From grid to community: my perspective on building a resilient energy future
Posted: February 06, 2026
Stepping onto the stage at DISTRIBUTECH 2026, I was excited to tackle the industry’s greatest challenge and its biggest opportunity: How can we overcome complexity and drive innovation as electrification accelerates, and distributed energy resources (DERs) transform the grid? For me, this is more than a professional pursuit—it’s a personal passion. And I was thrilled to be able to host a panel with industry leaders on this important topic.
I’ve seen firsthand how industrial intelligence can bridge the gap between aging infrastructure and the demands of a cleaner, more resilient future. It’s about more than technology; it’s about empowering operators, planners, ecosystems, and cities to make smarter, faster decisions.
Why industrial intelligence matters
Utilities face major challenges like massive load demand, aging infrastructure, unpredictable climate, and higher customer expectations. Industrial intelligence enables operational and engineering data to be managed securely as a single unified source, while AI accelerates decision-making by providing real-time insights for better grid management and load planning. Uniting trusted data across stakeholders in collaboration with industrial AI allows utilities and consumers to tackle both rising demand and decarbonization goals, and act proactively across their entire network.
To illustrate how these principles come to life, let’s explore three real-world use cases shared during our panel—each demonstrating how data-driven innovation and asset intelligence are enabling utilities and communities to build a more resilient energy future.
From rooftops to the grid: How CAISO integrates DERs
CAISO plays a critical role in integrating distributed energy resources at the state level by managing California’s bulk power grid and ensuring reliability as DER adoption grows. It enables DER participation in wholesale markets, allowing resources like solar, storage, and demand response to provide grid services and economic value. Leveraging advanced forecasting, analytics, and optimization tools, CAISO balances intermittent renewable generation with load, manages congestion, and supports system resilience. By collaborating with regulators, utilities, and stakeholders, CAISO designs market rules and technical standards that unlock DER potential while maintaining a reliable, clean, and flexible grid.
"The ability to anticipate grid constraints and act before they impact customers is a game-changer. AI-driven predictive analytics is helping us move from reactive to proactive operations.”
— Hani Alarian, Executive Director of Power Systems Technology Operations, California ISO
Orchestrating resilience: How SDG&E unifies DERs for a smarter grid
SDG&E drives utility-level DER integration by orchestrating transmission and distribution operations while managing DERs and microgrids across its service territory. The utility implements advanced grid management technologies and programs that optimize DER performance, enhance reliability, and enable customer engagement in clean energy adoption. By coordinating with state operators and community initiatives, SDG&E ensures that DERs contribute to both operational resilience and the broader sustainability goals of the region.
“We’re engineering a cleaner, more connected grid where industrial intelligence unifies renewables, storage, and customer programs. With shared context across the enterprise, we’ll predict constraints, coordinate resources, and make everyday resilience seamless for every neighborhood.”
—Steven Prsha, Manager of Renewable and Alternate Power Generation Company, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
Smart campuses, smarter cities: UCSD’s energy leadership
UCSD advances community-scale innovation through sustainability-focused research and DER deployment, including its NSF-funded DERconnect testbed. The university integrates distributed resources, microgrids, and smart building technologies to demonstrate practical, scalable solutions for clean energy adoption and resilient urban communities. Recognized globally for its sustainability leadership, UCSD engages students, faculty, and local stakeholders to explore innovative models that connect consumer behavior, technology, and operational strategies, providing insights for replicable smart city initiatives.
"Integrating AVEVA’s PI System across our campuses has transformed our approach to energy management—enabling predictive maintenance, dynamic load balancing, and measurable progress toward carbon neutrality."
— Raymond de Callafon, Professor, University of California, San Diego
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, I believe AI and unified data aren’t optional—they’re essential. My message to industry leaders: Let’s move from grid to community, together.
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