The Energy Authority

Tomorrow, TEA is headed to Hot Springs, Virginia, for the 2026 ElectriCities of NC Annual Conference! Our Director of Corporate Analytics, Greg Labbe, and Portfolio Manager, Chris Kralich, will take the stage on Tuesday, August 18, for a session titled “Power Supply Outlook: What’s Changing and What’s Next.” Greg and Chris will share their perspectives on the evolving power supply landscape, the forces driving change across the industry, and what utilities should consider as they plan for what’s ahead. If you’re attending the conference, be sure to catch their session. We’re looking forward to connecting with our public power partners and being part of the conversations that are helping strengthen the public power community in the Carolinas and beyond. #ECAC26

Welcome to the TEAm, Amber Ward! Amber joins us as a Settlement Analyst in our Jacksonville office. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of North Florida, where she served as the Vice President of the UNF Economics Society. Fun Fact: Growing up, Amber was a ballerina, and her love of dance has led her to serve on The Florida Ballet's Board of Directors. It’s time to raise the barre! Find an open position, and make your move: https://lnkd.in/emjAqVuv #TEA #Hiring #Opportunity #EnergyIndustry

Welcome to the TEAm, Jordan Gregory! Jordan joins us as a Business Analyst in our Jacksonville office. She earned a master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of North Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Florida. Fun Fact: Jordan spent eight months in Vienna, often nicknamed the “Paris of Eastern Europe.” She found it to be a far more enjoyable experience than Paris itself. You don’t have to travel far to find your next career stop. Explore our open positions here: https://lnkd.in/eWMXWq3i #TEA #Hiring #Opportunity #EnergyIndustry

A renewable energy nerd and a resource adequacy worrywart walk into a room... It sounds like the start of a joke, but it turned into one of the most thought-provoking conversations at the 2026 TEA West Summit. Greg Labbe, Director, Corporate Analytics, TEA, and Alex Wong, Portfolio Manager, Renewables Lead, TEA, explored the intersection of long-term resource planning and the operational realities utilities face every day. From evolving resource adequacy frameworks and accreditation methodologies to load forecasting, emerging technologies, flexible load, and changing customer behavior, the session highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities of planning for an increasingly dynamic energy future. One of the biggest takeaways? Successful resource planning isn't just about building the right models - it's about understanding how market realities, policy, and operations influence what's actually achievable. While Alex brought an optimistic perspective on the industry's ability to adapt and innovate, Greg emphasized that planning for the extreme isn't such extreme thinking anymore - a reminder that today's planners must prepare for scenarios that once seemed unlikely. Despite approaching the discussion from different perspectives, Greg and Alex agreed on one thing: people are incredible problem solvers. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, so will the industry - adapting, innovating, and finding new ways to meet tomorrow's challenges. Thank you, Greg and Alex, for an engaging discussion that demonstrated why the best solutions come from bringing different perspectives to the table. #TEAWestSummit2026 

Day 2 of the 2026 TEA West Summit kicked off "seam"lessly with a discussion on one of the most important topics shaping the future of Western power markets. In "Bridging the Markets: Navigating the Seams Landscape," moderator Laura Trolese, Director, Western Markets & Strategy, TEA, led a panel featuring: • Casey Cadle, Director, Seams Strategy, SPP • Dan Williams, Principal Advisor, Western Markets, TEA As EDAM, Markets+, and SPP's RTO Expansion continue to reshape the West, the conversation focused on how the seams between markets can influence efficiency, liquidity, reliability, and trading opportunities. Laura captured the importance of the discussion perfectly: "Seams can help or hurt—which is why it's so important to get them right." Casey Cadle emphasized that the evolving seams landscape presents an opportunity for market participants to work together to strengthen reliability across the Western Interconnection. Dan Williams highlighted that while progress is being made, CAISO and SPP aren't necessarily speaking the same language yet. As new market structures continue to evolve, there is still important work ahead to improve coordination, communication, and interoperability across the seams. Thank you to Laura, Casey, and Dan for an insightful discussion on one of the most critical aspects of the West's evolving market landscape. #TEAWestSummit2026

We wrapped up Day 1 of the 2026 TEA West Summit with a timely discussion on one of the biggest transformations happening across the Western energy landscape. In "From Planning to Production: Early Experiences with EDAM and RTO Expansion," moderator Tyler Wolford, PMP, Director of Client Services – Midcontinent at TEA, led a panel featuring: • Rachel Stanford, Managing Director, Transmission & Operations, UAMPS • Jonathan Aust, Senior Vice President & Chief Energy Resource Officer, United Power, Inc. • Todd O'Keefe, Executive Director, Trading – West, TEA The conversation explored firsthand experiences with the launch of California ISO's Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) and Southwest Power Pool's RTO Expansion (RTOE), covering everything from onboarding and go-live challenges to early operational results and lessons learned. One takeaway that resonated with many attendees came from Jon Aust, who shared United Power's current philosophy: "Time in the market, not timing the market." As utilities settle into these new market structures, he emphasized the importance of patience, allowing time to learn, adapt, and build confidence rather than expecting immediate optimization. Thank you to Tyler, Rachel, Jon, and Todd for sharing your expertise and helping move the conversation forward. We'll be back tomorrow with more highlights, insights, and key takeaways from the 2026 TEA West Summit. #TEAWestSummit2026

How do you kick off a conversation about the future of energy markets? With a game of Over/Under! At today's TEA West Summit, Tim Belden, Principal at Energy GPS LLC, challenged attendees to predict when major energy milestones might become reality. The interactive exercise was a fun way to illustrate an important point: forecasting the future isn't about predicting a single outcome - it's about understanding the signals, trends, and uncertainties shaping what's ahead. Tim's session, "Trends, Signals, and What Comes Next," explored the current state of the market and the forces influencing energy, capacity, carbon, and related commodities while highlighting the emerging risks and opportunities utilities should be watching. Thank you, Tim, for helping us look beyond today's headlines and think critically about what comes next. #TEAWestSummit2026

Our 2026 TEA West Summit is off to a great start. The opening session featured an update from Joanie Teofilo, TEA's President & CEO; Jamie Mahne, VP of Client Services and Chief Client Officer; and Joshua West, VP of Energy Trading and Chief Commercial Officer. Together, they highlighted TEA's continued growth, expanding services, entry into new markets, and the ways we're evolving to help public power utilities navigate an increasingly dynamic energy landscape. One of the most impactful moments came when Jeff Grizzel, Senior VP, Power & Market Operations at Grant County Public Utility District, shared why Grant PUD joined TEA as a Member earlier this year. Reflecting on their decision, he said it was "really a no-brainer," explaining that the investment required to internally build the capabilities, expertise, and market access TEA already provides made becoming a Member the clear choice.   We're grateful for Grant PUD's partnership and for the trust our Members and Partners place in us. Together, we're building a stronger future for public power. #TEAWestSummit2026

The 2026 TEA West Summit is officially underway! We're excited to welcome public power leaders from across the West to beautiful Alderbrook Resort & Spa for two days of meaningful conversations, fresh perspectives, and valuable insights. From market trends to industry challenges and opportunities, we're looking forward to learning, collaborating, and strengthening the partnerships that move public power forward. Stay tuned for highlights and key takeaways from our guest speaker sessions. #TEAWestSummit2026