Date: May 2026

The theme of affordability is front and center amid rising utility costs. Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs provide one pathway to reduce costs by deferring infrastructure investments and upgrades, reducing reliance on expensive gas peaker plants, and providing compensation for participating customers by shifting load or calling on DER (Distributed Energy Resources) assets. This session will:

• Share key findings from the 2026 version of the RMI/VP3 Virtual Power Plant Flipbook “Flipbook 2.0”), including impacts on affordability from real-world VPP case studies
• Showcase 2-3 prominent VPP programs through a panel discussion and audience Q&A, where VPP program utilities and partners can discuss insights, challenges, and opportunities related to affordability (i.e., utility cost reductions and compensation for customers, etc.)
• Provide an interactive discussion with workshop participants on diving deeper into key lessons learned and future trajectories from the panel discussion, including state and regulatory contexts, and near-term opportunities

Speakers:
Kevin Brehm, RMI
Brad Harris, WeaveGrid
Jeremy Hutchinson, Xcel
Nathan Frost, Dominion Energy