CIO Utilities Summit Agenda
Apr 15 - Apr 17, 2012

Day 1: Sunday, April 15th, 2012 - CIO Utilities Summit

Golf Tournament
Best Ball Golf Tournament - includes lunch

Exclusive CIO Think Tank
Pre-summit introductory discussions

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Welcome Reception

7:00pm - 10:00pm

Welcome Gala Dinner & Welcome Address

Presented by Master of Ceremonies

Day 2: Monday, April 16th, 2012 - CIO Utilities Summit

7:00am - 8:00am

Networking Breakfast

8:10am - 8:50am

Opening Keynote Presentation

Energy Industry in Transition: Aiming for the Future

Innovation and digital technology has transformed the world and in the processes made numerous technologies, business models and companies extinct. Is the energy industry next? How might today's utilities evolve, and in what forms? How will the value chain from generation to consumption change? Who will be the winners and who will be the losers? These are questions that are in the minds of utilities, aggregators, large consumers, and cities and municipalities in North America. This session will discuss the transition of other industries, the challenges they met, and how these experiences might apply to the utility industry today and tomorrow.

9:00am - 9:30am

Executive Exchange

CIO Think Tank

Smart Customer Communications - CIS and Billing

The advancing smart grid technology offers many enhancements for utility providers. Largely dependent on the success of the transformation, one of the most fundamental changes will be how utilities interact with their customers. This session will discuss how utility providers must transform their Customer Information Systems (CIS) and billing, as welll as develop a strategy for managing and successfully utilizing the massive amounts of data they receive to develop better customer communications.

CIO Think Tank

TBD

Presented by:

Michael Harris, CIO & Director, Information Services, Clark Public Utilities

9:35am - 10:05am

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

Business Intelligence for Utility Executives

Managing data and extracting intelligence: Business Intelligence is a cornerstone of effective management decisions. While this is a popular topic as reflected in recent energy periodicals, capture of proper data structures and generation of information from untamed data is easier said than done. How to manage and use this data to structure decisions is an emerging challenge for utility executives. Proper management road maps are needed for implementation of BI systems which can be used to drive the company forward. The recent data explosion, coupled with the broad selection of BI solutions looking for a home are complicating this world for utility managers and executives. Properly organized and implemented BI systems are urgently required to deal with this data explosion and provide an enterprise with insight and actionable information.

The right information can result in winning products, effective marketing campaigns and also satisfy regulators with fact-based rate cases. BI systems can also result in poor investment decisions and other regrettable actions. It is critical that management know the difference between business insight and bad data. There are many innovative and creative applications for properly structured BI solutions. This session will discuss some creative examples in the areas of GIS, fleet management, sustainable energy solutions and home area networks. Business intelligence for decision making is just beginning to make its presence known.

CIO Thought Leadership

A Guide to Managing Cyber Security Risk

As the U.S. energy infrastructure becomes more advanced it must meet and address cybersecurity challenges along the way. Enterprises will need to research, develop and commercialize a comprehensive range of cybersecurity solutions to strengthen the energy infrastructure against cyber intrusion and assist owners and operators in complying with cybersecurity regulations.

Topics to be discussed include:

10:40am - 11:05am

Networking Break

11:10am - 11:40am

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

Using Analytics to Improve the Demand Curve and Implement Revenue Assurance

SmartGrid is a critical lever to manage demand and stimulate a more balanced usage curve to mitigate supply-side risk and improve margin performance. In addition to the underlying technology shifts, SmartGrid prompts several operational changes, such as usage management and dynamic pricing, which represent stark changes to meter-to-cash and a dramatic step-function increase in meter-to-cash complexity.

This session will discuss how to confront severe changes and protect meter-to-cash performance with decreased risk and avoidable revenue and margin losses.

11:45am - 12:15pm

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

The Vulnerable Smart Grid

As the electric system becomes a network of flowing data as well as power, security in terms of both physical and virtual security has emerged as a chief concern. The electric power system is now viewed as a national security issue, with the military establishment looking at mission criticality and support. The grid must be protected from both fraud and malice in order to keep the lights on.

This session will focus on key issues associated with grid vulnerability, including the standards and practices that have already been put in place to address grid security. We will also discuss priority areas of cybersecurity that have not yet been addressed by standards organizations or regulators and answer the question: how do we balance between usability and security?

CIO Think Tank

The Next Generation Utility

Utilities are currently experiencing an accelerated deployment of smart grid infrastructure, such as smart meters, advanced metering infrastructure/automated meter reading (AMI/AMR), and meter data management systems (MDMS); all the while they are hampered by the constraints of having to deal with the legacy of heavy systems and software that often are more than 20 years old.

Many utilities are also facing a changing competitive dynamics, due to the combination of:

CIO Think Tank

Digital Strategies for your Social Media Network

Social networking web sites and services such as Facebook and Twitter have become primary communication media for a new generation of technically-savvy and digitally aware consumers. Driven by high broadband penetration, maturing social connections and readily available, affordable Internet-enabled multimedia devices, these sites and services are earning more and more attention of advertisers, consumer product companies and enterprises that are using social media to reach their customers, build brand loyalty and communicate with geographically dispersed employees, suppliers and partners.

This session will discuss developments in social networking trends and shifts in two long-term communication trends: the shift in communications patterns from point-to-point, two-way conversations, to many-to-many, collaborative communications; and the transition of control of the communications environment to open Internet platform providers.

12:55pm - 1:55pm

CIO Networking Luncheon

2:00pm - 2:30pm

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

Managing your Unstructured Content

The preservation, disposition and accessibility of information is an essential task for any corporation, and that task is getting more difficult by the day due to the rapid growth of unstructured content. The Utility sector is especially sensitive to these requirements due to the need for on-demand access to information and records, and the balance of regulatory mandates around transparency and audited retention. Access to information from a variety of application systems, and the ability to share information across the organization are key drivers of improved productivity. This session will explore strategies, approaches, benefits and lessons learned in the journey towards Information Governance.

2:35pm - 3:05pm

Executive Exchange

CIO Think Tank

The Mobile Workforce: Security, Compliance and Efficiency

Communication and collaboration platforms must rely on a secure and reliable infrastructure. Enterprise-wide workforce mobility is sensitive given the nature of the data being exchanged. At the same time, having control over the personal devices, apps and the networks through which your employees communicate with your clients and within your organization, is imperative and can significantly increase or decrease efficiency, depending on your level of control. The impact of reliable connectivity and unified communications correlates directly with enterprise-wide speed and accuracy of the flow of information, which then translates to mindshare, brand recognition and market share with your customers. Manufacturing operations and commercialization efforts can be better aligned and accelerated through investments in mobility and communications.

This session will help high-level executives understand how to respond to changing technological advancements and demands, all the while gaining a competitive edge.

CIO Think Tank

Software Applications to Reach & Retain Customers via Energy Management Services: Building Software Bridges to the Customer so they can Experience Benefits from their New Smart Grid Connections Too

With customers wanting to self serve (being web enabled today), the customer is moving their lives into the virtual world of real-time transactions to meet their real-world needs. Gaining customer acceptance & scale on new energy management service offerings, requires that service manufacturers and providers ensure the smart grid customer remains the focal point in the design and launch of these offerings by looking at these innovations from the customer's vantage perspective in order to fully grasp priorities.

In order to apply an effective customer centered approach this firsthand account will share:

Presented by:

Kevin Peterson, Director, IT Quality and Innovation, TXU Energy

3:10pm - 3:40pm

Executive Exchange

3:45pm - 4:15pm

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

Bringing Big Data to the Enterprise

Utilities are awash with data, easily amassing terabytes and even petabytes of information. It has been estimated that globally, we create around 2.5 quintillion bytes of data per day. To phrase it differently: 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the past two years: by the smart grid; through social media interactions; with digital pictures and videos posted online; and by transaction records of in-store purchases, just to name a few.

Big data extends far beyond structured data, including unstructured data of all varieties (such as text, audio, video, click streams, and log files). Big data is often time-sensitive and must be used as it is streaming in to the enterprise to maximize the value to the business. Big data is more than a challenge - it is an opportunity to find insight in new and emerging types of revenue. It is an opportunity to make your business more agile and to answer questions that used to be beyond reach.

Topics to be discussed by this executive panel will include:

4:20pm - 4:50pm

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

Enterprise Content Mobility: Striking a Balance between Flexibility And GRC

Mobile devices are popular portals to enterprise knowledge, but striking the right balance between mobility and control can be a challenge. The advantage of mobile technology lies in its ability to make information more accessible, but at the same time, it's difficult to control mobile content that rests outside an organization's governance structure.

This session will discuss how Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) standards can be maintained with a mobile workforce; how to design an IT infrastructure that includes GRC and mobile devices, rather than simply allowing them; and how to extend GRC standards to mobile workers and devices.

5:00pm - 6:00pm

CIO Executive Visions Keynote

Future Trends and Potential Disruptions

As our vision for the modern smart grid unfolds, technology development and innovation will continue to be a key driver. Predicting how and when various technologies will impact the evolution of the smart grid is difficult; however understanding the potential for disruption is important to set the context for other key issues. What new technologies are most likely to impact the design and operation of the grid over the next 20 years? What new solutions are needed to support PHEVs, distributed storage, and smart appliances? What are the keys to harmonizing the integration of all these new technologies? Will we require new economic models, computer models, business models, and/or new regulations to support true innovation?

This session will be an insightful discussion between executives from leading utilities and technology companies of trends, strategic planning, forecasting and R&D programs that can unlock the full potential of new technologies on the grid.

Moderator:

Panelists:

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Reception

7:00pm - 9:30pm

Gala Dinner

9:30pm - 10:30pm

After Dinner Networking

Day 3: Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 - CIO Utilities Summit

7:00am - 7:50am

Networking Breakfast

8:00am - 8:50am

CIO Keynote Presentation

Strategies for Successful Consumer Engagement

Consumer engagement and acceptance has emerged as a key influencing factor in the widespread deployment of smart grid technologies. However, utilities have had only limited success in connecting with its customers and conveying the value of smart grid. Social networking web sites and services such as Facebook and Twitter have become primary communication media for a new generation of technically-savvy and digitally aware consumers. Driven by high broadband penetration, maturing social connections and readily available, affordable Internet-enabled multimedia devices, these sites and services are earning more and more attention of advertisers, consumer product companies and enterprises that are using social media to reach their customers, build brand loyalty and communicate with geographically dispersed employees, suppliers and partners.

This session will discuss ways for utilities to connect with consumers using a variety of techniques and media. We will also discuss possible strategies for conveying the smart grid message.

9:00am - 9:30am

Executive Exchange

CIO Thought Leadership

Creating Strategic Value with Mobility

Creating strategic value is the most important objective of every organization, but it is also the hardest to define. As companies are looking for new ways to create a competitive edge, the CIOs will play a central leadership role. A role characterized by increased responsibilities for corporate strategy and other duties outside of core technology, while at the same time ensuring the quality and performance of the IT organization. Mobile devices are popular portals to enterprise knowledge, but striking the right balance between mobility and control can be a challenge. The advantage of mobile technology lies in its ability to make information more accessible, but at the same time, it's difficult to control mobile content that rests outside an organization's governance structure. This session will discuss the strategic values created by the CIOs and their IT organization.

9:35am - 10:05am

Executive Exchange

CIO Think Tank

The Converged Utility Transport Network

The desire for operational efficiency and seamless communication is demanding that once separate communication networks interoperate as a common infrastructure. Separate silo'ed networks must come together to support the vision of the Smart Grid. This session will explore a number of considerations with implementing a converged IP network including: IP/MPLS and wireless technology options, business case viability, security challenges, and a discussion of best practices regarding the role of wireless communications in such a network.

CIO Think Tank

A New Day for Business Analytics

Recent technology developments may fundamentally change the economic model for Business Analytics and Business Intelligence, and deliver an unprecedented ease of use. These products can no longer be viewed as cut-down versions of enterprise-level products, but more as offerings tailored the needs of smaller companies and specialized industries such as healthcare, particularly in ease of use, installation and affordability. Effective enterprise performance management is critical to building a high-performance healthcare organization, integrating and analyzing financial, operational, competitive, caregiver and patience information.

This session will discuss how CIOs can enable the broadest deployment of Business Analytics and Business Intelligence possible, with the aim to create value with IT and maximize their company's overall performance.

10:10am - 10:40am

Executive Exchange

10:40am - 11:00am

Networking Break

11:05am - 11:35am

Executive Exchange

CIO Think Tank

Big Data Transformation

It falls upon the CIO to solve a wide range or problems from a slow decision making process, low quality decisions and lack of responsiveness to change, to friction between areas and resource inefficiency. What are we trying to achieve? Why does everyone do it differently? Why do we keep reorganizing, and is there a "Right" way?

Big data technologies, solutions, and services have significant potential to transform the way in which organizations manage and operate their businesses. This session will be an in-depth discussion about big data transformation. We will look at strengths and weaknesses of different organizational structures, as well as technologies and solutions focused on big data transformation, with the aim to provide a baseline of core principles and strategies for your organization.

CIO Think Tank

The Mobile Computing Evolution

Mobile computing solutions have been in existence in the utility market for about 20 years. What do the trends in mobile technology mean for the utility industry and how can utilities capitalize on the innovation that is driving down costs, increasing access and improving customer service. The mobile computing device market is growing substantially and will increase threefold by 2012, presenting both challenges and opportunities for companies across the mobile technology spectrum.

This session will discuss mobile computing and their affect on the utility market with a discussion of emerging mobile computing applications that leverage 3G/4G cellular networks, GPS, Bluetooth and wireless broadband along with mobile computing, smart-phones and smart-grid devices to transmit information over private and public networks.

11:40am - 12:25pm

CIO Keynote Presentation

Integrating Renewable Sources: The Hype, the Challenges, and the Reality

Renewable sources are being connected to the grid at different levels. At the transmission level, large wind farms are being constructed and linked into the grid. Similarly at the distribution level, roof-top photovoltaics and PHEVs/PEVs are being added. This is currently being done in a patchwork of regulatory mandates and state RPS standards. Most recently the California government passed a law making it mandatory that 33% of supply would come from renewable sources. Several other states are also considering RPS standards. This executive panel session will be an insight full discussion about the hype, the challenges and other key issues relating to the impact of renewables on the electric system.

Topics to be discussed include:

Concluding Remarks & Takeaways

CIO Networking Luncheon