DISTRIBUTECH International 2026, the premier event for the electric utility industry, is set to convene industry leaders, vendors, and technology experts in San Diego. The conference serves as an essential platform for showcasing the latest innovations and accelerating the adoption of open standards critical for grid modernization and resilience.

A key highlight of this year’s event is the participation and Platinum Sponsorship of PCItek, a leader in systems and power engineering and provider of advanced grid security solutions. PCItek’s support directly reinforces the mission of the UCA International Users Group (UCA) to advance open standards, including IEC 61850, CIM, and OpenFMB, worldwide.

All attendees are invited to connect with the UCA at Booth #4935 to explore the ecosystem of interoperable standards that PCItek champions.

In addition to its presence on the exhibition floor, PCItek will be actively participating in the UCA Annual Meeting of the Members on Thursday, February 4, 2026 at the San Diego Convention Center. This private, focused event will provide an excellent opportunity for UCA members, sponsors, and colleagues to connect and discuss the latest innovations for grid resilience and security.

“DTECH is an invaluable platform to engage with our peers, share real-world deployment lessons, and collaborate on the next generation of standards that will strengthen system resilience across the utility landscape,” said Margaret Goodrich, President of PCItek. “Our Platinum Sponsorship and continued partnership with UCA is a clear demonstration of PCItek’s dedication to a smarter, more integrated grid.”

About PCItek

PCItek is known for its expertise in systems and power engineering, providing advanced solutions, including its Garibaldi Software for 61850 & DNP3 security, to utility and energy industry stakeholders. The company is committed to promoting the use and understanding of international standards to advance energy technology and grid transformation.

CIM Users Group – European Meeting | 28 – 30 April 2026 | Cologne (Köln), Germany

Theme: “Beyond the Model: Integrating, Extending, and Applying CIM for the Utility of the Future”

As the energy landscape rapidly evolves, utilities must move beyond simply defining the CIM model to fully integrating, extending, and applying it in practical, forward-looking ways. This meeting will highlight how CIM provides the foundation for connecting long-term planning with real-time operations, enabling a more flexible, interoperable, and resilient grid. Sessions will feature innovative use cases, advanced integration strategies, and proven deployments that demonstrate CIM’s critical role in shaping the utility of the future. Whether you are new to CIM or deeply involved in its advancement, this event offers valuable insights, collaborative discussions, and opportunities to engage with a global community of experts.

Registration
Early Bird registration is available until 31 March 2026. After this date, space will be limited and registration will require direct contact.

Register now!

To register after 31 March 2026, please contact Registration@ucaiug.org.

Key Dates

• Call for Presentations Submission Deadline: 1 March 2026
• Early Registration Deadline: 31 March 2026

CIM University and User Group Meeting Location
Steigenberger Hotel Köln
Habsburgerring 9-13
50674 Köln (Cologne)
Germany
Telephone: +49 221 2280

Presented by the CIM Users Group
The CIM Users Group is a not-for-profit organization of utilities, consultants, and suppliers committed to promoting the use and understanding of the IEC CIM standards. The group provides education, fosters consistency in implementation, and helps stakeholders stay informed on CIM developments.

CIM Users Group
P.O. Box 315, Shell Knob, MO 65747 USA
Phone: +1-903-477-7176
Website: https://cimug.org

The OpenFMB Users Group is proud to present its upcoming webinar highlighting two major milestones that are shaping the future of distributed energy resource (DER) integration.

First, Version 2.2 of the OpenFMB data model introduces a new module supporting EV charging that enables utilities, vendors, and innovators to better integrate electric vehicle infrastructure into the grid. This advancement provides a stable, flexible framework that addresses all types of DERs and accelerates real-world adoption.

Second, the establishment of a certification program at the first accredited OpenFMB testing lab marks a pivotal step in driving industry-wide adoption. This certification will create a larger ecosystem and strengthen the foundation for scalable deployment across the energy sector.

Join this OpenFMB Users Group webinar to hear insights, experiences, and perspectives on how OpenFMB is enabling collaboration and innovation across the energy landscape. This session will explore the technical, operational, and strategic impacts of these milestones—and what they mean for utilities, vendors, and stakeholders looking to embrace the future of grid modernization.

REGISTER HERE

Learn more before this webinar:
OpenFMB GitHub: https://github.com/openfmb
OpenFMB Website: https://openfmb.org

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the 61850 Users Group – North American Meeting, Fall 2025, themed “Joining Forces to Innovate, Connect, and Lead the Future of Smart Grid Technology”, taking place 22-23 October 2025, in Wendell, North Carolina, USA.

Hosted by:

This kickoff meeting brings together global experts, implementers, and newcomers to collaborate on shaping the next chapter of power system interoperability. As grid complexity accelerates, 61850-based solutions remain central to unifying protection, control, monitoring, and communication across diverse systems and vendors. Sessions will showcase lessons learned, pioneering applications, and the evolving best practices that are driving innovation and strengthening system resilience. Whether you’re just beginning your 61850 journey or helping define its future, this is your opportunity to connect with the community, exchange insights, and lead together toward a smarter, more integrated grid.

Call for Presentations
The Call for Presentations will open on 15 August 2025. We invite you to share your expertise on this year’s theme, as well as other 61850-related topics. Please click the link below if you would like to present at the Fall 61850ug meeting in Wendell.

Present!

Presentation Guidelines:
Submit a 200–500-word abstract outlining the presentation’s key message.

Include presenter information: name, title, company, address, phone number, email, short bio, and an optional headshot.

Deadline: 15 September 2025
Submit to: Joel@ucaiug.org

Presentation Policies:

1. Priority for presentation selection is given to utilities (TSOs and DSOs), market participants, universities, and non-profit industry organizations.
2. Suppliers may present a utility-approved presentation if they are co-authors. However, preference will be given to presentations with a utility presenter.
3. All presentations must be non-commercial (no overt marketing material in the presentation) with a focus on the 61850 lifecycle which is deemed to be informative and helpful to other companies who are considering the use of 61850.
4. Non-commercial thought leadership presentations from all 61850ug members are welcome.
   Presentations that demonstrate implementation experiences with lessons learned are preferred over strategies for future projects.
5. 61850 Users Group membership is not a requirement for presenting.

Registration

Early bird registration is available until 15 September 2025. After this date, space will be limited and registration will require direct contact.

Register now!

To register after 30 September 2025, please contact Margaret@ucaiug.org.

Sponsorship Opportunities
Corporate members are encouraged to participate through sponsorship or by reserving a vendor demo table. Sponsorship levels include Gold, Silver, Lanyard, and Table Sponsor options. To purchase a sponsorship for this CIMug meeting, please use the following link: Be a sponsor!

For more details about sponsorships, contact Sponsorships@ucaiug.org.

Key Dates
Call for Presentations Deadline: 15 September 2025
Early Registration Deadline: 15 September 2025

Meeting Location
Siemens
7000 Siemens Road
Wendell, NC 27591 USA
Tel: +1 (919) 365-2200
Website: https://usa.siemens.com/gridsoftware

Presented by the 61850 Users Group
The 61850 Users Group is a not-for-profit organization of utilities, consultants, and suppliers committed to promoting the use and understanding of the IEC 61850 standards. The group provides education, fosters consistency in implementation, and helps stakeholders stay informed on 61850 developments.

CIM Users Group – North American Meeting | October 14–16, 2025 | Wendell, North Carolina, USA
Theme: Bridging Planning & Operations: Interoperable Solutions for Rapid Grid Transformation

The UCA International Users Group invites members of the energy industry to attend the CIM Users Group – North American Meeting, Fall 2025, themed “Bridging Planning & Operations: Interoperable Solutions for Rapid Grid Transformation”, taking place October 14–16, 2025, in Wendell, North Carolina, USA.

This meeting will focus on the vital connection between long-term planning and real-time operations, emphasizing how CIM and interoperable solutions empower utilities to respond to rapid grid changes. Sessions will showcase real-world implementations, integration strategies, and innovations that support agile, data-driven decision-making across the utility landscape. Whether you’re a CIM novice or expert, this event provides a valuable opportunity to deepen your knowledge and network with industry peers.

Registration
Early bird registration is available until September 1, 2025. After this date, space will be limited and registration will require direct contact.

Register now.

Key Dates
Call for Presentations Deadline: August 15, 2025
Early Registration Deadline: September 1, 2025

CIM University and User Group Meeting Location
Siemens
7000 Siemens Road
Wendell, NC 27591 USA
Tel: +1 (919) 365-2200

Presented by the CIM Users Group
The CIM Users Group is a not-for-profit organization of utilities, consultants, and suppliers committed to promoting the use and understanding of the IEC CIM standards. The group provides education, fosters consistency in implementation, and helps stakeholders stay informed on CIM developments.

As the energy landscape transforms with rapid DER growth, aggressive electrification targets, and intensifying regulatory scrutiny, the need for accurate, real-time, and interoperable network models has never been more urgent. This executive-level webinar brings together leading experts from the CIM Users Group, Energy Changemakers, ERCOT, PCITek and Siemens to explore how utilities can leverage unified network model management (NMM) to meet the moment.

Wed, Sep 10
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CDT
Online event – Register

Join this discussion to learn how utilities are consolidating fragmented grid data into a single source of truth, using the Common Information Model (CIM) as a backbone to streamline compliance, strengthen system reliability, and accelerate DER integration. Real-world insights will be shared on how NMM is already delivering measurable benefits—from reducing modeling errors to boosting operational agility in the face of extreme weather and rapid load growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Ensure Regulatory Compliance & Reduce Risk: Learn how unified network models simplify adherence to FERC Orders (e.g., 2003, 2222, 1920) and NERC standards (MOD-032-1, MOD-033-1), minimizing audit exposure and avoiding costly penalties.
• Boost Grid Reliability & Resilience: Discover how centralized, high-fidelity models enhance scenario analysis, improve situational awareness, and enable proactive grid hardening against weather, wildfires, and volatility.
• Drive Operational Efficiency Across Silos: See how integrated T&D models reduce duplication, streamline data handoffs, and support long-term system planning and real-time operations.

Speakers

• Eric Meier [Panelist], Model Administrator
• Margaret Goodrich [Panelist], Founder & President
• Yang Feng, PhD [Panelist], Senior Staff Software Engineer
• Elisa Wood [Moderator], Founder & Editor