The Next Frontier is Here: The Intersection of Data Centers/AI & Utilities

As the rapid expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence reshapes energy and water usage, infrastructure planning, and operational complexity, publicly owned power utilities and water agencies find themselves at the center of a transformative moment. This timely workshop, co-hosted by the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) and the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), at the UC Student and Policy Center, 1115 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, will explore how the surge in AI-driven technologies is accelerating load growth, straining existing systems, and creating both challenges and opportunities for utilities across California and beyond.

Join industry experts, utility leaders, regulators, land use entities, and technology innovators for a forward-looking discussion on what this evolution means for power and water providers. Topics will include forecasting and managing unprecedented load demands and water needs, interconnection and permitting needs, creating a welcoming environment for data centers, integrating AI into utility operations, and the future of data centers and AI.

Designed specifically for publicly owned utilities, this workshop will provide practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to help your organization prepare for—and lead in—the next frontier of utility innovation. Seats are limited!

Please note that this workshop will be professionally recorded, including video, audio, and photography, for future educational use and promotional materials by California Municipal Utilities Association.

By registering for and attending this event, you grant California Municipal Utilities Association permission to photograph, film, audio record, and otherwise capture your participation in the workshop. You further authorize CMUA to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, and display such recordings, photographs, and materials in any media now known or later developed for educational, informational, promotional, or archival purposes, without compensation or additional consent.

We respect attendee preferences. Attendance at this event signifies acceptance of these terms. If you prefer not to appear in recordings or photographs, please let a CMUA staff member know upon arrival.

• Member (CMUA, SCPPA, or NCPA utility or CMUA Associate Partner)............ $175
• CA State Legislative and Regulatory Staff.................................. .................... $100
• Non-Member (Unaffiliated utility or industry supplier/organizations).............$275

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring broad participation across the membership.

Registration includes meeting materials, networking breaks, and lunch. Attendees are responsible for all travel-related costs, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and parking. CMUA does not offer parking validation for this event.

Accepted Payment Methods: Check or credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX)

Registration payment is due at the time of registration. If paying by check, your check must be received by CMUA no later than June 8, 2026, for your registration to be confirmed and a seat reserved for the event.

Parking: There are several nearby parking garage options, all within easy walking distance of the venue. to download a map of the parking options.

Nearby Hotel Options: CMUA has not reserved a block of rooms for this event. To download a list of nearby hotels, .

Cancellation Policy

• To be eligible for a full refund, registration cancellation requests must be received in writing via email to Christine Chapman at [email protected] and received no later than June 1, 2026, 5:00 pm (Pacific). Cancellations will not be accepted via phone, voicemail, text, or fax.
• Cancellation requests received after June 1, 2026, 5:00 pm (Pacific) will not be eligible for a refund, but substitutions will be accepted without additional costs up until the date of the event.

• Registrants who do not attend the workshop and do not cancel their registration by June 1, 2026, 5:00 pm (Pacific) and in accordance with the stated policies herein, remain responsible for the full registration fee.
• Registrations for this event that are not properly canceled or are not eligible for refund may not be transferred to another future CMUA event.

Substitutions (Transferring a Registration)

• If you are unable to attend this event, substitutions from the same organizations are encouraged.
• To request a substitution, email Christine Chapman at [email protected] with the original registrant's name, title, and email address and the name, title, and email address of the substitute. A revised confirmation via email will be sent to the substitute.
• Registrants who do not attend the workshop and do not cancel their registration by June 1, 2026, 5:00 pm (Pacific), remain responsible for the full registration fee.

Special Circumstances & Force Majeure

The association reserves the right to modify, reschedule, or cancel this event due to circumstances beyond its control (including but not limited to natural disasters, public health emergencies, or government restrictions).

• If the association cancels this event, registrants will be offered a full refund.
• If this event is rescheduled or converted to a virtual format, the association will provide options to transfer, convert, or refund registrations as appropriate.

Hotel & Travel

Hotel reservations, airline tickets, and other travel arrangements are the responsibility of the registrant. Changes or cancellations to hotel and travel arrangements must be made directly with the provider and are subject to their policies. The association is not responsible for any related fees, penalties, or losses.

Purpose of These Policies

These policies help ensure that CMUA can responsibly plan for event commitments—such as venue guarantees, food and beverage minimums, staffing, and materials—which are based on confirmed registration counts.

Info: Before the conversation gets technical, we set the table. As data centers surge into communities across California, they bring a powerful appetite—for both electricity and water. This session serves as the opening course, unpacking how these facilities consume resources, from energy-intensive computing loads to the water demands of advanced cooling systems.

Join us as we explore what’s driving this growth, how utilities are responding, and what it means for infrastructure, sustainability, and long-term planning. Whether you’re serving a rapidly expanding load or preparing for what’s next, this session will provide the essential context to navigate the evolving relationship between data centers and the utilities that support them.

Info: Behind every data center is a complex web of wires, workflows, and regulatory checkpoints. This session pulls back the curtain on the real-world mechanics of bringing these high-demand facilities online—from initial load requests and interconnection studies to infrastructure upgrades and navigating local, state, and environmental permitting. Attendees will walk away with a practical roadmap, insider insights on common bottlenecks, and strategies to better align utility processes with the fast-paced expectations of data center developers.

Info: Data centers are no longer a distant trend—they are knocking on the door of municipal utilities with massive energy needs, complex infrastructure demands, and big economic opportunities. So how do utilities prepare? This session brings the playbook to life, sharing firsthand lessons from utilities that have already stepped onto the field. From navigating customer expectations and planning for large-scale load growth to addressing rates, reliability, water demands, and community impacts, speakers will offer candid insights on what worked, what surprised them, and what every utility should be thinking about now. Whether your utility is fielding inquiries today or preparing for tomorrow, this session will help you move from reactive to ready.

Info: Utilities are balancing the opportunity for economic growth with the responsibility to protect existing customers and community resources as competition for data center development intensifies,. This session explores how utilities can position themselves as attractive partners while ensuring fair, transparent, and equitable service practices. Topics include rate design, cost allocation, community engagement, and aligning development with local priorities. Attendees will gain insight into strategies that support responsible growth—creating an environment that welcomes data centers without compromising reliability, affordability, or public trust.

Info: Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how utilities plan, operate, and serve their customers. This session explores practical applications of AI across utility operations—from predictive maintenance and load forecasting to customer service and system optimization. Attendees will learn how to identify high-impact use cases, navigate implementation challenges, and align AI initiatives with organizational goals. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale existing efforts, this session will provide actionable insights to help utilities harness AI effectively and responsibly.

Info: What happens when exponential data growth meets intelligent systems—and utilities are asked to power it all? This closing session connects the dots across the data center and AI landscape, painting a vivid picture of what’s next. From surging demand and evolving technologies to shifting expectations around sustainability and resilience, we’ll explore how the future is taking shape in real time. Attendees will leave with a sharper lens on what’s coming—and a clearer sense of how utilities can lead, adapt, and thrive at the intersection of energy, water, and innovation.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

UC Student and Policy Center, 1115 11th Street, Sacramento, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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