Unsurprisingly, top public gas and power keynote speakers (like electric utility futurists) are now being asked to opine on a growing range of items:
- The transition to renewable energy – Updates on adding renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower to the grid and phasing out coal plants. The best public gas and power keynote speakers discuss impacts on reliability, pricing, and meeting sustainability goals.
- Modernizing the distribution grid – New smart grid technologies, automation, and digitalization efforts to improve efficiency, maintenance, outage response times, and integration of distributed energy.
- Electrification and EVs – Preparing as public gas and power keynote speakers for increased electricity demand as transportation and buildings transition to electric vehicles and appliances. Discussing charging infrastructure needs.
- Cybersecurity and grid resilience – Emerging cyber threats to utility infrastructure and ways to bolster security and recovery from natural disasters or attacks.
- Customer engagement strategies – Leveraging technology, data, and digital channels as public gas and power keynote speakers to provide more convenience, choice, and control to energy consumers. Think things like demand response, smart home energy management, and self-service tools.
- Regulatory policy updates – Changes in state and federal regulations around grid access, rate structures, incentive programs, emissions reporting, etc. and how they impact utilities.
- Workforce development – As public gas and power keynote speakers, addressing aging workforce issues, talent shortages, and strategies for attracting and retaining workers with the skills needed for the modern grid.
- Innovation and R&D – Emerging technologies in areas like energy storage, microgrids, smart meters, drones, etc. and how utilities are innovating.
- Energy access and affordability – Programs and partnerships for improving access to electricity and assistance for low-income customers.
Essentially, the leading public gas and power keynote speakers equip utility professionals with insights to guide strategy and operations in a complex, rapidly evolving industry.