Growth of data centers and AI creates new opportunities and demand for distributed energy resources in consumer and commercial markets

International research and consulting firm Parks Associates today announced the topics and call for papers for the firm’s 17th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, co-located with DISTRIBUTECH, on February 3-4, 2026, in San Diego, CA. As AI adoption and growth of data centers accelerate, they are creating fresh demand for distributed energy resources, giving both households and businesses new ways to manage energy, improve resilience, and tap into emerging revenue streams.

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, sponsored by SkyBell, features keynote presentations, panel discussions, and in-person networking opportunities with leading industry executives. The research conference centers on the role of energy solutions within the internet of things, including connected devices, energy management, utility services, and home control platforms and services.

Smart Energy Summit 2026

“Consumers see energy costs as too high and want solutions that act on their behalf,” said Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, VP, Marketing, Parks Associates. “If utilities and consumer brands work together to educate the market on the proactive capabilities of distributed energy resources, from solar and storage to EVs and smart devices, they will accelerate adoption and build stronger consumer engagement across the energy ecosystem.”

The firm is accepting speaker submissions for the upcoming 2026 conference sessions:

  • Smarter Platforms for Energy Engagement: Driving Participation 
  • New Role of Energy Providers: Scaling Demand Response and Pricing Models 
  • Data Centers and Future of Energy
  • Spotlight Session: How the Smart Home Is Reshaping Energy Behavior
  • Driving Enrollment and Retention in Energy Programs 
  • Grid Resilience: Making Solar, Storage, and EVs Work Together 
  • Data-Driven Strategies for Customer-Centric Energy Innovation
  • Trust, Data, and Transparency 
  • The Prosumer Era: Integrating EVs, Solar, and Home Storage at Scale 
  • Keynote Panel: Utilities Navigating Data Centers and the Digital Home 
  • Enabling Real-Time Feedback: Monitoring, Alerts, and In-Home Energy 
  • The Business Case for Consumer Engagement
  • DER Adoption and Consumer Willingness to Share Data
  • New Interfaces for Energy Awareness and Control
  • Demand Response and Smarter Programs: Engagement Tools 
  • Making Energy Programs Work for Next-Gen Consumers 

For more info on sponsorship, contact Ashton Gambrell. For research data or insights, contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, 972-490-1113.

About Smart Energy Summit

The 17th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer addresses the rising demand for energy, accelerated by the growth of data centers and AI, and its impact on energy management, renewable adoption, and grid modernization. Organized by Parks Associates and co-located with DISTRIBUTECH, Smart Energy Summit brings together leaders from energy, smart home, and technology industries to explore strategies and partnerships critical to the energy transition. 

Smart Energy Summit takes place February 3-4, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center. It will focus on integrating smart energy solutions, leveraging AI and IoT for home energy management, and tackling challenges in demand response and grid orchestration. Supported by Parks Associates’ consumer and industry research, the event provides key insights into market trends and the path forward for utilities, technology providers, and consumer brands.

Follow #SmartEnergy26 on Parks Associates’ LinkedIn. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.smartenergysmt.com.