In challenging moments—whether navigating workforce pressures, rising customer expectations, or full-scale utility crises—communication becomes the backbone of effective leadership. But in high‑stress situations, communicators and leaders often operate at the intersection of urgency, fear, and intense public scrutiny. This session brings together the principles of strategic communication and crisis leadership to help public power leaders cut through the noise, focus on the signals that truly matter, and guide their organizations with clarity, confidence, and empathy.

Extreme weather continues to challenge utilities nationwide, putting operational plans to the test. This panel brings together utility leaders from across the country to share lessons learned from major events and discuss how storm and emergency operations plans support resiliency and effective customer communication. Attendees will explore proven storm response strategies, how response efforts are evolving, mutual aid, and key differences in operating approaches that support faster, more reliable restoration.

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.

Take a deeper dive into the U.S. energy market outlook, including natural gas supply-demand balances, pricing forecasts, and what these trends mean for power generation and resource planning. Explore whether projected load growth is real and how it impacts capacity planning. Attendees will gain insights into key drivers shaping energy prices and reliability, and leave with a clearer understanding of 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 Anna Palmer—renowned journalist, founder and CEO of Punchbowl News, and former co-author of the influential POLITICO Playbook. With years spent covering the power dynamics, decision-makers, and dealmaking that shape national policy, Palmer brings a front-row perspective on how Washington works (and sometimes doesn’t).

In this candid and fast-moving keynote, Palmer breaks down 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. Drawing on her experience reporting from Capitol Hill, interviewing key players, and building one of the most closely watched news organizations in Washington, she offers clarity amid complexity and context amid constant change.