DTECH 2026, presented by Itron, brought together nearly 20,000 utility and energy industry leaders in San Diego, CA for three central purposes: to connect, collaborate and innovate. The conversations and presentations throughout the week were a reminder of how quickly the energy landscape is evolving, and that there has never been a more exciting time to be in this industry. Here’s a brief recap of the highlights and key themes shaping the path forward that we saw at the show.  

Inside the DTECH 2026 Keynote: The Role of Data, AI and People in Grid Transformation 

Itron president and CEO, Tom Deitrich, set the stage for the opening keynote. He emphasized the critical role of trustworthy data, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence across every layer of operations. Above all, he recognized the irreplaceable role of the people who make modernization and restoration of essential infrastructure possible.  

Tom noted that meaningful transformation doesn’t always require a complete overhaul of current systems. Instead, it often comes from thoughtfully expanding existing infrastructure, applying technology designed to evolve with changing needs and building momentum through incremental insights and decisions.  

He closed his opening remarks with optimism about the grid’s future, pointing to advancements in data, visibility, edge control and the dedication of people across the industry. This transition, he emphasized, is unfolding gradually and responsibly through partnerships and purposeful technology deployment. 

Tom then led individual conversations with three industry leaders, starting with Scott Crider, president of San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). Crider outlined the key areas where SDG&E is prioritizing investment and innovation to meet customer needs today and well into the future. Given California’s extreme wildfire risk, he highlighted the utility’s use of AI to mitigate risk and keep communities safe.  

Next, Mike Delaney, vice president of strategy and innovation at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), joined Tom on stage to highlight the role of AMI 2.0 and grid edge intelligence in helping customers electrify more quickly and affordably, in collaboration with Itron. He emphasized how these technologies also provide real-time grid awareness, supporting efforts to mitigate potential wildfires and other safety risks.  

Finally, Richard Donaldson, senior vice president and chief information officer at Duke Energy, joined Tom to discuss the utility’s investments in AMI 2.0 and intelligent devices to enhance real-time data visibility. He stressed the importance of visibility and control at the grid edge and shared his optimism about the future of the industry. 

  
Collaborating to Tackle Grid Complexity: Key Takeaways from Itron’s Partner and Customer Sessions 

Throughout the week, Itron joined customers, including Duquesne Light Company, Xcel Energy, Eversource Energy, Austin Energy, Tampa Electric Company, Pacific Gas & Electric Company and others, on multiple stages to highlight the real-world progress that edge intelligence and related technologies are enabling every day. These conversations demonstrated how utilities and technology providers are working together to modernize infrastructure, unlock new value from data and enhance resilience, reliability and customer experience. 

Across panels and presentations, several themes emerged: a shared commitment to using data more intelligently, a growing need for grid visibility and intelligent distributed energy resource (DER) integration and an industry-wide focus on collaboration to address increasingly complex challenges. From wildfire mitigation and distributed energy management to broader modernization strategies, each discussion reinforced the momentum underway and the essential role of partnership in driving it forward.

 
Showcasing What’s Possible at the Grid Edge in the Itron Booth 

The Itron booth was a hub of activity throughout the week, drawing customers, partners and industry peers into hand-on demos and meaningful conversations. The Itron Experience once again proved to be a standout. This 15-minute interactive session gave attendees an immersive look at how our solutions come together from the grid edge to the enterprise to improve reliability, increase efficiency and support a more sustainable energy future.  

A major highlight was the debut of new capabilities introduced through Itron’s recent acquisitions of Urbint and Locusview. Across the Itron, Urbint and Locusview booths, we showcased Itron’s expanded ability to help customers plan smarter, respond faster and operate more safely:  

• Urbint’s AI-powered risk mitigation tools demonstrated how utilities can proactively prevent safety incidents before they occur. 
• Locusview’s digital construction management platform showed how better field execution and real-time data capture can accelerate infrastructure upgrades and increase operational confidence.  

Bringing these capabilities together with Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio is opening new possibilities for safer operations, more efficient workstreams and a more connected, data-driven grid. 

 
Closing Out DTECH 2026: Building the Grid of the Future, Together 

DTECH 2026 made one thing clear: the challenges facing today’s energy and utility landscape are real, complex and accelerating—and so is the collective determination to solve them. For Itron, the week reaffirmed why collaboration matters more than ever. The insights, conversations and connections were a culmination of the momentum already underway, and we look forward to building on it with our customers and partners in the days, months and years ahead. 

To stay up to date on our latest collaborations and customer successes, follow Itron on LinkedIn, visit our newsroom and explore the Itron blog. See you at DTECH 2027 in Atlanta!