Your utility’s voice needs to work everywhere — on your website, social media, and emails — and maintain consistency whether attributed to an executive or subject matter experts. Dig into how public power communicators define tone, maintain consistency, and decide when it’s appropriate to be lighthearted in one moment and authoritative in the next — especially when shifting from everyday engagement to outage and crisis communications. Gain practical tips for brand voice governance, empowering SMEs, and using AI to support utility communicators (without replacing human judgement).

Video is one of the most effective ways to make the public power story feel personal, whether you’re highlighting safety, reliability, community events, energy efficiency, or new utility programs. In this hands-on session, you’ll leave with a “grab-and-go” approach for planning, shooting, and publishing: simple shot lists, interview prompts, and practical guidance for capturing clear audio and great-looking footage quickly on the tools you already have. Share examples and proven tactics for helping shy frontline employees feel comfortable on camera — so you can feature authentic voices while staying on message and keeping production moving.

Community engagement can be one of your biggest reputation builders — but only if attending community events and ongoing outreach efforts match your team’s time, budget, and capacity with measurable impact. Review ready-to-use ways to measure success, discuss how to identify the right topics to engage on, and hear examples of how your peer utilities are building trust and sharing the public power story.

Gather with your utility communications peers to discuss the latest opportunities and best practices in your work, including tips for mobilizing utility advocates, keeping internal communications effective and engaging, and what measurement and metrics offer meaningful insight.

It’s not just the channels of choice that have changed, how people are using and consuming social media has transformed in recent years. While now it is easier to create more accessible content and gauge users’ interest, the opportunities to criticize, organize opposition, and spread misinformation have increased. When a crisis hits, it will now play out on social media first. Gain a deeper understanding of the influence of social media and how you can leverage it to boost your organization and benefit customers, as well as how effective crisis management translates to managing a public social media presence.

Examine the factors affecting the distribution transformer market and what utilities can do to plan effectively for what they need. While demand for single-phase transformers has stabilized, rapid growth in three-phase applications — driven by data centers, industrial expansion, electrification, and commercial development — is setting off early indicators of supply tightening. Walk through how changing load patterns, tariff pressures, domestic production challenges, and the Department of Energy’s 2029 efficiency standards are creating conditions reminiscent of the last transformer shortage —and what makes this time different. Gain strategies for improving forecasting and procurement. Explore the growing value of strategic partnerships among utilities, distributors, and manufacturers, and how utility professionals can move beyond lowest-bid procurement toward collaborative, long-term supply strategies that reduce specification-driven delays and strengthen supply continuity.