2028 AGA Operations Conference & Spring Committee Meetings

The conference brings together operators of natural gas delivery systems and service and equipment providers. Technical sessions cover gas measurement, pipeline integrity, operations advocacy, workforce safety, environmental issues, storage, engineering, construction and maintenance, gas control, corrosion control, and damage prevention. The program supports technical knowledge-sharing and leadership strategies focused on safe, reliable natural gas delivery and workforce safety.

The Climate and Sustainability Committee develops strategic insights, analyses, and policies concerning gas utilities’ role in a reliable, resilient, and affordable lower-carbon energy economy. Its work includes identifying legislative and regulatory frameworks at the federal and state levels, investments needed to deploy and scale advanced technologies, and initiatives supporting sustainability and decarbonization strategies.

Energy industry executives, security analysts, portfolio managers, rating agencies, and bankers meet to evaluate the outlook for the energy industry and individual companies.

Southwest Gas will host the roundtable. Participants will discuss collected information and resulting outcomes, with brief presentations from six member companies selected at the June Leaders Selection Conference. Three interactive breakout sessions will address topic-specific questions; possible topics include risk modeling, risk analysis, and integrity resources. Attendance is for Natural Gas Utility Operators Only. Recommended attendees include integrity management and DIMP program leaders, risk management and risk modeling personnel, pipeline safety and compliance professionals, and engineering staff responsible for integrity risk evaluation and mitigation across the utility.

Sessions examine natural gas market fundamentals for AI data center demand, including basin capabilities, rig activity, storage trends, pipeline bottlenecks, competition with LNG exports and other electricity demand, and commercial strategies for procurement, hedging, and risk management. The program also addresses AI and predictive analytics for pipeline nominations, forecasting, capacity management, and gas-flow optimization, plus integration with ERP, ETRM, CRM, and SCADA systems. Infrastructure discussions cover pipeline capacity, reliability and right-of-way; regional transmission, distribution and generation investment; federal-land development models; and the commercial and regulatory structures needed to advance large-load projects. Utility service challenges include pipeline limitations, public perception, permitting, capital requirements, commercial structuring, cost allocation, reliability obligations, and protecting existing customers. A developers roundtable covers demand forecasts versus speculative projects, developer qualifications, speed-to-power and behind-the-meter strategies, gas procurement, community hurdles, and regulatory and policy issues. Other sessions address mobile gas delivery and virtual pipelines, including CNG/LNG solutions for remote or capacity-constrained markets. The keynote considers AI-driven electricity demand, gas and electric utility bottlenecks, regional load growth, and nuclear energy. A Texas-focused panel examines policy, technology, research, planning, permitting, investment, and cross-sector coordination for large-load development, including data centers and advanced manufacturing.

WEI’s largest event includes general sessions with industry leaders and keynote speakers, plus breakout programming across Asset Management, Damage Prevention, Electric Distribution, Electric Substation, Electric Transmission, Grid of the Future, Grid Resilience, Low Carbon Fuels, Natural Gas Emergency Response + Restoration, Natural Gas Integrity Management, Natural Gas Operational Excellence, Operational Leadership, Safety + Health, Safety Management Systems, and Workforce Development. The program is open to anyone in the energy industry.

AGA’s Financial Forum provides a unique opportunity for energy industry executives, security analysts, portfolio managers, rating agencies and bankers to meet to evaluate the outlook for the energy industry and individual companies.

The conference combines superintendent and engineer meetings for presentations on new technology, standards, and industry regulations, alongside a joint product show featuring solutions from digital tools to bucket trucks. Agenda topics include automation, leadership, field testing for metering accuracy and hidden losses, AI tools for engineering and operations, advanced distribution operations and faster restoration, and relay testing. A group-led roundtable covers artificial intelligence in electric cooperatives, contractor requirements, dispatching, employee retention, right-of-way and line-extension policies, pole loading and guying, BESS, data center loads, electronic breakers, safety, equipment, and automation. Additional listed issues include ODOT projects, ground-grid and relay advancements, vegetation and asset management using LiDAR and drone mapping, protection engineering, utility construction coordination and constructability, and independent construction oversight and QA/QC. The business meeting includes the election of 2027 officers and new business.

Sessions cover Environmental, Generation & Fuels; Grid Modernization; Transmission & Distribution; and Reliability & Resilience. Conference attendees can also attend sessions in the concurrent Safety Summit. The conference focuses on practices for building and maintaining safe, reliable electric systems, and includes the Public Power NextTech Expo. The 2027 agenda has not been published.