The Institute for Electric Innovation (IEI) brought together senior electric company executives, policymakers, technology company leaders, regulators, and other thought leaders for its annual Powering the People forum, which featured panel discussions on how customer partnerships are driving the future of energy.

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Executive Director-elect Tony Clark opened the summit by discussing key trends facing electric companies, including demand growth and the industry’s drive toward net zero.

The summit also featured a panel discussion on the urgent need for flexible demand resources to manage demand growth, moderated by IEI Co-Chair and Puget Sound Energy President and CEO Mary Kipp, as well as a conversation on innovative strategies to enhance customer engagement, moderated by IEI Co-Chair and Fortis Inc. President and CEO David Hutchens.

EEI interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn concluded the event by highlighting the innovative ways electric companies are working to meet the rising energy demand while remaining focused on customer reliability and affordability: “This is a huge opportunity for our industry—no matter how we meet that rising demand—to show the American public and businesses that the electric power industry really is the solution to demand growth for economic prosperity and security. The new technologies and innovative solutions that we talked about here today are going to be crucial for us to meet this rising demand.”

Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage in an upcoming issue of Electric Perspectives.