While electric utilities and consumers will be cruising comfortably in the middle and distant future with new transmission, new generation, AI management, DER and new technologies, particularly nuclear, in the form of small modular reactors and maturing fusion, their immediate future is a road filled with potholes.

This promises to be a year when the utilities will be stressed as never before with rising demand, worsening weather, and no quick fixes. It will be yet another year for utilities to tighten their seatbelts and make do with what they have.

Consider:

To examine these challenges, the United States Energy Association will hold its first of the year virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. EST.

As usual, a panel of senior reporters who cover energy for national and trade outlets will question a panel of experts. Reporters will have a story they can write that day and information they can bank for future use.

Also as usual, the briefing on Zoom is open to the press and the public — and some questions from the public will be taken via the chat function.

Journalist Llewellyn King has organized and will moderate the briefing. Mark Menezes, USEA President and CEO, will be on hand to welcome participants, review the mission of the USEA, and lend his expertise as a former deputy secretary of energy to the discussion.

Participation is free but registration is required.

The Experts:

The Reporters: