Public Utilities Fortnightly Announces Disruptive Technology Conference

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Public Utilities Fortnightly, in conjunction with Llewellyn King, announced today it is holding a conference in Washington, D.C. on April 9 and 10 to examine the crisis facing the electric utility industry in a time of disruptive technology.

"Technology is changing the American economy but it has the potential to revolutionize the energy economy," says Bruce Radford, executive editor of Public Utilities Fortnightly. "Utilities are in the midst of measuring their risks and trying to figure out which direction they want to head. Some will wait and some will move faster. Either way, they will need to embrace the challenges."

Llewellyn King, a veteran publisher, television producer and writer, who was the founding editor and publisher of the The Energy Daily, said: "This is a seminal time when utilities are facing changes that were, until recently, unimaginable. Net metering – which is the system whereby utilities have to buy back excess power generated by homeowners and others – is just the beginning of the changes that technology is bringing to the industry. Better batteries, electric cars, the smart grid, and government intervention for environmental reasons, all threaten the stability of the electric model."

However, King said, it is not all bad news.

"Many believe that electrification of transportation – particularly private vehicles – and better utility scale batteries will provide new load and make the grid more efficient. New technology cannot be held at bay, and it can be disruptive, but it also leads to a future of possibility and prosperity. It is exciting," he said.

The conference will deal with the technologies, their impact and the role of the regulators in managing the changes that are coming.

Ken Silverstein, editor of Public Utilities Fortnightly, said, "On top of all these changes, the utilities have worry about cybersecurity and whether micro-grids add to the threat of attack. Our conference aims to examine all of these issues through the eyes of utility executives, consultants, financiers, technologists, and regulators.

"We have assembled a 'Who's Who' of the best minds from the industry and from those who regulate, finance or advise it."

CONTACT

Llewellyn King at (202) 441-2702, for more information about the meeting; or e-mail him at [email protected]

Joseph Paparello at (703) 847-7759, for sponsorship opportunities or to register for the conference; or e-mail him at [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150203/173211LOGO

SOURCE Public Utilities Fortnightly