2026 Annual Spring Conference & Exhibition
This Spring’s Largest “Must Attend” Power Industry Event.
This Spring’s Largest “Must Attend”
Power Industry Event
Prominent Industry & Government Speakers
Timely Session Topics & Discussions
PLUS Rooftop Cocktail Reception at The Grove on April 7th
Pre-Conference Activity Add-On on Monday, April 6th
- Workshop - Voltage Ride-Through (VRT) and Interconnection Studies Reform from 1:00 PM- 4:45 PM
- Welcome Cocktail Reception for Attendees at Hilton from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Register for these events in addition to the conference!
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
Join us at this spring’s leading electric power conference for the ERCOT/Gulf Coast region.
500+ attendance expected!
Day One - Tuesday, April 7th
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Registration and Continental Breakfast opens at 7:30 AM
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Conference opening welcome at 8:20 AM
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Session and keynoter presentations from 8:45 AM - 4:30 PM
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Rooftop Cocktail Reception at The Grove from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Day Two - Wednesday, April 8th
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Registration and Continental Breakfast opens at 8:00 AM
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Session and keynoter presentations from 8:30 AM - 12:05 PM
- Conference adjourns at close of final session at 12:05 AM
THANKS TO OUR PLANNING COMMITTEE
Conference Co-Chairs:
Alexandra Williams, GuidePost Energy
Erica Engle
Committee:
Elaina Ball, CPS Energy
Shaun Connell, Lancium
Sarah DeVon, TotalEnergies Gas & Power
Mark Egan, Energy Evolution Advisors
Meghan Griffiths, Jackson Walker LLP
Sean Kelly, Amperon
Mariana Schmid, Microsoft
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Workshop with Conference Registration
Registration Ends 4/8/26 at 11:50 AM CDT
|
$280.00
Price will increase to $340.00 on
3/16/26
|
|
Workshop without Conference Registration
Registration Ends 4/8/26 at 11:50 AM CDT
|
$390.00
Price will increase to $450.00 on
3/16/26
|
|
Workshop with Conf Reg - Full-time Student
|
$60.00 |
|
Workshop without Conf Reg - Full-time Student
|
$85.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Member
|
$1,000.00
Price will increase to $1,200.00 on
3/16/26
|
|
Non-Member
|
$1,300.00
Price will increase to $1,500.00 on
3/16/26
|
|
GCPA Members in Job Search Mode
|
$500.00
Price will increase to $600.00 on
3/16/26
|
|
Non-Members in Job Search Mode
The Non-Member rate includes an Individual Membership valid through 12/31/26. |
$800.00
Price will increase to $900.00 on
3/16/26
|
|
Full-time Student
|
$200.00
Price will increase to $300.00 on
4/4/26
|
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Welcome Reception
|
FREE |
Agenda
| April 6 | |
| 1:00 PM - 4:45 PM |
PRE-CONFERENCE HALF DAY WORKSHOP
See the Workshop tab for more information |
| 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Welcome Cocktail Reception for Attendees at Hilton |
| April 7 | |
| 7:30 AM | REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST |
| 8:20 AM | GCPA President’s Welcome & Conference Introduction |
| 8:30 AM | POWER STAR AWARD PRESENTATION |
| 8:45 AM | KEYNOTE – When Electrons Meet Elections: The Political Weaponization of the Grid |
| 9:15 AM | Session I - Life After Go-Live: Early Lessons from Real-Time Co-Optimization (RTC) |
| 10:00 AM | NETWORKING BREAK |
| 10:30 AM | Vignette - The Electron Economy: Montauk Climate's Investment Thesis |
| 11:00 AM | Session II - Retail Evolution: Consolidation, DERs, and the Virtual Power Plant Revolution |
| 11:45 AM | LUNCHEON |
| 1:15 PM | KEYNOTE - Federal Energy Policy in the New Administration |
| 2:15 PM | Session III - The Great Build-Out: Navigating the Supply Chain and Labor Crunch |
| 3:00 PM | Session IV - Rethinking 'Reliability': Are We Solving for the Right Problem? |
| 3:45 PM | LIVE PODCAST RECORDING - Close of Business Tuesday |
| 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM |
COCKTAIL RECEPTION AT THE GROVE
Join us at this beautiful rooftop location across the street from the Hilton Americas. |
| April 8 | |
| 8:00 AM | REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST |
| 8:30 AM | ANNOUNCEMENTS |
| 8:35 AM | KEYNOTE - Powering the AI Revolution: Designing the Gigawatt-Scale Data Centers of the Future |
| 9:05 AM | Vignette - Large Load Lessons from Virginia |
| 9:20 AM |
Session VI - Forecasting the Unknown: How Load Uncertainty Shapes the Future of 765 kV and Transmission Cost Allocation
|
| 10:05 AM | NETWORKING BREAK |
| 10:35 AM | Vignette - 765kV Progress Report |
| 10:50 AM | KEYNOTE - The Next Frontier: Advanced Technologies and Grid Resilience – A Vision of the Future |
| 11:20 AM | Session VIII - Why Not in My Backyard: Interconnecting in NOIE Territory |
| 11:50 AM | CONFERENCE ADJOURNS |
DIAMOND SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNER
Sponsor Today
To learn more about sponsorships and exhibits, please review our Sponsor/Exhibitor Brochure and contact Deputy Executive Director Mary Armstrong (281.460.3054)
Large Load Interconnection and Voltage Ride-Through (LLI/VRT) Workshop
Rapid growth in large, high-density loads has created unprecedented challenges in ERCOT, tying interconnection requirements, voltage ride-through (VRT) standards, reliability performance, and investment risk together in ways that reshape how developers, utilities, and operators navigate the process. This workshop connects ERCOT’s interconnection reforms with voltage ride-through requirements, reliability performance, and investor considerations to clarify where the process stands today and how it is likely to evolve.
Workshop Focus
This workshop will provide practical guidance for navigating today's interconnection landscape, covering:
- The evolution of ERCOT’s large-load interconnection process: past → present → future
- Why the current interconnection queue became congested—and which reforms are actually helping
- Reliability performance expectations and technical requirements for new interconnection projects
- How AI-driven load growth is reshaping grid planning and interconnection studies
- What developers, utilities, and investors should expect going forward
Preliminary AGENDA
1:00 PM Opening Remarks
1:15 PM ERCOT Perspective: Large Load Interconnection—Past to Present
1:30PM Panel: Large Load Interconnection Reform — Steps Being Taken to Unstick the Queuey
2:15PM Vignette: AI Factories of the Future
2:30PM BREAK
3:00PM Vignette: Voltage Ride-Through and Dynamic Load Behavior
3:15PM Panel: From Capability to Commitment: How Stakeholders Are Addressing Reliability
4:45 PM Closing Remarks
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT INFORMATION
PEs: As part of the Continuing Education Program requirements for Professional Engineers in Texas, each licensed engineer is required to earn 15 hours per year of Professional Development Hours (PDH). Attendees will receive approximately 8 hours of credit if all conference sessions are attended and approximately 3 hours of credit for the workshop.
CPAs: GCPA is a Board Registered CPE Sponsor with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. This registration does not constitute an endorsement by the Board as to the quality of our CPE program. Attendees will receive approximately 10.0 hours of credit if all conference sessions are attended and approximately 3 hours of credit for the workshop.
Attorneys: GCPA will be applying with the Texas State Bar for approval of CLE hours for portions of this conference. Please check back for approved hours.
📲DOWNLOAD THE GCPA APP TODAY
HOTEL INFO
Hilton Americas - Houston - Click HERE to make your reservation
ATTENDEE LIST
(Available to Registered Attendees Only)