Focuses on AI, virtual power plants and smarter demand management for a more reliable and adaptable grid

Today CLEAResult, North America’s largest energy efficiency, energy transition and energy sustainability services provider, is convening industry leaders for its annual CLEAResult Energy Forum (CREF), an invite-only, three-day event designed to confront one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the growing imbalance between energy supply and demand.

Hosted in Chicago this year, the Energy Forum brings together key members of the utilities industry to discuss how emerging technologies — from AI to virtual power plants — can strengthen grid resilience and support equitable energy access across North America.

“We designed our Energy Forum to bring together the best minds in the industry and seize this opportunity to share diverse perspectives on adaptability and scalable solutions,” said CLEAResult President and CEO, Rich McBee. “As utilities face mounting pressure to modernize grid infrastructure while keeping rates affordable, the stakes have never been higher.”

Centered on the theme of Adaptability, Energy Forum 2025 addresses mounting energy challenges, including a projected fivefold surge in power demand fueled by AI data centers, widespread electrification and mounting affordability concerns. CLEAResult is helping utilities turn grid challenges into opportunities for innovation and resilience by integrating smarter demand management, virtual power plants and adaptable program design.

“We’re doubling down on our commitment to lead with clarity, collaboration and sustained action,” McBee added.

These approaches represent the new face of demand-side innovation, reducing strain on infrastructure, lowering costs for ratepayers and enabling utilities to meet decarbonization goals without comprising reliability.

The Energy Forum features keynote speaker Amy Myers Jaffe, a leading expert in energy policy and sustainability at New York University, who will examine how emerging technologies, regulatory shifts and economic realities are influencing the future of energy. In addition to Jaffe’s address, CLEAResult experts are leading several sessions showcasing innovation in action:

• “Exploring Opportunities for AI in Energy Planning and Program Operations” - Nicolaas van Goor, CLEAResult’s Senior AI Enablement Director, explores how artificial intelligence can optimize grid reliability, streamline program design and enhance customer engagement. The session builds on former Microsoft AI co-founder Sean Alexander’s keynote, that translates high-level ideas on AI’s growing influence into actionable strategies for utilities. The panel demonstrates how utilities can move from automation to intelligent decision-making using CLEAResult’s next-generation data platforms.

• “The New Value of DSM: Aligning Programs with Grid Needs and Utility Strategy” - A panel of CLEAResult subject matter experts shares lessons from field-tested demand-side management (DSM) programs that balance affordability with flexibility. The session highlights how program evolution is critical to addressing today’s affordability paradox — the growing tension between the urgent need to modernize the grid and the expectation to keep customer rates economical.

• “New Technologies for Grid Flexibility” - The session focuses on how new technologies strengthen grid resilience and create economic value for utilities and customers alike. Peter Yeh, CLEAResult’s Senior Energy Transition Consulting Manager, and Varun Thakkar, CLEAResult’s Senior Energy Transition Consultant, present real-world applications for managed charging, virtual power plants and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).

These sessions complement CLEAResult’s Technology & Innovation track, which includes the debut of the CLEAResult ATLAS™ Experience Center — an immersive environment where attendees experience live demonstrations of our market-leading workflow automations designed to transform demand-side management program delivery across North America.

The latest CLEAResult ATLAS™ modules, when combined with our existing capabilities, augment and enhance program delivery, including Strategic Energy Management (SEM) programs, while also enabling the delivery of new program offerings in the commercial and industrial (C&I) and residential markets including:

• C&I Auto Demand Response (ADR)
• C&I Direct Load Control programs
• An integrated EV services portfolio

CLEAResult’s mission — to change the way people use energy — remains central to its work in building a carbon-neutral, equitable energy future for communities across North America. Through the Energy Forum and beyond, CLEAResult is strengthening its role as a trusted voice in the energy transition, elevating awareness, inspiring collaboration and accelerating scalable solutions for a more adaptable and resilient energy ecosystem.

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About CLEAResult

CLEAResult is the largest provider of energy efficiency, energy transition and energy sustainability services in North America. Since 2003, our mission has been to change the way people use energy. Today, our experts lead the transition to a sustainable, equitable and carbon-neutral future for our communities and our planet. Our hometown teams collaborate with a diverse network of local partners to deliver world-class technology and personalized services that make it easy for commercial and industrial businesses, governments, utilities and residential customers to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. CLEAResult is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has over 2,700 employees in more than 60 cities across the U.S. and Canada. CLEAResult is majority owned by leading U.S. middle market private equity firm Kohlberg & Company. Explore all our energy solutions at clearesult.com.

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