, with the goal of ensuring reliability and efficiency, but what are the challenges AI may bring? Where is AI’s place in the energy grid? What about security and data privacy? Our panel will dive into these and other questions in this look at the future of utility AI.

SPEAKERS: Caleb Murphy (SDG&E), Ali Mohammed (NYPA), Basit Malik (Fieldforce) and TBA

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Matt Olson (Burns & McDonnell)

Lunch

SPONSORED BY:

Plugfest & Innovation Zone

Join UBBA technical committees for Plugfest 2023 as we test the utility use cases failing-over between private and public networks…

In the same room will be our 2023 Innovation Zone and Xcel Energy Solutions Showcase

Afternoon Break with Snacks and Beverages

SPONSORED BY:

Plugfest Awards & Closing Comments

SPEAKERS: Ali Mohammed, Mat Eshpeter, and Bobbi Harris

Open Time for Vendor Dinners

Departures