In this episode of the T&D World Live podcast, managing editor Jeff Postelwait and Rod Walton, managing editor for Microgrid Knowledge and Energy Tech, took a more conversational approach to explore one of the biggest shifts facing the power industry today: the surge in energy demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and electrification — and how utilities are responding.

In this episode of the T&D World Podcast, host Christina Marsh sits down with Editorial Director Nikki Chandler and Managing Editor Jeff Postelwait to recap the biggest stories, insights, and moments from the T&D World Live 2025 conference, held in Phoenix, Arizona. The editors share firsthand experiences and reflections on this year’s themes, including load growth, grid resiliency, cybersecurity, and customer affordability — topics that have increasingly replaced the industry’s earlier focus on decarbonization.

Ubicquia AI-driven platforms make existing critical infrastructure intelligent to increase grid resiliency, reduce energy consumption, and enhance operational efficiencies for utilities and municipalities. The company’s advanced analytics platform leverages more than 2 billion data sets per day to deliver its customers actionable insights. Ubicquia's products and solutions, which include sensors, software, and connectivity, are compatible with over 450 million streetlights, 500 million transformers, and 1 billion utility poles worldwide. Ubicquia’s platforms are deployed in more than 800 utilities and municipalities and its technologies are integrated on an OEM basis with leading manufacturers of transformers, streetlights and public safety video solutions.

In this episode of the T&D World Live podcast producer Christina Marsh sits down with Nate Ernst, president of the Tactian Group, to explore how unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are reshaping electric utility operations. They discuss the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule and how it will affect utility UAS operations. Part 108 would enable drones to cover longer distances and carry out more complex tasks, but it will also require more robust safety management systems and multi-person flight operations.

As extreme weather becomes more frequent and global supply chains remain unpredictable, electric utilities are under growing pressure to strengthen the resilience of their distribution networks. In this episode of T&D World Live, Ken Woo, President of Marmon Utility, shares a global perspective on two of the most urgent challenges facing utility providers: climate disruption and supply chain volatility.

With decades of leadership in the power infrastructure space, Ken offers insight into how manufacturers and solution partners are evolving to meet the dynamic needs of utilities responsible for delivering safe, reliable electricity to communities. The conversation focuses on the role of strategic design, regional readiness, and responsive sourcing in supporting utilities as they prepare for a future of greater unpredictability and demand.

This episode offers a comprehensive look at how collaboration across the supply chain is helping utilities build more resilient systems—designed for today’s volatility and tomorrow’s growth.

In this episode we speak with Dave Elve, Executive Consultant for VASS Solutions and a member of the T&D World Live Advisory Board, about the critical themes shaping this year’s sessions and why the live format is essential for sharing lessons learned. Key issues slated for the conference include the surge in electric demand from EV adoption and AI, the transition to AMI 2.0 networks, and the promise of grid-edge applications that can run multiple apps on smart meters, enabling functions like EV charging optimization and wildfire risk mitigation.

In this episode of the T&D World Live podcast, we speak with Wayne Bishop, Vice President of Industry Outreach and Strategy at Quanta Technology, about his career and the topics he’ll be addressing at the upcoming T&D World Live conference. Bishop previews his session, “Utility Executive Perspectives on Resilience Plans for Extreme Weather Conditions,” which will feature experts Howard Gugel from NERC and Brian Chen from Southern California Edison. The panel will explore how utilities are tackling grid hardening, reliability, and customer demands amid a backdrop of aging infrastructure and climate-driven events.

In this episode of the T&D World Podcast, Exelon CEO Calvin Butler sits down to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the utility industry as demand surges, technology evolves, and customer expectations shift.