IEEE PES T&D CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION GOES BIG IN THE BIG D!

Over the course of four days, more than 855 exhibiting companies and 13,500 attendees from 73 different countries convened in Dallas for the May 2016 IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference & Exposition—the biggest and most collaborative trade show in the electric power industry.

The “Go Big” conference theme certainly held true in every aspect, from the venue to the conference line-up. The brightest minds in the field of electric power came together to discuss critical industry issues, showcase new technologies and collaborate with counterparts from around the world. The Conference included over 100 technical sessions, offering immediate access to industry experts through super sessions, panel discussions, and more.

The first day offered ten well-attended tutorials. Topics included energy storage, smart inverters, communications technology for protection systems, and distribution automation/management systems to name a few. Attendees could also take one of three technical tours offered that day, to Oncor’s Technology Demonstration & Education Center, Sabre Industries’ Transmission Structure Testing, Manufacturing and Hot-Dip Galvanizing facilities and Oncor’s static var compensator.

The Conference officially kicked off at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, with an appearance by legendary Hall of Fame NFL player Emmitt Smith. Guests were welcomed to the stadium by a live drumline and the world-famous Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, along with games, food and drinks. Attendees were able to play on the field and mingle with their peers, see themselves on the 72-ft. tall video screen and tour the locker rooms during the largest opening reception to date.

Tuesday’s Opening Session welcomed Emmitt Smith to the stage, where he spoke with Oncor CEO Bob Shapard about football, inspiring teams with relentless drive, and delivering optimal performances in the biggest moments. Following the session, the exhibits opened for attendees to view while enjoying the Conference Lunch. Technical sessions and a Super session rounded out the day.

Wednesday’s panel sessions included engaging talks focused on building and optimizing a smarter, safer and more secure power grid ready to meet the needs of the 21^st century energy consumer. Wednesday’s itinerary also included a Women in Engineering Roundtable discussion, Poster Session and Reception featuring over 275 papers, additional technical tours and exhibitor-presented info sessions, all capped off with a lively Conference Networking Reception in the exhibit halls.

A new addition to the show was Thursday’s CEO Roundtable discussion on balancing markets and reliability with CEOs from Quanta Technology, PJM Interconnection and ISO New England, along with executive leadership from French RTE and ComEd.

Throughout the course of the conference, attendees had access to 855 exhibitors spread across 250,000 sq. ft. in the Exhibit Hall. Exhibitors displayed the latest products and emerging technologies, discussed real-world applications and provided hands-on demonstrations.

A few highlights from the post-show survey include:

• Attendees spent an average of 9.7 hours in the exhibit hall spread over 3 show days.
• 74% of the total respondents were interested in and plan to buy at least one of the products/services exhibited.
• 65% of the total respondents are considering doing business with new exhibitors as a direct result of attending the exposition.
• 41% of the total respondents were first time attendees.
• 85% of exhibitors said they would recommend the show to colleagues and friends.

In all, the 2016 IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference & Exposition was an resounding success and the Conference’s biggest showing yet—until 2018, that is. The next Conference will be held on April 16-19, 2018 at the Denver Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. It’s an incredible opportunity to glimpse into the window of our industry’s future and interact with its brightest minds. More details on the next show will soon be available at www.ieeet-d.org.

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