Large Load Planning & Strategy Virtual Summit 2026

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As demand from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification grows, public power utilities face strategic decisions with long-term implications for reliability, affordability, infrastructure investment, governance, and community outcomes. This summit is designed for utility leaders and cross-functional teams evaluating large-load opportunities with urgency and discipline. Over three days, participants will examine the market forces, customer expectations, policy issues, and operational realities shaping this landscape—and how public power can respond strategically, protect existing customers, and capture value from growth.

Program

Registrants will receive information on the program and session details as we get nearer to the event. If you have any questions, contact Academy@PublicPower.org

Large Load Planning & Strategy Virtual Summit 2026 - Agenda

Note: All times are shown in ET

Tuesday, November 3
1 - 1:05 pm	Welcome and Introductions
1:05 - 1:50 pm	The Large Loads Landscape: Where Large Loads Are Landing and What it Means for Public Power As demand from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification grows, public power utilities are being asked to assess opportunities that are larger, faster moving, and more complex than in past load growth cycles. Examine the forces driving growth of large loads, including AI and data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification. Explore why demand is concentrating in certain regions, and how site selection factors, development timelines, and resource availability are shaping projects today. Discuss what sets this wave of load growth apart from past cycles and what it means for public power utility planning, permitting, and supply. Chris Seiple, Vice Chair, Power & Renewables Group, Wood Mackenzie
1:50 - 1:55 pm	Break
1:55 - 2:50 pm	Evaluating Opportunities from the Customer’s Perspective Understanding how data center operators and developers define timing, reliability, and commercial readiness is essential to ensuring your utility is prepared for large load opportunities. Take a look from the developer’s perspective on site selection, interconnection sequencing, redundancy, and operational flexibility, and then discuss what those expectations mean for utility planning and infrastructure decisions. Learn what information customers can typically share early, where uncertainty or confidentiality often remain, and how utilities can structure early conversations to set realistic expectations and reduce misalignment. Aaron Tinjum, Vice President, Energy, Data Center Coalition
2:50 - 3 pm	Break
3 - 3:45 pm	Translating Inquiries into Practical Plans The challenge in receiving a large load inquiry is in determining whether, when, and on what terms it can be served. Gather practical tips for turning customer proposals into realistic planning assumptions across distribution, transmission, and power supply. Review which technical and operational factors should inform early evaluation, including load shape, ramp rate, power quality, redundancy expectations, substation and transmission needs, and resource adequacy implications. Discuss the screening frameworks utilities can use, key early questions to ask, and the red flags that may signal higher cost, complexity, or risk in a project. Speaker TBD
3:45 - 3:50 pm	Break
3:50 - 4:25 pm	Lessons from Large Load Projects Hear candid perspectives from utilities at different stages of development with large loads —from those evaluating initial inquiries to those already serving a 100+ MW customer or managing multiple projects. Learn which decisions, assumptions, and internal processes shaped their approach, including the role of governance, cross-functional coordination, and stakeholder alignment in the process. Gain insight into what each utility would have done differently, where they faced challenges, and what leaders should put in place before the next request arrives. Speaker TBD
4:25 - 4:30 pm	Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks
Wednesday, November 4
1 - 1:05 pm	Welcome and Introductions
1:05 - 1:50 pm	What’s On the Federal Policy Menu and What it Means for Public Power As load growth accelerates, policy and regulatory questions are becoming central to how utilities evaluate opportunities, allocate risk, and protect existing customers. Get an update on the latest federal policy and regulatory developments shaping how public power utilities can plan for and respond to large load growth, and why APPA’s efforts continue to focus on ensuring public power has flexibility to serve new load while protecting existing customers. Review what priorities are on the agenda in Congress, at the White House, and at FERC and NERC. Discuss the practical implications for public power, including what to watch that might affect your reliability planning, cost allocation, governance, and more. Sarah Mathias, Senior Government Relations Director, American Public Power Association Latif Nurani, Senior Regulatory Counsel, American Public Power Association
1:50 - 1:55 pm	Break
1:55 - 2:40 pm	Considerations for Taxes, Financing, and Contracts Financing structures and tax considerations can shape what is feasible as much as system capacity or customer demand. Examine how tax-exempt financing, private use rules, and related legal and financial constraints affect contract design, project structure, and infrastructure investment decisions. Discuss how these factors can inform term length, cost recovery, and risk allocation, and how to identify potential issues early to avoid limiting future financing options or creating unintended exposure during negotiations. Jason Riggs, Assistant Treasurer & Director, Salt River Project, Arizona John Thurber, Director, Treasury & Financial Operations, Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska
2:40 - 2:50 pm	Break
2:50 - 3:40 pm	How State Policies Are Influencing Large Loads Examine how states are responding to large load growth through policies and actions related to contracting requirements, cost recovery, siting, and development. Explore the various approaches emerging across the country, from those focused on balancing economic opportunity with fairness for existing customers to the states setting limits or moratoria on new development. Take a look at what’s driving these decisions and the implications for utilities on affordability and reliability. Review what to monitor and how these state policy choices can still shape customer expectations, local decision-making, permitting environments, and regional precedent for utilities that are not directly rate-regulated. Speaker TBD
3:40 - 3:45 pm	Break
3:45 - 4:25 pm	Addressing Environmental Considerations Examine the issues most likely to shape local decision-making and project viability, including water sourcing and cooling needs, air quality, backup generation, noise, land use, and broader siting concerns. Discuss strategies for early engagement with local officials, community stakeholders, and partner agencies to help ensure projects align with community objectives and reduce the risk of delay, opposition, or unintended impacts. Karla Moran, Senior Manager of Economic Development, Salt River Project, Arizona
4:25 - 4:30 pm	Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks
Thursday, November 5
1 - 1:05 pm	Welcome and Introductions
1:05 - 1:50 pm	Planning and Forecasting for Hyperscale Growth New large loads aren’t just big, they are potentially seeking speedy development that is also steeped in uncertainty. Examine tools for evaluating and forecasting hyperscale load growth, and effective approaches for how to derate requested capacity, assess ramp rates, incorporate transmission and distribution constraints, and stress-test development scenarios. Review which questions executive teams and governing bodies should ask as they weigh timing, risk, and the implications of prospective large loads for long-term system planning. Greg Mandelman, Director – Analytics & Energy Programs, Electric Power Engineers
1:50 - 1:55 pm	Break
1:55 - 2:40 pm	Developing Balanced Rates and Contracts Rate design and contract structure play a central role in protecting existing customers while positioning the utility to serve new loads responsibly. Discover how utilities are approaching large load tariffs, special contracts, and related terms for this customer class, including credit and collateral requirements, minimum bills, exit fees, phased service, and contributions in aid of construction. Discuss how to align pricing and contract provisions with cost causation, infrastructure risk, and governing body expectations while preserving flexibility as projects evolve. Humaira Falkenberg, Chief Energy Resource Officer, Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District, Oregon Long Lam, Managing Energy Association, Brattle
2:40 - 2:50 pm	Break
2:50 - 3:35 pm	Managing Load Growth and Enabling Flexibility New load isn’t always 24/7/365 demand. Examine strategies for managing load growth through demand response, flexible interconnection arrangements, grid-enhancing technologies, onsite or behind-the-meter generation, and coordinated curtailment. Talk through the operational, contractual, and supply chain considerations that can affect implementation, including transformer and switchgear constraints, and how utilities can use flexibility to create more practical pathways for serving new load. Speaker TBD
3:35 - 3:40 pm	Break
3:40 - 4:25 pm	Maintaining Trust Across the Community Clear communication and sound governance are essential to maintaining public trust and institutional credibility amid major projects. Share ideas for communicating the benefits, tradeoffs, and customer protections associated with large load projects and how to work effectively with governing boards, city councils, economic development partners, and other community stakeholders. Discuss strategies for explaining complex decisions in accessible terms, aligning internal and external messaging, and addressing misinformation or community concerns before they become barriers to implementation. Speaker TBD
4:25 - 4:30 pm	Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks

Registration

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Registering five or more people? Scroll down for information about our Group Registration Discounts.

Registration Fees

Member	$695
Nonmember	$1350

Not yet an American Public Power Association member? Join today and save $695 on your conference registration. Contact Membership@PublicPower.org to learn more.

Group Discounts

Save money on each registration for the Large Load Planning & Strategy Virtual Summit when your organization registers 5 or more people. The larger your group, the more you save!

Your group discount will be automatically applied when you register a group of 5 or more people. Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders.

Number of registrants	Discount (per person)
1-4	n/a
5-9	$50
10-14	$100
15-24	$150
25+	$200

Registration Help

Check out our Registration FAQ for answers to the most common questions and help with all your registration-related issues.

Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Tuesday, October 27, 2026, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 27 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2026 Large Load Planning & Strategy Virtual Summit only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before October 27 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee.

Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal, or addressed to: Registration@PublicPower.org.

Code of Conduct

Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, APPA may take any action it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings with no warning or refund.

Contact Us

Registration: Registration@PublicPower.org

Program/Content: Academy@PublicPower.org

Billing: Finance@PublicPower.org

Sponsorship Information

FAQs

When will I get more information about how to participate in the virtual summit?

Registrants will receive information on how to join the virtual event a few days before the event. If you have any questions, contact Academy@PublicPower.org.

What is a virtual event?

A virtual event simulates an in-person event, but involves people interacting online, rather than in a physical environment.

APPA is committed to delivering an engaging, accessible, and inclusive platform to convene the national public power community to connect, learn, and share knowledge and solutions. We are working quickly to develop an informative and engaging virtual experience, allowing participants to easily access important topics and sessions, and to connect with other participants for face-to-face conversations using video chats. Specifics regarding the new virtual experience will be shared in the coming weeks.

What platform will the virtual summit take place on?

APPA will use Zoom for the event.

What is the policy on refunds, cancellations and attendee substitutions?

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Tuesday, October 27, 2026, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after October 27 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2026 Large Load Planning & Strategy Virtual Summit only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before October 27 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee.

What is the APPA Code of Conduct for meeting attendees?

Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, APPA may take any action it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings, with no warning or refund.

Professional Education Credits

You can earn the following types of educational credits for participating in the summit:

1 CEU (Continuing Education Units) from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
9.5 PDHs (Professional Development Hours) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
11.4 CPEs (Continuing Professional Education) Credits from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

Please note that you will only be able to earn educational credits if you attend in real time during the virtual summit. We are not able to offer educational credits for any session recordings you watch later. To receive a certificate for your participation, participants must: