“Excellent opportunity to learn and meet professionals from different utilities.”
Sr. Electrical Engineer, ENMAX Power Corporation
March 26 - 27, 2025 Phoenix, AZ APS
“Excellent opportunity to learn and meet professionals from different utilities.”
Sr. Electrical Engineer, ENMAX Power Corporation“The conference offered an in-depth look, through balanced panel discussions and case studies, into the current state of transmission planning and development in the West.”
– Attorney, Montana PSC“An amazing conference to learn about the different struggles and lessons learned from different utilities.”
Director-Business Development, K&A EngineeringAs a new presidential administration takes office, the 2025 Western Transmission Summit will delve into the potential impacts of emerging policies and leadership on the development of critical transmission infrastructure. The event will address pressing challenges facing the region’s transmission systems, which are essential for maintaining grid reliability and integrating renewable energy resources into the energy mix.
With electricity demand rising and the energy landscape rapidly evolving, issues such as aging infrastructure, capacity limitations, and insufficient planning pose significant risks to grid reliability and efficiency. This summit offers a dynamic and collaborative platform for stakeholders—including industry leaders, utility representatives, and policymakers—to explore innovative solutions, share best practices, and assess the regulatory frameworks shaping the future of transmission expansion.
Key topics will include:
Join us to contribute to the conversation, forge connections, and drive forward-thinking strategies to meet the energy needs of tomorrow.
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 March 07, 2025 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 March 07, 2025 is $ 7,205.00) |
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| Pack of 10 attendees$ 11,960.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate) (price after March 07, 2025 is $ 13,560.00) |
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| Pack of 20 attendees$ 22,425.00 (25% discount)(early bird rate) (price after March 07, 2025 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 February 21, 2025 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 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
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Phoenix, AZ
Join APS President Ted Geisler as he kicks off the 2025 Western Transmission Summit with a focus on the urgent need for innovation and collaboration in addressing the region’s transmission challenges. This talk will discuss how new federal policies create opportunities to modernize infrastructure, integrate renewable energy, and enhance grid reliability.
Ted Geisler President Ariona Public Service
FERC Order 1920 aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in transmission planning by introducing new compliance requirements for transmission providers. This order changes the existing frameworks and adds new requirements for stakeholder engagement, cost allocation, and regional and interregional transmission planning, facilitating better integration of renewable energy resources into the grid. Attendees will explore how regions are approaching compliance with the Order, stakeholder and state engagement opportunities, and future considerations in adapting to these regulatory changes.
Jennifer Galaway Senior Manager, Transmission Strategy & Regulation Portland General Electric
This session will explore Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) initiatives to modernize the grid and transmission infrastructure for a resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy future. This session will highlight BPA's advancements in smart grid technologies, renewable energy integration, and solutions to enhance grid reliability amidst growing energy demands. Learn about innovative approaches to energy storage, demand response, and regional collaboration to optimize energy flows and reduce congestion.
Ravi Aggarwal Director of Regional Transmission Planning Bonneville Power Administration
Congress and FERC have cleared the way for energy storage technologies to serve as transmission assets, but planners still rarely consider storage alternatives and only a few such projects have been identified. Come learn about work being done at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to clarify the roles of energy storage on the transmission system and facilitate the inclusion of storage in transmission planning.
Jeremy Twitchell Energy Research Analyst Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
This session will focus on two critical transmission projects: the North Plains Connector project, which connects the WECC to MISO and SPP, and the Southline project, linking Tucson to the El Paso system (AZ to NM). The presentation will cover the progress of land and permitting for NPC, which is now in its federal and state permitting phase with over 90% of voluntary land rights acquired. Additionally, the session will discuss the fully permitted Southline project, a two-time recipient of the Department of Energy’s Transmission Facilitation Program, and its expected construction start by the end of 2027.
Denisha Cummings Senior Director of Development, North Plains Connector Grid United
Isaac Phillips Senior Director of Development, Southline Transmission Project Grid United
This session will provide an overview of the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) and its role in addressing the urgent need for transmission infrastructure improvements across the Western U.S. Participants will explore the coalition's mission and objectives, focusing on enhancing regional collaboration among utilities and stakeholders to support renewable energy integration. Key challenges related to aging infrastructure and capacity constraints will be discussed, along with potential solutions and innovative technologies. Additionally, the session will cover regulatory and policy frameworks that impact transmission expansion, including funding mechanisms and environmental considerations.
Sarah Edmonds President, CEO Western Power Pool
Jennifer Galaway Senior Manager, Transmission Strategy & Regulation Portland General Electric
This panel can discuss strategies for meeting the rising energy demands of data centers, enhancing grid reliability, integrating renewable energy, addressing climate impacts, fostering stakeholder engagement, and navigating regulatory and land-use challenges associated with rapid growth.
Sid Parmer High Voltage Direct Current Director Grid United
Aly Koslow Director, Data Center Strategy APS
Join APS's state-of-the-art transmission control center tour and a presentation on energy systems and battery control, led by APS experts.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Phoenix, AZ
Pattern Energy recently closed financing and began full construction on the SunZia Wind and Transmission Project. The SunZia Project includes a 3.5 GW wind farm buildout paired with a 550-mile High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line connecting central New Mexico to Arizona. SunZia’s evening and nighttime peaking energy will be delivered to the solar heavy markets of California and Arizona. Kevin Wetzel, AVP of Business Development at Pattern and the lead developer of the SunZia Project, will talk about some of the challenges the project faced over the years, how the financing was structured, and what we can do to continue building out new transmission in the West.
Kevin Wetzel Vice President, Business Development Pattern Energy
This session will give the attendees an update from SouthWestern Power Group (SWPG) on the RioSol Transmission Project, a single-circuit 500kV alternating-current transmission project that parallels the 550-mile SunZia Transmission line route from central New Mexico to the metro-Phoenix area, with an expected in-service date of 2028. SWPG was the developer of the SunZia Transmission project from 2006 until it sold the first line to Pattern Energy in mid-2022 and renamed SunZia line 2 as RioSol.
David Getts General Manager Southwestern Power Group
WECC’s mission is to effectively and efficiently mitigate risks to the reliability and security of the Western Interconnection’s Bulk Power System. The changing resource mix in the West has resulted in a large amount of weather-dependent, renewable, variable energy resources. At the same time, there have been many challenges with construction of transmission facilities to move energy from these resources to the load. This segment will discuss the challenges and opportunities with this changing resource mix, highlighting the important of proactive planning, investment in transmission infrastructure, and advancements in grid management techniques to help facilitate a reliable integration of renewable resources into the grid.
Vic Howell Director of Reliability Assessment and Modeling Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
This could cover strategies for involving communities in the planning and development of transmission and renewable energy projects to ensure local benefits, engaging underserved communities in the decision-making process, and infrastructure development to create local jobs.
Stacy Derstine VP External Affairs Arizona Public Service
Director of Regional Transmission Planning
Bonneville Power Administration
Senior Director of Development, North Plains Connector
Grid United
VP External Affairs
Arizona Public Service
President, CEO
Western Power Pool
Senior Manager, Transmission Strategy & Regulation
Portland General Electric
President
Ariona Public Service
General Manager
Southwestern Power Group
Director of Reliability Assessment and Modeling
Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Director, Data Center Strategy
APS
High Voltage Direct Current Director
Grid United
Senior Director of Development, Southline Transmission Project
Grid United
Energy Research Analyst
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Vice President, Business Development
Pattern Energy
Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort
11111 N 7th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85020
Reservations: 1-800-947-9784
Resort: 1 (602) 866-7500
4 miles from event 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
Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.
Panel discussions, PowerPoint presentations, and Q&A sessions will be used in the program.
Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.
Course CPE Credits: 11.5
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
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 web site: www.nasbaregistry.org
The roles represent key stakeholders with direct involvement in various aspects of transmission planning, operation, regulation, and implementation.
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