"The project updates were excellent and relevant. Also discussion of the WestTech and value a study like that provides was very important."
Director, Development, NextEra Energy Transmission
July 22 - 23, 2026 Sacramento, CA SMUD
"The project updates were excellent and relevant. Also discussion of the WestTech and value a study like that provides was very important."
Director, Development, NextEra Energy Transmission"Priceless opportunity to network and connect with industry leaders, vendors, and stakeholders."
Sr. Budget Analyst, Power Delivery"All of the speakers did a great job and the content was relevant and tied together well both days."
Sales Engineer, Clark Power Products"It was fantastic to see the APS control room. The speakers assembled were top-tier and the content was engaging throughout the Summit."
Project Development Associate, SWPG"I would recommend the EUCI Western Transmission Summit to any professional who is dedicated to developing and building transmission in the industry."
Project Development Associate, SWPG"The conference offers an invaluable opportunity to learn best practices & exchange ideas with industry peers."
Director, Routing and Siting, CANACRE"Excellent, small, technically-focused conference. High quality speakers. Worth the cost."
General Manager, SWPG"I found this very valuable and worth attending. The site of the conference, topics, speakers and attendees were an ideal mix."
Development Manager, KiewitAcross the Western Interconnection, the transmission system is facing unprecedented pressure. Demand is accelerating, generation patterns are evolving, and new large-scale loads, particularly hyperscale data centers and AI-driven compute, are coming online faster than infrastructure can be planned and developed. At the same time, planning, permitting, and cost allocation remain fragmented across jurisdictions, creating delays, uncertainty, and bottlenecks that threaten timely delivery of critical transmission projects.
Traditional approaches to transmission planning and development are increasingly insufficient. Utilities, regulators, and developers must coordinate across regional planning entities, align interconnection and resource adequacy processes, and advance multi-state projects while addressing the rapid growth of concentrated loads. Without greater alignment and more efficient processes, the imbalance between supply, demand, and transmission capacity will persist, threatening reliability, affordability, and decarbonization goals.
This summit moves beyond broad discussion to focus on practical, actionable solutions. Participants will examine strategies to harmonize regional transmission planning, streamline permitting and siting, integrate evolving market structures, and respond to concentrated and flexible loads such as AI-powered data centers.
Key Focus Areas
By the end of this summit, participants will gain practical insights and tools to address the rapid evolution of load patterns, the challenges of multi-state transmission development, and the operational implications of AI-driven growth.
Please Note: Confirmed speakers do not need to register and are encouraged to participate in all sessions of the event. If you are a speaker and have any questions please contact our offices at 1.303.770.8800
| Individual attendee(s)$ 1495.00 each(early bird rate) (price after July 2, 2026 is $ 1,695.00) |
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Volume pricing also availableIndividual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility |
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| Pack of 5 attendees$ 6,350.00 (15% discount)(early bird rate) (price after July 2, 2026 is $ 7,205.00) |
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| Pack of 10 attendees$ 11,960.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate) (price after July 2, 2026 is $ 13,560.00) |
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| Pack of 20 attendees$ 22,425.00 (25% discount)(early bird rate) (price after July 2, 2026 is $ 25,425.00) |
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Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before June 19, 2026 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $295.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800
EUCI retains the right to refuse registration by any individual or company.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Sacramento, CA
Frankie McDermott Chief Operating Officer SMUD
Explore strategies for coordinating multi-state transmission planning, aligning long-term infrastructure buildout, and ensuring resource adequacy across the Western Interconnection.
Chelsea Loomis Manager of Regional Transmission Planning Services Western Power Pool (WPP)
This panel will explore how the rapid growth of hyperscale data centers and AI-driven compute is reshaping transmission planning across the Western Interconnection.
Lori Mitchell Director San Jose Clean Energy
Dr. Amanda Bradshaw Director, Energy Markets U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Michael Champ Director, Specialized Enterprise Initiatives SMUD
This panel will address the practical challenges of permitting and siting critical transmission projects across multiple jurisdictions.
Wil Gehl Director, State Affairs, Intermountain West Region Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Mandip Samra General Manager Burbank Water and Power
Erika Spanton Principal Beveridge & Diamond PC
John Lewis Managing Director, Native American Energy Avant Energy
David Harper CEO Huurav Energy
Cindy Freeman Operations Manager Southwestern Power Group
This session will explore how utilities and regulators are modernizing the Western transmission system to meet reliability, resilience, and decarbonization goals.
Moderator: Kathleen Staks Executive Director Western Freedom
John Lewis Managing Director, Native American Energy Avant Energy
Mandip Samra General Manager Burbank Water and Power
Joe Wilson Vice President, North Valley & Sierra Region Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Participants will tour the Golden 1 Center, one of the most energy-efficient and sustainably designed sports and entertainment venues in the United States. The arena is powered in part through a partnership with SMUD , which supports renewable energy supply via regional solar resources and helps integrate advanced energy efficiency strategies into the facility’s operations. The site highlights how utilities and large commercial customers can collaborate to reduce carbon intensity through a combination of onsite design, offsite solar generation, and grid-connected clean energy solutions.
No need to be a Sacramento Kings fan to join!
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Sacramento, CA
The session will examine key regulatory and institutional challenges, including multi-state coordination, reliability oversight, and the integration of emerging technologies—offering practical insights into how market evolution can better align with the West’s reliability, affordability, and clean energy goals.
Moderator: Dr. Emma Nicholson Principal, Energy Practice Charles River Associates
Vijay Satyal, Ph.D Deputy Director of Markets and Transmission Western Resource Advocates
Dr. Rebecca Johnson Vice President Enterprise Portfolio Management (Acting) Western Area Power Administration
Kelsey L. Martinez Director, Regional Markets, Lands, and Transmission Strategy Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM)
Kevin Mallon Energy Storage Research Specialist California Energy Commission
Veronica Dasher Director, Stakeholder Engagement North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) / E-ISAC
Markus Mueller OT Cybersecurity Leader and Practitioner Nozomi Networks
Lenin Maran Manager of Energy Management System SMUD
Director, Energy Markets
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Director, Specialized Enterprise Initiatives
SMUD
Director, Stakeholder Engagement
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) / E-ISAC
Operations Manager
Southwestern Power Group
Director, State Affairs, Intermountain West Region
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
CEO
Huurav Energy
Vice President Enterprise Portfolio Management (Acting)
Western Area Power Administration
Managing Director, Native American Energy
Avant Energy
Manager of Regional Transmission Planning Services
Western Power Pool (WPP)
Energy Storage Research Specialist
California Energy Commission
Director, Regional Markets, Lands, and Transmission Strategy
Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM)
Chief Operating Officer
SMUD
Director
San Jose Clean Energy
Manager of Energy Management System
SMUD
OT Cybersecurity Leader and Practitioner
Nozomi Networks
Principal, Energy Practice
Charles River Associates
General Manager
Burbank Water and Power
Deputy Director of Markets and Transmission
Western Resource Advocates
Principal
Beveridge & Diamond PC
Executive Director
Western Freedom
Vice President, North Valley & Sierra Region
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento at CSUS
1875 65th St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
Phone: 916-451-1135
0.5 miles from host location
Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Midtown
4422 Y St.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: 833-314-5472
2.0 miles to host location
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
1209 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-443-1234
4.7 miles to host location
EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.
EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.0 CEUs for this event
Verify our IACET accreditation
Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.
Conference CPE Credits: 12.0
There is no prerequisite for this Conference.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None
EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org
Only registered attendees can request CLE credits for an EUCI course/event. Please email [email protected] prior to the course start date and list the state where you are licensed and your bar# as well as the name and date of your course/event in your request, and someone will be in contact.
The 2026 Western Transmission Summit is designed for utility executives, transmission planners, regulators, ISO/RTO staff, renewable developers, storage and technology specialists, legal and permitting professionals, industrial and data center stakeholders, investors, and resilience planners: anyone responsible for building, operating, financing, or regulating the Western grid amid rapid load growth, clean energy integration, and evolving reliability challenges.
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