The New Mexico State University (NMSU) Current Issues Conference serves as an annual critical forum for electric utilities and state regulators to explore the evolving use of new technologies and risk management strategies necessary to combat the intensifying threats of wildfires and extreme weather. Even for those in traditionally considered “low-risk states”, the gathering offers a proactive opportunity to learn from the new reality of high-risk regions and actionable insights on what utilities can do when faced with unprecedented financial liabilities, the specter of bankruptcy, and the complex implementation of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Gain the ability to balance the massive capital investments required for grid modernization and infrastructure reliability with the need for customer affordability.

Technosylva is attending and speaking on the value of new technologies as a critical part of the solution to ensuring reliability. The Monday afternoon panel will be an insightful conversation.

Monday, April 20. 3:30pm – 5:00pm
The Framework for New Technologies

New technologies can be a critical part of the solution to ensuring reliability and winning the geopolitical struggle around the global AI race. At the same time, there are barriers for adopting new technologies and challenges to deploy new technologies. With a variety of technologies becoming available, what is the most efficient way for commissions and utilities to evaluate and ensure the reliability and cost-effectiveness of these technologies that range from small modular reactors to multi-day storage to virtual power plants to advance connectivity to AI adoption? Often there are pilot projects for certain technologies, but what would an effective framework for evaluating and adopting emerging technologies look like? Panelists will discuss ways to evaluate and adopt technologies while still delivering reliability, affordability, and technological innovation to consumers.

Moderator: Hon. John Hammond, Chair, NARUC Committee on Electricity; Commissioner,  Idaho Public Utilities Commission

Speakers:

• Nathan Brownell, Vice President, Resilience and Capital Delivery, CenterPoint Energy
• Shaun Dentice, Chief Revenue Officer, Resource Innovations
• Idran “Indy” Ratnathicam, Chief Growth Officer, Technosylva
• James Richards, Manager, Economics and Project Development, Nuclear Innovation Alliance
• Brian Scriber, Vice President, Security Technologies, CableLabs
• Mark Thompson, Senior Director, State Affairs, Form Energy

Responders:

• Hon. Katie Anderson, Commissioner, Arkansas Public Service Commission
• Hon. Zenon Christodoulou, Commissioner, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
• Hon. Gary Hanson, Commissioner, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission