2026 Summer Workshops:  Flexible Interconnections for Large Loads Workshop

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast
Registration Location: Crystal Foyer
Breakfast Location: Silverton Ballroom (2nd Floor)

8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Session 1I: What We’ve Learned from Generator and DER Flex Interconnections
Session Chair: Robin Hytowitz, Electricity Markets and Data Center Program Lead, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Location: Crestone Ballroom

What can large loads learn from flexible generator and DER interconnections about making flexibility work in planning, markets, and operations?

• Connect and Manage for Large Loads: Lessons Learned from Generation Interconnection and Application to the Batch Zero Study
  Agee Springer, Director, Grid Interconnections, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
• Flexible Service Connection for Distribution Assets and Expectations for Flexible Transmission Interconnections
  Amir Sajadi, Principal Engineer, Grid Research, Innovation, and Development, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
• Integrating Load Flexibility into Resource Adequacy
  Anna Lafoyiannis, Program Lead, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) (Canada)
• Flexible Connections – Learnings from Distribution Initiatives
  Cody Davis, Associate Technical Director, Grid Modernization, Electric Power Engineers (EPE)

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Break
Location: Crystal Foyer

10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Session 2I: Planning for Flexible Interconnections
Session Chair: Carlo Brancucci, CEO, encoord
Location: Crestone Ballroom

How should flexible large load interconnections be studied in transmission planning, resource adequacy, and forecasting?

• Bringing Data Center Flexibility into Resource Adequacy Planning
  Aaron Schwartz, Senior Engineer, PowerGEM
• Accelerating Interconnection of Large Loads co-located with Generation Facilities
  Aniruddh Mohan, Energy Associate, The Brattle Group
• Flexible Interconnection Studies – An Integrated Planning Process
  Wallace Kenyon, Chief Product Officer, encoord
• Integrating Flexible Large Loads in Planning and Operations
  Ahmed Rashwan, Vice President, Transmission Planning and Operations, Utilities, Electric Power Engineers (EPE)
• Advancing Flexible Interconnections at PG&E: T-Flex, SPEED, and Other Solution Pathways
  Jon Stallman, Chief, Strategic Projects and Programs, Commercial Growth Organization, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E)

12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch
Location: Silverton Ballroom (2nd Floor)

1:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Session 3I: Operations for Flexible Interconnections
Session Chair: Beth Garza, Senior Fellow, R-Street Institute
Location: Crestone Ballroom

What does it take to operate flexible large load interconnections in practice, including controls, telemetry, participation models, market and operating rules, and performance assurance?

• Large-Load Flexibility in ERCOT: From Market Design to Real-Time Operations
  Yasser Bahbaz, Senior Director, Markets Development, Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
• ERCOT’s Operational Approach to Managing Large Loads under State Reliability Requirements
  Luke Butler, Manager, Resource Forecasting and Analysis, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
• Grid-Aware, Compute-Aware Flexibility: Operating Large Loads as Reliable Grid Resources
  Jeff Bladen, Head of Energy, Verrus
• Emerald AI/National Grid:Demonstrating Compute Flexibility for Large-Load Interconnections
  Michael Panfil, Head of Legal & Policy, Emerald AI

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Break
Location: Crystal Foyer

3:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Session 4I: Regulatory and Tariff Considerations for Flexible Interconnections
Session Chair: Mark Dyson, Managing Director, Electricity, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
Location: Crestone Ballroom

How can tariffs support flexible interconnections? Do we need regulatory changes to support flexible interconnections?

• Miles Farmer, Partner, Roselle
• Tyler Norris, Head of Market Innovation, Advanced Energy, Google
• Leslie Henry-Sermons, Rate/Financial Analyst, Colorado Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate
• Long Lam, Managing Energy Associate, The Brattle Group