{"document":{"slug":"notice-ad26-8-third-supplemental","title":"Third Supplemental Notice of Commissioner-Led Technical Conference: 2026 Reliability Technical Conference, October 21, 2026 (agenda; Panel 1 on integrating large loads)","issued":"2026-10-15","accession":"20261015-3040","docket":"AD26-8-000","group":"2026 FERC reliability technical conference: integrating large loads","filer":"FERC","kind":"notice of technical conference","file":"sources/originals/20261015-3040_AD26-8-000 Technical Conference.docx","url":"https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20261015-3040","sha256":"ce462969e8a2ff1edc1ac41d3be16965c068a012e10c76660a7462195cfd7541","pages":null,"tokens":1909,"emptyPages":[]},"pages":[{"page":1,"startToken":0,"endToken":1909,"text":"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA \nFEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION\n\n\nReliability Technical Conference \t\t\t\t\tDocket No. AD26-8-000 \n  \n\nTHIRD SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF COMMISSIONER-LED TECHNICAL CONFERENCE\n \n(October 15, 2026)\n \nAs separately announced in the Notices of Technical Conference issued in this proceeding on June 11, 2026, and August 7, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) will convene its annual Commissioner-led Reliability Technical Conference, in the above-referenced proceeding, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 10:00 am to 2:40 pm Eastern Daylight Time, to discuss policy issues related to the reliability and security of the Bulk-Power System.  The conference will be held in-person at the Commission’s headquarters at 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426 in the Kevin J. McIntyre Commission Meeting Room.  The conference will be available to view online. \n \nThe purpose of this conference is to discuss policy issues related to the reliability and security of the Bulk-Power System. Attached to this Supplemental Notice is an agenda for the technical conference, which includes the technical conference program and expected panelists.\n \nWhile the technical conference is not for the purpose of discussing any specific matters before the Commission, some discussions may involve issues raised in proceedings that are currently pending before the Commission.  Any discussion on the merits of such proceedings will be curtailed.  These proceedings include, but are not limited to:\n \nPJM Interconnection, L.L.C.\nDocket Nos.\nEL26-67-000\nEL26-67-001\nMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.\nDocket Nos.\nEL26-70-000\nEL26-70-001\nSouthwest Power Pool, Inc. \nDocket No.\nEL26-68-000\nCalifornia Independent System Operator Corporation\nDocket Nos.\nEL26-71-000\nEL26-71-001\nISO New England Inc.\nDocket Nos.\nEL26-72-000\nEL26-72-001\nNew York Independent System Operator Inc.\nDocket Nos.\nEL26-69-000\nEL26-69-001\nPJM Interconnection, L.L.C.\nDocket No.\nER26-3515-000\nPJM Interconnection, L.L.C.\nDocket No.\nER26-3380-000\nPJM Interconnection, L.L.C.\nDocket No.\nER26-1556-000\nMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.\nDocket No.\nER26-3552-000\nAmerican Transmission Company LLC\nDocket No.\nER26-3265-000\nMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.\nDocket No.\nER26-3650-000\nMaryland Office of People’s Counsel\nDocket No. \nEL26-63-000\nInternational Transmission Co.\nDocket No.\nEL26-58-000\nPJM Interconnection, L.L.C.\nDocket Nos.\nEL25-49-003\nAD24-11-000\nEL25-20-002\nER26-1479-001\nER26-1479-002\nEL24-149-000\nDuke Energy Carolinas, LLC\nDocket No.\nER26-2691-000\nConstellation Energy Generation, LLC\nDocket Nos.\nEL25-20-000\nEL25-20-001\nPJM Interconnection, L.L.C.\nDocket No.      ER26-1088-000\nTri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.\nDocket No.      ER26-1929-000\nAmerican Transmission Company LLC\nDocket No.      ER26-3531-000\nSouthwest Power Pool, Inc.\nDocket No.      ER26-3720-000\nSouthwest Power Pool, Inc.\nDocket No.      ER26-2249-000\nPacifiCorp\nDocket No.      P-2420-000\nCalifornia Department of Water Resources \nDocket No.      P-2100-000\nTurlock Irrigation District \nDocket No.      P-2299-000\nTurlock Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District\nDocket No.    P-14581-000\nGridflex Energy, LLC\nDocket No.    P-14851-000\nPacific Gas and Electric Company\nDocket No.    P-77-000\nPacificCorp\nDocket No.    P-2082-000\nPacificCorp\nDocket No.    P-2381-000\nIdaho Power Company\nDocket No.    P-1971-000\nIdaho Power Company\nDocket No.    P-2736-000\nFall River Rural Electric Cooperative\nDocket No.    P-5089-000\nAda County and Fulcrum, Inc. \nDocket No.    P-4881-000\nBig Wood Canal Company\nDocket No.    P-3407-000\nNorthWestern Company \nDocket No.    P-1869-000\nFFP Project 101, LLC\nDocket No.    P-14861-000\nCity of Seattle \nDocket No.    P-553-000\nBlack Canyon Hydro, LLC\nDocket No.    P-14787-000\nCity of Pasadena Department of Water and Power \nDocket Nos.  P-1250-000\n                      P-14836-000\nAmerican Transmission Company LLC\nDocket No.   EL26-83-000\nWolverine Power Supply Cooperative Inc. \nDocket No.   ER26-3576-000\nMidcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.  \nDocket No.   ER27-25-000\n \n \nThe technical conference will be open to the public.  Advance registration is not required, and there is no fee for attendance.  Information will also be posted on the Calendar of Events on the Commission’s website, www.ferc.gov, prior to the event.  \n \nThe technical conference will be transcribed and webcast.  Transcripts will be available for a fee from Ace Reporting (202-347-3700).  A link to the webcast of this event will be available in the Commission Calendar of Events at www.ferc.gov.  The Commission provides technical support for the free webcasts.  Please call 202-502-8680 or email customer@ferc.gov if you have any questions. \n \nCommission technical conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-3372 (voice) or 202-208-8659 (TTY) or send a fax to 202-208-2106 with the required accommodations.\n \nFor more information about this conference, please contact Michael Gildea at Michael.Gildea@ferc.gov or (202) 502-8420 or Lodie White at Lodie.White@ferc.gov or (202) 502-8453.  \n \n \n\n\n\n\nCarlos D. Clay,\nDeputy Secretary.\n\n\n\n\n2026 Reliability Technical Conference\n\n\n\nDocket No. AD26-8-000  \nWednesday, October 21, 2026\n10:00 am – 2:40 pm  \n10:00 am\tChairman’s and Commissioners’ Opening Remarks  \n10:30 am\tPresentation on the State of Reliability\n\t\tJim Robb, President and Chief Executive Officer\nNorth American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)\n10:40 am\tPanel 1:  The State of Reliability in a Changing Energy Landscape - Operational Challenges of Integrating Large Loads in Evolving System Dynamics\nThe electric grid is undergoing rapid transformation driven by unprecedented load growth, the emergence of large, energy-intensive loads, and the accelerating deployment of inverter-based resources (IBRs).  Data centers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute campuses, industrialization, and other large loads are developing at a pace that challenges traditional planning and operational frameworks.  Meanwhile, the retirement of conventional baseload generators combined with the addition of solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are reshaping system dynamics, introducing new complexities and challenges related to reserve margins, inertia, protection systems, fuel supply, and disturbance response.  \nThis panel may include a discussion of the following topics and questions:  \n\tHow should entities model and plan for the rapid emergence of large, energy-intensive loads, such as data centers and AI compute campuses, whose scale, timing, and operational characteristics challenge traditional interconnection, transmission planning, and resource adequacy frameworks?  What are some lessons learned from the integration of large loads (such as the necessity for validated dynamic load models, updated commissioning procedures, and mandatory disturbance monitoring at points of interconnection)?\n\tERCOT is proposing to require advanced grid support functions (e.g., fast-frequency response and synthetic inertia) for future BESS in response to reliability events and operational trends such as frequency excursions, voltage instability, and IBR-driven oscillations.  Are these same issues present elsewhere, and should similar requirements be applied nationwide?\nHow should operators quantify and manage the reliability implications of declining system inertia in regions with rapid interconnection of large loads and where IBR penetration is accelerating and replacing conventional generation? \nWhat are the primary cybersecurity and physical security risks associated with integrating large loads onto the grid?  Which risks are unique to specific types of large loads (e.g., data centers, crypto mining, industrial loads)?  How is industry addressing cybersecurity and physical security risks posed by large loads?\nHow do utilities account for the interaction of behind-the-meter gas-fired generators compared to front-of-meter gas-fueled power generators on the same pipeline in planning and operations? \nGiven the high load factor of data centers, what are utilities and RTOs/ISOs doing to ensure that resources used to meet capacity requirements have secure fuel sources to meet an increasingly flat load duration curve?\nSpeakers: \nJim Robb, President and Chief Executive Officer, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)\nDr. Varun Sivaram, CEO and Founder, Emerald AI\nBobby Olsen, Associate General Manager and Chief Power System Executive, Salt River Project (representing APPA/LPPC) \nBrian Starling, Director, Electric Transmission System Operations, Dominion Energy \nWayman Smith, Managing Director, Transmission Planning, American Electric Power (representing Edison Electric Institute)\nDavid Owens, President and Energy Consultant, Da’VAS (representing ESPX Global) \nChristopher Pilong, Sr. Director, Operations Planning, PJM Interconnection\n\n12:00 pm \tLunch \n1:00 pm \tPanel 2:  Reliability in the West Under Drought Conditions\nThe western United States is experiencing widespread drought, with over 65% of the region affected and significant water stress in the Colorado River Basin.  As long-term drought continues to intensify, the flow of water to reservoirs such as Lake Powell and Lake Mead from key tributaries in the river basin has fallen, with reservoirs now reaching critical elevations due to drought-related drops in overall precipitation, less snowpack, and earlier snowmelt.  These conditions threaten the availability of thousands of megawatts of electric generation and water supply reliability.  Given the complex interactions of risks across multiple industries and jurisdictions, this panel will explore long-range electric grid reliability issues associated with extended drought, declining snowpack and evolving hydrological conditions, and how planners and operators can identify and manage risks to minimize grid reliability concerns. \nThis panel may include a discussion of the following topics and questions:  \n\tThere are estimates that it will take 8-10 years of good precipitation (rain and snowpack) to return reservoirs to adequate levels to support the 4,500 MW of Colorado River hydropower production, and such precipitation levels are not expected.  How are WECC and western utilities preparing to ensure reliability in the short-term and long-term for what appears to be a challenging future? \n\tHow should resource adequacy planning models change in response to potential long-term reductions in inflows, minimum power pool constraints, and declining reservoir elevations that make hydropower an uncertain resource rather than a predictable seasonal asset? How have retirements of conventional generation combined with the addition of large loads affected this circumstance?\n\tWhat is the most significant risk in reliability planning frameworks for the West (e.g., hydrological modeling, crosssector coordination, load forecasting, or extremeevent assumptions) that could undermine near- and long-term reliability in the Western Interconnection?  How significant is this risk and how can it best be mitigated?\n\tWhat structure is needed to enable coordinated decision making by water users and water rights holders (e.g., water managers, tribal nations, municipal utilities, agricultural users, and large industrial loads), who may not regularly interact and who would need to coordinate with grid operators to determine priority for health, safety and economic needs?  How are electric system operators aligning their operational and market planning cycles with water management and allocation decisions by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and state water authorities’ timelines for water releases, allocations, etc. that directly affect hydropower output?\n\tHow should planners better integrate rapidly shifting hydrological forecasts[fn:1] into multiyear transmission, resource adequacy, and infrastructure planning processes, which traditionally assume stable water conditions?\nHow should WECC entities prepare for compounding reliability stress when hydropower shortages align with extreme heat, availability limitations for conventional generation resources due to cooling shortages, the retirement of conventional generation, reduced natural gas supplies due to limited freshwater for Gulf Coast refineries, and rapidly growing loads in the Southwest, creating simultaneous supply and demand pressures?  Are there datasets that operators lack today that would improve reliability operations and planning in the Colorado River Basin (e.g., real time tributary inflow telemetry, coordinated reservoir operations data, or cross-sector demand projections)?\nSpeakers: \nCommissioner Ann Rendahl, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC)  \nJeff Droubay, President and CEO, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) \nNathalie Voisin, Chief Scientist, Regional Water-Energy Dynamics, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory\nChris Colson, Senior Vice President and Infrastructure Asset Management and Planning Manager, Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)  \nMichael Eugenis, Director, Resource Planning, Arizona Public Service\nCody Allred, Water Resource and Fuel Quality Manager, PacifiCorp (representing National Hydropower Association) \n2:30 pm\t\tClosing Remarks \n2:40 pm\t\tEnd of Technical Conference\n\nFootnotes\n[fn:1] Hydrological forecasts are predictions of future watercycle conditions such as river flows, reservoir inflows, snowpack levels, soil moisture, and runoff based on climate data, precipitation patterns, temperature trends, and watershed modeling.\n\nfooter1 (Word template)\n2\n\nheader1 (Word template)\nCUI//CEIICUI//CEII\nCUI//CEII\nCUI//CEII\n\nheader2 (Word template)\nCUI//CEIICUI//CEII\nCUI//CEII\nCUI//CEII"}],"sections":[{"p":1,"at":0,"title":"Opening text","method":"opening text","endPage":1,"endAt":13609,"startToken":0,"endToken":1851},{"p":1,"at":13609,"title":"Footnotes","method":"Word notes","endPage":1,"endAt":14025,"startToken":1851,"endToken":1909}]}