Electric Transmission

Topics that may be covered by this track include: evolving work practices, asset management, decarbonization, technical skills development, lineman of the future, and best practices.

This track is sponsored by:

Meet the Program Development Team for this track. Learn more about the Operations Conference.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Preparation + Response: Natural Disasters + Extreme Weather Events
Moderator: Morgan Ehlke, Emergency Services Program Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Panelists: Mona Freels, Emergency Operations Services Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Tracey Latipow, Director, Emergency Preparedness & Response, Strategy and Execution, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Tyler Averyt, Emergency Management Program Manager, Pacific Power
With an increase in frequency and intensity of natural disasters and extreme weather events, this session will cover how utilities are taking measures to prepare and respond to such events. This will include actions that a being taken to better respond to events when they occur. As well as updates to design practices to prevent future problems.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Elevate Your Construction: Aerial Helicopter Solutions
Speakers: Seth Gunsauls, President, Quanta Aviation
Casey Tingley, PJ Helicopters
Walter Posey, Superintendent, Electric Distribution, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Helicopter-use is a somewhat non-traditional approach for Transmission Line construction. As projects expand in scale, encounter access difficulties, and face limitations due to permits, this session aims to help share knowledge to help execute complex projects.

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Brace for Impact: Broad Scale Electrification + The Transmission Grid
Speakers: Shaun Foster, Transmission Strategy Manager, Portland General Electric
Gerardo Sanchez, Senior Advisor of Advanced Planning, Quanta Technology
Jeff Billington, Director Transmission of Infrastructure Planning, California ISO
As a result of aggressive electrification targets and EV adoption, the transmission grid will need to adapt to meet the expected demand. Our session will combine a broad cross section of stakeholders affected by this dramatic shift in the energy forecast. Utilities, system operators, and service providers will need to work together to guide the transformation of a grid that has remained relatively unchanged for decades. A speaker from each of these areas will delve into the complex construction and development world that utilities need to navigate to expand transmission capacity ahead of this imminent realignment of consumer expectations.