Turning Knowledge into Solutions for Affordable Energy

 

About the Summit

The District of Columbia Energy Action Summit, hosted by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, is a two-day event dedicated to addressing rising energy costs, advancing conservation strategies, and expanding access to consumer assistance programs.

Navigating energy costs requires a balanced, collaborative approach. The Energy Action Summit bridges the gap between high-level policy and direct community impact, bringing together utility companies, regulators, consumer advocates, and local policymakers to discuss current challenges and innovative solutions. District residents, small businesses, and community stakeholders will walk away with clear, actionable information and have direct access to assistance programs.

The Energy Action Summit will provide the tools, insights, and connections to help build a more affordable and sustainable energy future for all.

Registration

Secure your spot! Whether you are an industry leader shaping the future of the energy grid, or a District resident looking for practical ways to lower your monthly bills, plan to attend the Energy Action Summit. Note that separate FREE registration is required for each day of the summit.

 

Speakers

Confirmed moderators, panelists, and speakers for Day 1 of the summit include:

Vanessa Bertelli Co-Founder and Director Electrify DC	Muriel Bowser Mayor District of Columbia	Benjamin Burdick Managing Director DC Sustainable Energy Utility	H.G. Chissell CEO Advanced Energy Group	Brandi Colander CEO DC Green Bank	Laurence Daniels Director of Litigation Office of the People’s Counsel
Colleen Green Director DC Department of Housing and Community Development	Earle "Chico" Horton Partner Tiber Hudson LLC	Clint Jackson Data Center Real Estate Developer Amazon Web Services	Valencia McClure Senior Vice President, Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs Exelon	Charles Satterfield Deputy Director for Utility Affordability DC Department of Energy & Environment	Maia Shanklin Roberts Vice President, Real Estate Development, Mid-Atlantic Preservation of Affordable Housing
Jordan Taylor CEO SynergyGrid	Emile C. Thompson Chairman Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia	Ted Trabue Commissioner Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia	Rachelle Whitacre Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs Washington Gas	Kirsten Williams Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President DC Water

Agenda

DAY ONE: Energy Industry and Stakeholder Engagement

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Registration and networking
9:00 am — 9:45 am

Welcome and opening remarks
9:45 am — 10:00 am

• Emile C. Thompson, Chairman, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia

Panel 1: Balancing Affordability and Sustainability: A Collaborative Approach to Housing in DC: Exploring how the District can maintain affordable housing options while aggressively advancing clean energy and environmental sustainability goals.
10:00 am — 11:00 am

• Laurence Daniels, Director of Litigation, Office of the People’s Counsel (Moderator)
• Vanessa Bertelli, Co-Founder and Director, Electrify DC
• Colleen Green, Director, DC Department of Housing and Community Development

PowerTALK 1: Invisible Giants: Data Centers, Hyperscalers, and the True Cost of the Cloud: An inside look at the massive energy demands of modern data infrastructure and the strategies needed to ensure sustainable, resilient growth.
11:00 am — 11:15 am

• Clint Jackson, Data Center Real Estate Developer, Amazon Web Services

Networking break
11:15 am — 11:25 am

Panel 2: Power, Preservation, and People: Balancing Affordability and Access in DC: A critical conversation on the intersection of historic preservation, environmental mandates, and keeping the District affordable for all residents.
11:25 am — 12:25 pm

• Benjamin Burdick, Managing Director, DC Sustainable Energy Utility (Moderator)
• Brandi Colander, CEO, DC Green Bank
• Earle "Chico" Horton, Partner, Tiber Hudson LLC
• Charles Satterfield, Deputy Director for Utility Affordability, DC Department of Energy & Environment
• Maia Shanklin Roberts,Vice President, Real Estate Development, Mid-Atlantic, Preservation of Affordable Housing

Lunch and networking
12:25 pm — 1:00 pm

Remarks
1:00 pm — 1:15 pm

• Muriel Bowser, Mayor, District of Columbia

PowerTalk 2: Community Power in Action: Reimagining Energy Governance at Barry Farm: Highlighting community-driven energy solutions and equitable governance models through the lens of the Barry Farm Redevelopment project.
1:15 pm — 1:30 pm

• Jordan Taylor, CEO, SynergyGrid

Networking break
1:30 pm — 1:40 pm

Panel 3: The Role of the Utility Companies in Affordability: A direct conversation with local utility leaders on their active programs, strategic planning, and foundational responsibilities in keeping energy costs manageable for consumers.
1:40 pm — 2:40 pm

• H.G. Chissell, CEO, Advanced Energy Group (Moderator)
• Valencia McClure, Senior Vice President, Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs, Exelon
• Rachelle Whitacre, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Washington Gas
• Kirsten Williams, Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President, DC Water

Closing remarks
2:40 pm — 2:50 pm

•  Ted Trabue, Commissioner, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia

 

DAY TWO: Community Outreach and Engagement

Friday, May 29, 2026

Utility and Agency Resources: Get direct information on bill assistance, payment programs, and weatherization referrals from local organizations.

Interactive Activities: Enjoy vendor exhibits and kids activities all evening.

 

Special accommodation and interpretation services

Any person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing, who cannot readily understand or communicate in spoken English, or persons with disabilities who need special accommodations to participate in either day of this summit, should email [email protected] or call (202) 626-5150 by May 15, 2026.