The Grid at a Turning Point: Recapping IEEE PES T&D 2026

In this episode, T&D World Editorial Director Nikki Chandler and Head of Content Amy Fischbach recap their experience at the 2026 IEEE PES T&D Conference and Exposition in Chicago, one of the largest events in the global power and utility industry. The discussion centers on several major themes that dominated the conference, including affordability, resiliency, reliability, and grid modernization. The conversation also focuses heavily on the growing electricity demand driven by AI and hyperscale data centers, and how utilities are preparing for what many executives described as the largest grid expansion cycle in decades.