With dozens of sessions and over 100 session speakers, it’s difficult to write a concise set of take-aways from an event as rich as GridFWD 2026. As one of our several efforts to share what the attendees learned, we asked our consultant Corey Balgeman of Grid Flexibility to use AI to analyze transcriptions of our session recordings and write what it considered the top themes from the event. People interested in absorbing the “Reprioritizing Affordability” lessons from GridFWD 2026 will find this helpful, especially when considered alongside the several articles authored by attendees at the event.
The AI analysis produced five next steps as especially important for guiding how to use grid modernization initiatives to help reduce energy price pressures and enhance affordability for energy users.
- Settle who pays for a large load’s grid upgrades before interconnection, as Utah has in law.
- Look for capacity on the existing grid first. E.ON estimates live data would free 350 MW across its own territory.
- Judge spending by benefit per dollar. PG&E’s screening cut 2,000 flagged towers to 291.
- Change what earns a utility a return. Steel still earns four times the return of software.
- Get help to customers who qualify. In Connecticut, 31% are eligible and 17% are enrolled.
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