About this Event
2026 CEDMC Fall Conference Details: The Demand Side Delivers: Efficiency, Flexibility, and Load Growth for a California Grid That Works for All
- Opening Reception Tuesday, November 17, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
- Conference Wednesday, November 18, 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
- Location: South San Francisco Conference Center
- Event Website: https://cedmc.org/events/fall-conference/
Get access to cool perks -
The Fall Conference is CEDMC’s premier annual event and the definitive gathering for energy efficiency and demand management professionals in California and beyond. As a national leader in clean energy policy and innovation, California provides a unique forum for exploring the policies, regulatory developments, and implementation strategies shaping the future of energy demand management.
For those working in or with California’s energy sector, the Fall Conference offers practical, real-world insights from the people developing, implementing, and evaluating the programs and policies that drive results. The Conference brings together policymakers, regulators, program administrators, utilities, implementers, researchers, advocates, and industry leaders to tackle the issues that matter most—including how demand-side resources can improve affordability, advance decarbonization, strengthen grid reliability and resilience, and deliver benefits to all Californians.
By connecting policy development with implementation experience, the CEDMC Fall Conference fosters candid discussions, actionable learning, and the exchange of lessons that can help scale effective solutions in California and across the nation.
Agenda
This is not a conference you want to miss!
8:00 a.m. — Registration and Breakfast Refreshments
9:00 a.m. — Welcome
9:15 a.m. — The Electricity Affordability Equation: Efficiency, Flexible Demand, and Smart Electrification and Their Impact on Rates
As utilities face growing infrastructure needs, electrification, and customer affordability concerns, this session explores how energy efficiency, demand response, and flexible demand can help shape load, reduce peak costs, support reliability, and make better use of the electric grid. Speakers will examine the opportunities and barriers to delivering greater value for customers and communities.
- Commissioner Darcie Houck, California Public Utilities Commission — topic opener
- Ryan Wilson, Policy Director, Energy Solutions
- Liz Gill, Reliability Analysis Branch Manager, California Energy Commission
- Marc Costa, Director of Policy and Planning, The Energy Coalition
- Beckie Menten, Building Decarbonization Coalition
- Moderator: Merrian Borgeson, Director, California Climate and Energy, NRDC
10:30 a.m. — Powering Growth, Centering Communities: Navigating Local Impacts of Rapid Load Expansion
Electrification, data centers, and electric vehicles are increasing electricity demand, with communities experiencing both the opportunities and the challenges of grid expansion. This conversation will explore how early engagement, local priorities, and transparent planning can help address concerns about affordability, reliability, land use, and equity.
- Catherine Casomar, Better Data Center Project
- Kathleen Hughes, Assistant Director, Silicon Valley Power
- Moderator: Jeana Swedenburg, Cadmus
11:00 a.m. — Morning Networking Break
11:30 a.m. — Keynote: Centering DSM in Grid Planning of the Future
How can demand-side resources become a more central part of grid planning and operations? This keynote will explore the growing role of demand response, emerging grid services, and the coordination needed among utilities, regulators, aggregators, and customers.
- Leuwam Tesfai, Executive Director, California Public Utilities Commission
12:00 p.m. — CEDMC Remarks and Art Rosenfeld Award Presentation
12:30 p.m. — Lunch
1:30 p.m. — Efficiency Plans for Natural Gas’s Future
This panel will explore near-term opportunities to use natural gas more efficiently, including innovations for industrial uses and existing infrastructure. Speakers will discuss how efficiency strategies can respond to changing energy needs while supporting affordability and decarbonization goals.
- Darren Hanway, SoCalGas
- Jeff Curtenden, Energy Infrastructure Partners
- Moderator: Richard Hart, ACEEE
2:15 p.m. — Building the Workforce Behind Efficiency and Electrification
Meeting California’s energy goals will require a workforce equipped to deliver efficiency and electrification projects. This conversation brings together perspectives from organized labor and contractor training to examine what is working, where gaps remain, and how workforce partnerships can grow.
- Mark Hall, Revalue
- Alex Lantsberg, San Francisco Electric Contractors Institute
- Moderator: Jose “JB” Tengco, Vice President for State Affairs, BlueGreen Alliance
2:45 p.m. — Afternoon Networking Break
3:15 p.m. — EE Applications: Emerging Forces Reshaping EE and DSM in California
California’s energy-efficiency business plan process is bringing broader questions about cost-effectiveness, portfolio strategy, and the future role of energy efficiency and demand-side management into focus. This panel will examine the forces shaping the industry and what they could mean for California’s programs and policies.
- Ed Randolph, Consultant and former Director of the CPUC Energy Division
- Lou Jacobson, Director, Willdan
4:15 p.m. — Where Strategy Meets Customer Reality: Leadership Perspectives on California’s Energy Future
In this closing conversation, leaders will reflect on the day’s discussions and consider the next steps toward an energy future that is clean, affordable, reliable, and responsive to customers’ needs.
- Shawn Marshall, WestLight Energy
- Brian Stonerock, Southern California Edison
- Wade Stano, MCE
- Moderator: Chris Burmester, Chief Strategy Officer, Energy Solutions, and CEDMC Board Chair
4:45 p.m. — Closing Remarks
5:00 p.m. — Networking Reception
Agenda and participants are subject to change.
What’s included?
- Opening Reception (November 17, 5-8pm): appetizers and drinks
- Conference (November 18, 9-5pm): breakfast, lunch and refreshments
- Networking Reception (November 18, 5-6:30pm)
Ticket Pricing:
- Early Bird Council Members (until October 9): $510 (regular price $610)
- Early Bird Non-Members (until October 9): $610 (regular price $710)
- Discount for Utilities, RENs, and CCAs: $410
- Government, Students, Non-profits: $95
Sustaining CEDMC Members receive two complimentary registrations. CEDMC staff will be in touch with your unique registration code. Want to become a sustaining member?
Getting Here
- Venue: South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 S Airport Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (both days) (maps)
- Shuttle: If you are coming directly from the San Francisco airport, take the DoubleTree Hotel shuttle (mostly every 15min), they share a parking lot.
- Parking: Ample parking is available
- There is no hotel room block, but if you’d like to stay nearby we highly suggest the for a quick and easy walking commute to the venue.
Event venue & nearby stays
South San Francisco Conference, 255 South Airport Boulevard, South San Francisco, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.