Greentech Media announces the return of its highly successful utility data analytics and software conference, The Soft Grid 2013. The conference will examine the issues and challenges that face utilities, energy providers, hardware and software vendors, and consumers as data generation, collection, analysis, and application have become part of everyday operations. This two-day conference will take place at host utility Pacific Gas & Electric’s headquarters in San Francisco, CA on October 1-2, 2013.

The Soft Grid will address unique issues encountered with complex analytics and cloud services, and how they are transforming generation, distribution and consumption of electric power. It will feature case studies from utilities including Tennessee Valley Authority and Duke Energy, and a keynote address from Alourdes Sully, Chair at Utilities Telecom Council Canada (UTCC) and Senior Technical Specialist at Hydro One. Panel discussions will examine grid optimization, customer engagement, real-world soft grid application implementation, and the analytic insight into AMI, DG and EV programs.

“The foundation of grid modernization has been focused on physical assets and communications networks, but software, analytics and applications will ultimately unlock the value from next-generation electric grids," said Rick Thompson, President and co-founder of Greentech Media. "As the industry moves ahead, we strive to cover the most forward-looking topics and feel strongly that the soft grid is squarely where future grid innovation will occur.”

Participating organizations include: SMUD, MachineShop, PayGo, EnerNex, SDG&E, Greenstart, AutoGrid, Sempra, EMC, Arizona Public Service, and more. To view the full agenda, please go to: http://www.greentechmedia.com/events/live/the-soft-grid-2013/agenda/.

Registration for The Soft Grid 2013 is now open. To register, please go to: http://www.cvent.com/d/pcq5g0/4W

GTM Research, the market analysis arm of Greentech Media, assessed the utility analytics market in its 2012 report The Soft Grid 2012–2020: Big Data & Utility Analytics for Smart Grid. The GTM Research team has updated the report with a complimentary executive summary, available for download at GTM Research Market Update: The Soft Grid in 2013.

Opportunities to participate in the conference are still available. For more information on speaking, sponsoring, and partnering, or for inquiries regarding conference registration, please contact [email protected].