Ohio Energy Leadership Summit

This inaugural energy summit will convene the state’s top CEOs and corporate energy directors for a comprehensive dialogue on electric and natural gas utility and market issues in Ohio, including the future of distribution investments and rates, retail and wholesale market developments, the importance of energy to Ohio’s economic vitality, the future of power generation, and strategies for managing energy costs.

Presented by the Ohio Energy Leadership Council. Sponsored by BakerHostetler and Dynegy (powered by Vistra).

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Info: Brief welcome and introduction outlining the day’s objectives, the critical importance of collaborative dialogue between consumers and utilities, the future of generation in the region and utility rates, and strategies for managing energy costs.

Info: Navigating the Grid’s New Frontier: The Current and Future State of Electricity Generation in PJM and Ohio. The regional power grid is experiencing a paradigm shift. Driven by a historic surge in large-load electrification and data center development, PJM Interconnection is grappling with tightening supply margins, surging capacity costs, and a need for interconnection reform. As a critical hub within PJM, Ohio finds itself at the epicenter of this transition. This keynote will dissect the current realities of electricity generation at both the macro (PJM) and micro (Ohio) levels, evaluate the regulatory and market forces reshaping our energy landscape, and chart the course for future generation resources in PJM and Ohio.

Info: A high-stakes dialogue featuring top executives from Ohio’s major electric distribution utilities, the discussion will focus on grid reliability, grid modernization, and the future of the distribution grid in Ohio. The panel will dissect how utilities view the importance of infrastructure investments, the reliability issues driving investments in an era of increasing costs, and how C&I customers will benefit from those investments. MODERATED BY: Gina Cheverine, SVP Strategic Development and Partnerships, Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Info: AEP Ohio Rates, the 2026 Rate Case Settlement, and the Future of Rates and Customer Programs in AEP Ohio. This workshop will provide highly specific strategies for AEP Ohio commercial and industrial customers to understand current utility rates and programs, understand the new Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) rate case process, and manage upcoming tariff and utility program changes.
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Curt Heitkamp, Director of Regulatory Services, AEP Ohio
• Matt Brakey, President, Brakey Energy
• Katie Emling, Energy Analyst, Brakey Energy
• Dean Douglass, Chief Technology Officer, Eramet Marietta
• David Proaño, Partner, BakerHostetler.

Info: Trends in Behind-the-Meter Generation & Battery Storage in Ohio. As Ohio faces unprecedented electricity demand driven by industrial growth and the rapid proliferation of data centers, the energy landscape is shifting to the edge of the grid. This breakout session explores the critical role of Behind-the-Meter (BTM) generation and battery energy systems (BESS) in ensuring grid resilience, managing costs, and unlocking new revenue streams. FEATURED SPEAKERS: Shawn Borden, Caterpillar, Power and Utilities Energy Solutions • Erik Rasmussen, CEM, Sustainability Engineering Consultant, Progressive Insurance.

Info: The CEO Perspective on Energy as a Strategic Asset, Fireside Chat. Enjoy a catered lunch during a fireside chat with the CEO of a major Ohio-based heavy manufacturing firm. The discussion will elevate energy from a basic utility bill to a core component of corporate strategy. Topics will include balancing intense energy needs with corporate sustainability goals, exploring large-scale industrial electrification, the impact of escalating energy costs, and evaluating cutting-edge initiatives in the energy realm.

Info: Executives from Ohio’s leading natural gas utilities and natural gas suppliers will discuss supply stability and cost trends, pipeline infrastructure programs, and the macroeconomic factors driving natural gas rates and distribution investments. The panel will explore how utilities are balancing necessary safety investments with the rate impacts on large industrial consumers and macro-economic trends in gas supply issues in the region and across the nation. MODERATED BY: Matt Brakey, President, Brakey Energy.

Info: FirstEnergy Rates, the 2025 Rate Case Outcome, and the Future of Rates and Programs in FirstEnergy. This workshop will provide highly specific strategies for FirstEnergy commercial and industrial customers to understand current utility rates and programs, understand the new Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) rate case process, and manage upcoming tariff and utility program changes. FEATURED SPEAKERS: Matt Brakey, President, Brakey Energy
• Katie Emling, Energy Analyst, Brakey Energy • David Proaño, Partner, BakerHostetler.

Info: Demand Response and other PJM Programs; Capacity and Transmission Cost Management. This highly technical session dives into the complexities of the PJM wholesale market, specifically addressing the historic capacity clearing prices and the newly implemented pricing collars, and strategies for managing both capacity and transmission costs. Experts will guide corporate energy buyers through navigating specific PJM programs, leveraging demand response programs, and employing load-shifting operations and peak load management to mitigate the impact of increasing capacity and transmission charges in Ohio and PJM.

Info: A comprehensive review of how Ohio fits within the broader PJM Interconnection market and the functional mechanics of the wholesale market. This session will examine how PJM policies influence Ohio markets and ratepayer costs and PJM’s current initiatives and proposals to address the proliferation of data centers and the need for new generation resources.

Info: The formal programming concludes with a forward-looking legislative briefing. Legislators and lobbying experts will unpack the profound impacts of last year’s energy bills, discuss the bills pending this year, and review a forecast of what energy policies will benefit the future of Ohio’s industrial and manufacturing base. MODERATED BY: Lori Herf, Senior Advisor for Government Relations, BakerHostetler. FEATURED SPEAKERS: Representative Roy Klopfenstein, Ohio State Representative, District 82 • Representative Josh Williams, Ohio State Representative, District 44 • Senator Shane Wilkin, Ohio State Senator, District 17.

Info: An exclusive, relaxed environment for manufacturing executives, utility representatives, and speakers to connect, debrief the day’s insights, and forge strategic partnerships over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Sponsored by Dynegy (powered by Vistra).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hilton Cleveland Downtown, 100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland, United States

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