Utility of the Future, and the impact of COVID 19 on the Grid 

A range of evolving energy technologies—including flexible demand, electrification, distributed generation, energy storage, and advanced power electronics and control devices—is creating new options for the provision and consumption of electricity services and driving change. In many cases, these innovative resources are enabled by increasingly affordable and ubiquitous information and communication technologies and by the growing digitalization of power systems.

So what are the longer term trends in society and especially in the energy industry that are impacting the electric utility industry? From an increasingly dispersed generation mix, including offshore wind, and greater renewable generation at homes and business, to greater communications enabling the true smart home and smart city, with the ability to match generation and consumption. Add in trends like EVs and greater electrification of the grid, and we are seeing the future of the utility industry already taking shape.  And how has the COVID 19 epidemic already highlighted some of those trends in NY? How is demand already shifting by hour and by neighborhood, and what do the utilities and regulators see ahead for this summer?  

This one hour session will seek to highlight the initiatives that are ongoing in these areas.

SPEAKERS: 

Steve Wemple, GM of Utility of the Future, Con Edison

Raghusimha Sudhakara, Con Edison

Chris Cavanagh, National Grid