DISTRIBUTECH 2024: Providing More Intelligence and Control at the Grid Edge

The grid is becoming more dynamic and unpredictable than ever before. Transportation, heating and cooling are actively shifting toward electrification as the global demand for electricity continues to surge, which is even more amplified by the growing influx of rooftop solar (PV), wind power, residential battery storage and other distributed energy resources (DERs), such as electric vehicles (EVs). These trends, combined with the impacts of extreme weather and aggressive decarbonization goals, are putting an enormous amount of pressure on grid operators to deliver reliable and safe energy. What once was a matter of balancing supply and demand has evolved into a highly complex challenge for utilities and communities everywhere.  

At DISTRIBUTECH 2024, the industry’s leading annual transmission and distribution event, attendees will see firsthand how Itron enables grid edge intelligence—and how more intelligence can address utility challenges today and into the future. Visit us in booth 2200, Feb. 27-29 in Orlando, Florida to explore the possibilities. Stay on the lookout for the following grid edge intelligence solutions and technologies on display in the Itron booth: 

• Intelligent Connectivity with multi-transport industrial IoT (IIoT) networking that delivers robust connectivity to devices and applications including DI-enabled smart meters, behind-the-meter DERs and distribution automation devices. 
• Operations and Data Management including solutions like the Itron Enterprise EditionTM and Operations Optimizer that deliver cost-effective automation of operations and manage device and network connectivity operation and data delivery. Itron’s DataHub will also be featured, which provides a united, user-friendly platform for utilities and third parties to provide easy and secure data access, and to facilitate the sharing of metering data, billing information and grid edge data. 
• Itron Optimizer Solutions including Grid Edge Optimizer for providing grid edge analytics to support grid planning and operations, Distributed Energy Optimizer, Itron’s unique grid aware DERMs solution, Electric Vehicle Optimizer and more. 
• Distributed Intelligence (DI) Applications including Active Transformer Load Monitoring, Location Awareness, EV and Solar Awareness and Itron’s Safety Bundle are part of Grid Edge Optimizer. DI utilizes analytics to provide near real-time situational awareness and localized control, which provide significant value on top of the operational benefits gained from an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. 
• Smart Communities solutions that leverage our IIoT network, software and partner ecosystem to enable innovation and efficiency for communities of all sizes. Providing connected smart lighting, intelligent transportation services, deploying resilient and sustainable infrastructure, reducing carbon emissions and improving public safety becomes possible – all with solutions from Itron. 

Where to Find Us: 

Connect with us on the show floor in booth 2200. We also have several speaking engagements where you can discover firsthand how our solutions and technology are spearheading the transformation of sustainable energy, water and city service management.   

Tuesday, Feb. 27 

8:00 a.m. ET | Keynote| Welcome 

• Speakers: Tom Deitrich, President and CEO, Itron 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. ET | DER Management Enabling Evolution from Cloud Only to Local, Autonomous Control via DI-enabled DERMS 

• Speakers: Nick Tumilowicz and Mike Ting, Itron 

10:15-11:15 a.m. ET | What Else Can Your Smart Streetlight Do for You? 

• Speakers: Jason Stanislaus & Greg Bell, ComEd  

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET | Hub Session: Innovative & Emerging Technologies – A Golden Opportunity: Duquesne Light Company’s Journey to Next-Generation AMI 

• Speakers: John Sala & Mitch Davda, Duquesne Light Company 

11:05 – 11:35 a.m. ET | Your Streetlight as a Meter 

• Speakers: Larry Paulhus, Patrick Engineering/AEP; Scotty Hutto, SESCO, Georgia Power (Retired) 

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET | Hub Session: Grid Technologies – Exploring the Value of Distributed Intelligence Use Cases in Advance of Deployment  

• Speakers: Alexander Bermeo & Jason Stanislaus, Commonwealth Edison; Luis Pizano, Eversource; Natalie Hammer, Itron 

1:50 – 2:50 p.m. ET | Utility EV Managed Charging Programs: Lessons Learned 

• Speakers: Mark Rawson, Rhythmos; Mark Moiz, Eversource; Cory Gordon, Duke Energy; Katie Parkinson, Rolling Energy Resources; Daniel Carr, Alectra Utilities  

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET | Hub Session: Investigating the Detection of Waveform Anomalies in Order to Maintain Grid Stability  

• Speakers: Mel Gehrs & Chaitanya Baone, Itron 

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET | Welcome Reception: Itron booth 2200 

Wednesday, Feb. 28 

9:15 – 10:15 a.m. ET | Shared Networks One Year In: The Reality and Lessons Learned from Sharing Electric & Gas AMI Networks 

• Speakers: (Moderator) Jessical Lyman, B&V; Greg Bell, ComEd; Michelle Kolp, WEC Energy; Nick Mullen, Itron 

10:05 – 10:35 a.m. ET | Creating a More Sustainable Future : Con Edison and Itron’s Journey Toward Resourcefulness 

• Speakers: Elizabeth Cook, Con Edison; Rebecca Hussy & Tim Claes, Itron 

10:05 – 10:35 a.m. ET | Grid Decarbonization through DER Orchestration: Leveraging Customer Energy Resource Flexibility at Scale 

• Speaker: Jay Oliver, Duke Energy  

10:15 – 10:45 a.m. ET | Hub Session: Where Am I?—Are Your Meters & Transformers Locationally Aware? 

• Speakers: Shawn Mundy, CenterPoint Energy; Aaron Almand, TECO Energy; Jason Williams, Itron 

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET | Planning for EV Impacts on the Distribution Grid 

• Speakers: (Moderator) Jouni Peppanen, EPRI; Kevin Young, TECO Energy; Joseph Johnson, TVA; Justin Harrison, Alabama Power, Ankush Agarwal, Exelon 

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET | LPWAN 4G/5G Evolution and the Power of Cellular and Mesh 

• Speakers: Oleg Pachkovets & Matt Smith, Itron  

1:50 – 2:50 p.m. ET | Harnessing Networked Distribution Automation for Enhanced Reliability, Efficiency, Growth and Safety 

• Speakers: (Moderator) Tracy Morales, Itron; Taylor Sprinkle, CORE Electric Cooperative; Nadeem Khouri, Sentient Energy  

2:40 – 3:10 p.m. ET | Sustainability Through Streetlights: Tracking Community Carbon Reduction 

• Speakers: Arturo Rodriguez, City of Chicago; Carlos Lopez, Itron 

We look forward to connecting! Check out the full list of Itron speaking engagements here. For more information on what we are up to at the show, visit www.itron.com/dtech and follow #ItronNewEra on social media.