8:00 AM REGISTRATION / CHECK-IN - Light Breakfast Available
9:00 AM OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS - John Bear, President & CEO, MISO
9:30 AM Session I - Resource Availability & Need (RAN)
The transition from legacy thermal units to more intermittent and emergency resources requires MISO to understand how planning, markets and operations must evolve to maintain reliability and efficiency. Reliability impacts of this transition are already evident in the operating time frame. More significant impacts will occur as the portfolio continues to transition. MISO is currently analyzing a future portfolio where 40% of the generation comes from renewable resources in order to identify reliability requirements that reflect resource capabilities in all time horizons and identify metrics to assess system reliability regardless of resource portfolio. This panel will examine these issues from a variety of perspectives and horizons.
Moderator: David Sapper, Director, Regulatory Affairs Mid-Continent, Customized Energy Solutions
Panelists:
Nathan Brown, Sr. Vice President & COO, Cooperative Energy
Richard Doying, Executive Vice President Market Strategy and Development, MISO
Shane Hilton, President, Cleco Power LLC
David Mindham, Regulatory Market Affairs Manager, EDP Renewables
10:30 AM NETWORKING BREAK
11:00 AM Session II - The 3 D’s
As utilities in the MISO South footprint focus on the future, MISO is asking the question: “What will they need from MISO?” Changes in the industry require that MISO increase its focus on availability, flexibility and visibility. Supply and demand of these needs will vary more dramatically based on different business models and resource mix. Another focus is on customers driving change, increasing diversity (resource, load) and urgency for transitional and transformational solutions. This panel will focus on insights and views on the future direction of MISO South and the utility industry as well as what will be required in order to facilitate and integrate what’s next.
Moderator: David Sapper, Director, Regulatory Affairs Mid-Continent, Customized Energy Solutions
Panelists:
Greg Dixon, CEO, Voltus
Manisha Ghorai, Sr. Studies Engineer, Ulteig
Scott Wright, Executive Director, MISO
Representative from Power Secure (Southern Company affiliated company) - TBA
12:00 PM BUFFET LUNCHEON
1:30 PM Session III - Transmission Cost Allocation & Planning
Two key subjects continue to dominate the discussion in MISO: (1) transmission planning and development; and (2) the applicable cost allocation and rate recovery design. Determining who (or what) is causing the need for new transmission and who benefits from that new transmission remains ripe for discussion. How should long-range transmission planning incorporate and account for the changing resource mix in MISO? Is cost allocation, based on beneficiary pays, a critical and necessary aspect of long-range transmission planning and development? What role should the MISO stakeholder process play in transmission planning and cost allocation? What are the next steps with respect to transmission cost allocation?
Moderator: Aubrey Johnson, Executive Director, System Planning & Competitive Transmission, MISO
Panelists:
David Carr, Special Counsel, Federal Energy Affairs, Mississippi Public Service Commission
Calvin Crowder, President & CEO, GridLiance
Daniel Hall, Central Region Director, Electricity and Transmission Policy, AWEA
Charles Long, Vice President Transmission Planning & Strategy, Entergy Services
2:30 PM What We Talk About When We Talk About the Future of Natural Gas in SPP & MISO: The Knowns, the Known Unknowns, and the Unknown Unknowns
Speaker: Jeff Stein, Policy Advisor, American Petroleum Institute
3:00 PM NETWORKING BREAK
3:30 PM Session IV - Industrial Issues
Industry faces ever-increasing competitive pressures in today’s global economy. Power cost, optionality and reliability can have a significant impact on the ability of industry to grow and compete on a national and international basis. Creativity is in demand as industry grapples with the future. This panel will focus on key issues and opportunities for industry with respect to power supply including the areas of demand response, meeting resource requirements, and competitive pricing. Additionally, the panel will discuss supply options including the NIPSCO Rate 831, which was recently adopted in Indiana.
Moderator: David Dismukes, Executive Director, LSU Center for Energy Studies
Panelists:
Jim Dauphinais, Managing Principal, Brubaker & Associates
Claudia Earls, General Counsel, NIPSCO
Randy Young, Partner, Kean Miller; Representing Louisiana Energy User Group (LEUG)
4:30 - 5:30 PM COCKTAIL RECEPTION