Smart Energy Summit addresses consumer impact of solar, energy storage, and smart home devices and solutions on the grid

Parks Associates research finds that 28% of U.S. broadband households consider battery storage to store for excess power from solar to be very valuable, although only approximately 4% own this solution and 7% plan to purchase in the next 12 months. Parks Associates analysts will host its 10th-annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer on February 18-20 at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, where industry executives will discuss new opportunities and challenges for utilities and grid operators.

The executive event, with over 200 executives in attendance, features sessions on the aggregation of energy storage and the changing role of the distribution system how utilities can lay the foundation for their future profit and participation.

"Energy providers face significant challenges in maintaining reliable power delivery as solar and EV adoption increase," said Elizabeth Parks, President, Parks Associates. "Smart home vendors must understand that challenge and work in partnership with utilities to develop solutions that help to guarantee reliable power. We look forward to addressing key issues around solar, storage, and energy distribution at Smart Energy Summit."

Speakers for the sessions "Aggregation of Energy Storage" and "Solar, Storage, Smart Home, and the Grid: New Utility Roles in Future Distribution Systems" include:

Richard Barone, Director, Demand Response, Hawaiian Electric
Rolf Bienert, Managing and Technical Director, OpenADR Alliance
Ben Cohen, Director, Global Strategy, AutoGrid
Obrie Hostetter, Director, Market Development, Hubject
Debbie Kimberly, VP, Customer Energy Solutions & Corporate Communications, Austin Energy
Patrick Maloney, Founder & CEO, Inspire
Michelle Meyer, Director, Marketing, Greenlots
Marco Terruzzin, Director, E.ON Climate and Renewables
The 2019 Smart Energy Summit will feature more than 300 high-level executives in an intimate networking environment. The agenda includes keynotes, presentations, and speaker panels from experts in energy management, with discussions on current technologies and consumer research. Keynotes include:

Leah Barton, VP & GM, Home Protection, Direct Energy
Aaron Berndt, Head of Central Region Energy Partnerships, Nest / Google
Erika Diamond, VP of Utility and Market Services, EnergyHub
Steve Hambric, VP Consumer Energy Management, Itron
Adrian Tuck, CEO, Tendril
More information is available at http://www.ses2019.com/. To schedule an interview or to request data, contact Julia Homier at julia.homier@parksassociates.com, 972.996.0214.

About Smart Energy Summit

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the changing role of utilities to help empower consumers with solutions to save energy in the home. The event addresses the potential benefits of incorporating smart products into energy efficiency and DR programs and the opportunities across converging ecosystems for the market for energy solutions, including connected devices, energy management, utility services, and home control platforms and services.

The Smart Energy Summit focuses on identifying new strategies that utilities and other providers can leverage connectivity as a result of the adoption of new consumer technologies. Research analysts, thought leaders, and industry executives present and discuss business strategies, case studies, partnership opportunities, and consumer research that utilities, service providers, retailers, and manufacturers can use to expand and monetize their energy offerings.

The tenth-annual Smart Energy Summit will take place February 18-20, 2019, at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown in Austin, Texas. The summit agenda features leaders from utilities, state and national regulators, telecom and security companies, retailers, and OEMs. Follow the event on Twitter at @SmartEnergySmt and #SmartEnergy19. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.ses2019.com.