East (North America) Summit 2026
Vertical AI, Digitalization, and the Future of Utilities
The WE3 East (North America) Summit 2026 brings the region’s energy and utility leadership together in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Duke Energy headquarters.
Presented by SEW.AI and hosted by Duke Energy, this invite-only leadership forum is designed for senior utility executives, industry innovators, and technology leaders across the U.S. East Coast. The summit focuses on practical dialogue, peer exchange, and collaboration around the priorities shaping the future of energy and water in the region.
Building on the strong engagement and outcomes of the 2025 edition, WE3 East 2026 continues to serve as a trusted platform for leaders driving real progress across the utility ecosystem.
- Be at the epicenter of energy and utilities transformation alongside Duke Energy and regional utilities
- Engage in bold, regionally grounded conversations that shape strategy and innovation
- Experience future-ready technologies through immersive showcases and solution tracks
- Contribute to shaping policy, partnership, and progress across the utility value chain
- Learn from the regional success stories and journeys that are shaping partnerships and progress in a connected, AI-powered future
2 Days of Immersive Learning & Networking
30 +
Sessions
50 +
Utilities
150 +
Executives
Register for WE3 East 2026
May 12 - 13, 2026
Duke Energy Headquarters - 525 S Tryon St, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28202, US
AI TransformationKey Themes of Discussion
- Scaling AI Innovation for Impact
- The Rise of Vertical AI
- Connected Experience Platforms
- Grid & Infrastructure Modernization
- Next-Gen AI Customer Experiences
- Connecting eMobility & Utilities
- Digital Trust & Security in a Connected Utility World
- Smart Water Management: AI-Enabled Efficiency
- The Future Workforce: Skills, Roles & AI Integration
- Leading Change: Innovation, Leadership & Culture
- Building Resilience in an Uncertain World
- Future-Proofing Utility Business Models
Event Schedule
7:00 PM
Pre-Event Kick Off Reception
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Opening Address – The Age of People + AI: Utilities at the Center of Global Transformation
People + AI represents the idea that the best outcomes come from collaboration between human expertise and artificial intelligence. In this opening keynote, Deepak Garg and Michael O’Donnell will explore how the convergence of People + AI is reshaping the energy and utilities industry. They will share perspectives on how human expertise combined with AI-driven intelligence is enabling utilities to build resilient infrastructure, accelerate digital transformation, and deliver smarter services to communities worldwide.
Deepak Garg
Michael O'Donnell
9:00 AM- 9:20 AM
Executive Keynote – Energy’s Next Decade: Grid Load Growth, Electrification & AI Demand
As electrification accelerates and artificial intelligence drives unprecedented data and compute demand, utilities are entering a decade of rapid grid load growth and infrastructure transformation. This executive keynote will explore how energy providers must prepare for rising electricity demand, modernize grid capacity, and leverage digital intelligence to ensure reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy systems for the future.
9:25 AM- 9:45 AM
Keynote- One Utility, One Platform – Breaking Organizational Silos
An exclusive keynote where an industry thought leader will explore the challenges posed by legacy system silos that hinder efficiency and visibility across utilities. This session will explore the vision of One Utility, One Platform - a fully integrated, vertical AI-powered platform that unifies customer data, field workforce operations, and grid management into a single 360° view. Attendees will learn how this approach drives smarter decision-making, streamlines operations, and delivers a seamless experience for both employees and customers.
9:50 AM – 10:30 AM
Panel Session – Grid Load Growth Meets Vertical AI: Can Energy Keep Up?
As electrification accelerates and energy demand grows, utilities face unprecedented pressure on grid capacity and operations. This panel session, Grid Load Growth Meets Vertical AI: Can Energy Keep Up?, will bring together industry experts to discuss how vertical AI can help utilities predict, manage, and optimize grid load, enhance operational resilience, and ensure reliable, sustainable energy delivery in a rapidly evolving landscape.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Power Break – Conversations & Connections
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
CEO Panel – The New Energy + Water Mandate: Growth, Affordability & Trust
CEOs from leading utilities across North America will join this panel session to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: delivering reliable energy and water while keeping costs affordable for customers. They will explore strategies to manage infrastructure growth, optimize operations, and leverage innovation and AI to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and build trust - ensuring reliable, equitable, and cost-effective services for communities across the region.
11:35 AM – 12:05 PM
Fireside Conversation – Energy Affordability, People Experience & Data Platforms
This fireside conversation will explore how utilities can address rising energy costs while enhancing customer and workforce experiences through vertical AI-powered connected experience platforms. Leaders will discuss how integrated customer experience and workforce platforms enable smarter decision-making, optimize grid and field operations, and deliver cost-effective, reliable, and personalized energy and water services in an increasingly complex landscape.
12:05 PM – 12:15 PM
Partner Spotlight – Building Trusted Digital Platforms for the Modern Utility
In this Partner Spotlight, a leading solution provider will showcase how utilities can build trusted digital platforms for the modern utility. The 15 min conversation will highlight how AI-powered, integrated platforms break down silos, unify operations, and enhance both customer and workforce experiences - enabling reliable, cost-effective, and future-ready energy and water services.
12:20 PM – 12:30 PM
Partner Spotlight – The Next Utility KPI: Customer Trust
A 15 min partner spotlight where a leading solution provider will explore how customer trust is becoming the next key performance indicator for utilities. The session will showcase how AI-driven platforms and data insights help utilities enhance transparency, improve customer experiences, and deliver reliable, cost-effective energy and water services that strengthen long-term trust and engagement.
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Executive Lunch & Future Exchange
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Real AI vs Hype AI – Why Vertical AI Will Define Energy & Utilities’ Future
This session will cut through the noise of AI hype to explore the transformative potential of Vertical AI in energy and utilities. Experts will discuss how industry-specific AI - not generic solutions - can deliver real value by optimizing grid operations, predictive maintenance, and workforce efficiency, helping utilities separate marketing buzz from actionable intelligence that drives measurable results.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
People + Platforms – Reinventing Utility Marketing, Communications & Customer Outreach
What does success look like after implementing a digital CX platform? Leading utilities are showing that technology alone isn’t enough - by combining AI-driven insights with strategic marketing, communications, and targeted outreach, they are connecting with millions of users and consistently garnering five-star customer ratings. This session will highlight real-world examples of how utilities turn digital platforms into personalized, engaging experiences that build trust, improve satisfaction, and strengthen long-term customer relationships.
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Utilities Voices – Innovation Stories from the North America East Coast
This 30-minute session will highlight innovation stories from North American utilities, showcasing how organizations on the East Coast are successfully leveraging digitalization to transform operations, customer engagement, and workforce efficiency. Attendees will hear real-world case studies illustrating practical applications of AI, CX platforms, and integrated digital solutions, offering actionable insights on driving measurable impact and modernizing utility operations in a complex and rapidly evolving energy landscape.
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Power Break – Conversations & Connections
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Workforce + Grid + Customer Intelligence – Operating as One Connected Utility
In this panel session, utility leaders will discuss the evolving role of connected intelligent platforms in integrating workforce, grid, and customer intelligence. The conversation will focus on how these integrated systems enable smarter coordination of field operations, more informed energy delivery, and better understanding of residential, commercial, and enterprise customer needs.
4:20 PM – 4:40 PM
Payment Experience (PX): Driving Revenue Assurance, Trust & Customer Satisfaction
This session will explore how utilities can enhance the payment experience (PX) to drive revenue assurance, strengthen customer trust, and improve overall satisfaction. Leaders will discuss strategies for seamless billing, flexible payment options, and real-time insights that help utilities engage residential, commercial, and enterprise customers more effectively while ensuring accuracy, transparency, and confidence in every transaction.
4:40 PM - 5:00 PM
From Grid Edge to Customer Edge: Unlocking Value from eMobility & DER Integration
This session will explore how utilities can unlock value by connecting the grid edge to the customer edge through eMobility and distributed energy resources (DER) integration. Leaders will discuss strategies for managing distributed generation, electric vehicle charging, and flexible loads, highlighting how coordinated operations can optimize energy usage, improve reliability, and create new opportunities for customer engagement and grid efficiency.
5:00 PM
Closing Ceremony
THOUGHT LEADERSSpotlight on Leadership
-
Deepak GargChairman/Founder/Co-CEOSEW.AI
-
Brian BentzPresident and CEOAlectra Utilities
-
Raied StanleyVP & CIOSouthwest Gas Corporation
-
Paul LauChief Executive OfficerSMUD
-
Julia ZhuChief Digital & Innovation OfficerAlectra Utilities
-
Thomas ArrudaChief Information OfficerDominion Energy
-
Ben GordonChief Information OfficerSDGE
-
Michael O'DonnellCo-CEOSEW.AI
-
Gibs Saint PaulDirector - Customer ModernizationSalt River Project
-
Retha HunsickerFormer Senior Vice PresidentDuke Energy
-
Jody AllisonVice President - Customer Transformation, Xcel Energy Xcel Energy
-
Brandy BoldenChief Customer OfficerSMUD
VENUE
Duke Energy Headquarters
525 S Tryon St, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28202, US
12 - 13 May, 2026
WE3 East
(North America)
Summit 2026
Iconic Moments From WE3 2025
WE3 East Recap 2025
Last April in Richmond, Virginia, WE3 East (North America) 2025 brought together utility leaders from organizations including Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Georgia Power, DTE, Alliant Energy, and Liberty, spotlighting how Vertical AI and connected platforms are driving real transformation.
Looking ahead to WE3 East (North America) Summit 2026, the focus shifts to deeper execution, enterprise-wide adoption, and peer-led collaboration as utilities scale what works.
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Where People and AI Unite to Transform Energy, Water, and the World
WE3 isn’t just a summit — it’s a global movement turning strategy into action across utilities and beyond. For over five years, WE3 has brought together utility CEOs, policymakers, technologists, and forward-thinkers — all united by a single mantra: Engage. Educate. Empower.
This is where human leadership meets intelligent systems.Where big challenges find real solutions.And where the future of energy and water is built — together.
WE3 is the only global event that brings together energy and utility leaders with AI experts to solve real problems — together. It’s not about buzzwords or big speeches. It’s about sharing ideas, learning from each other, and finding practical ways to use AI and human insight to improve how energy and water reach communities. If you want to be part of a community that’s making change happen — not just talking about it — WE3 is where you need to be.
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