Join us for an insightful panel discussion at the Utility Conference, featuring Kevin Jones, Director of Engineering at Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO), and Dr. Mani Vadari, President of Modern Grid Solutions. This session will explore the transformative landscape of grid modernization with a special focus on enhancing power reliability and resiliency in the face of increasing climate uncertainties and technological disruptions.
This panel will equip utility professionals with strategic insights and actionable solutions to navigate the complexities of modern grid operations while ensuring sustainable and resilient energy delivery. The session will:
- Discuss the general challenges that distribution utilities face in maintaining and improving power reliability and resilience, especially in regions prone to severe weather.
- Explore investments in hardware, software, systems, and personnel aimed at modernizing the grid to withstand and adapt to current and future challenges.
- Gain insights into CHELCO’s initiatives in distribution automation, FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration), and their support for customer interests in electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy.
- Examine how distributed energy resources (DERs) can be integrated into the grid to enhance operational resilience and reliability, even for utilities that traditionally focus less on DERs.
- Look at strategies for managing the impacts of regulatory changes and environmental challenges on utility operations and infrastructure.