Get a practical roadmap for planning, deploying, and operating modern reciprocating engine (RICE) plants for public power. This session highlights why fast start engines provide flexible, dispatchable capacity and support peak reliability, black start capability, and microgrids for critical services. Presenters will compare technology and procurement decisions through a municipal lens, share key commissioning lessons and performance metrics, and show how data driven remote support can improve availability and reduce outages.

Light Up Navajo is a partnership between the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the American Public Power Association to bring electricity to families in the Navajo Nation for the very first time. Learn why the initiative matters to the communities it serves and for the utilities that participate, including the impact the program has had since it began. Get a sense of what the volunteer crews experience as they help extend power lines and what your utility needs to know if it wants to get involved. Hear firsthand experiences, logistical considerations, and steps to join this life‑changing effort to strengthen communities and improve quality of life across the Navajo Nation.

In challenging moments — whether navigating workforce pressures, rising customer expectations, or full-scale utility crises — communication is the backbone of effective leadership. In high‑stress situations, communicators and leaders often operate at the intersection of urgency, fear, and intense public scrutiny. Discuss the principles of strategic communication and crisis leadership to help you better cut through the noise, focus on the signals that truly matter, and guide your organization with clarity, confidence, and empathy.

Hear what’s happening in Congress this year on issues that impact public power and your utility, including tax and finance, permitting reform, supply chain challenges, and grid security. Discover how you can add your voice and show Congress the power and needs of your community. 

Extreme weather continues to challenge operational plans and technology roadmaps at utilities across the country. Hear from utility leaders from different regions in the U.S. about their experience with extreme events and how their storm and emergency operations plans support resilience for the utility and the communities they serve. Walk through the proven practices contained in storm operations plans and how response efforts are modernizing for rapid recovery and restoration. 

Take a deeper dive into the outlook for various parts of the energy sector in the U.S., including natural gas supply-demand balances and pricing forecasts. Examine what these trends mean for power generation and resource planning, and whether projected load growth is real and how it could affect your capacity planning. Gain insights into key drivers shaping energy prices and reliability and what to expect in the coming years.

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Politics with a Punch: Insider Insights on Today’s Top News 

Get an unfiltered, insider look at what’s really happening behind the headlines with renowned journalist Anna Palmer. With years spent covering the power dynamics, decision-makers, and deal-making that shape national policy, Palmer brings a front-row perspective on how Washington works (and sometimes doesn’t). Get a breakdown of the forces driving today’s most important political and policy conversations — what matters, what’s noise, and what leaders in every sector should be paying attention to — from someone who regularly engages with key players on Capitol Hill and in Washington.