16th annual research event features keynotes from Renew Home, Savant Systems, and Southern Company, evaluating value of consumer energy market for future of the smart grid management
Parks Associates today announced the keynotes from Southern Company, Renew Home, and Savant Systems for the upcoming Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, held March 25-26, in Dallas, Texas, co-located with DISTRIBUTECH, the largest utility and energy-focused conference in the world. Parks Associates research shows 24% of US Internet households report receiving energy data from a source other than their energy provider, indicating competition and market expansion for energy platforms, analytics, and technologies for real-time monitoring and energy management.
Smart Energy Summit, March 25-26 in D162/164 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, hosts executive leaders from across the home energy management and smart home ecosystem. Event sponsors include Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), NRG, Savant, SkyBell, and Universal Electronics.
Sessions are focused on the growth of smart home and energy management platforms and applications, demand for home services, the role of coordination between devices, marketing to the consumer, and the impact of new AI technologies on the energy markets. Keynote speakers include:
- William Dillon, Chief Technology Officer, Savant Systems
- Jeff Gleeson, Chief Product Officer, Renew Home
- Robin Lanier, Managing Director, New Ventures, Southern Company
“Smart home products that provide energy insights complement the information provided by energy providers to their customers,” said Daniel Holcomb, Sr. Research Analyst, Parks Associates. “While smart thermostats and smart plugs can provide small energy-use snapshots, smart panels can provide whole-home consumption views, providing incredibly valuable disaggregated data — something that consumers want but rarely have access to at this time.”
In its 16th year, Smart Energy Summit hosts a mix of keynotes, research presentations, and interactive panels covering a broad range of topics focused on smart energy solutions, the integration of new technologies like solar, EVs, and smart thermostats, and strategies for engaging consumers in sustainable energy practices.
“Smart home technology provides valuable benefits, and consumers like these products. Consumers give smart thermostats and other smart energy devices relatively strong Net Promoter Scores (NPS),” Holcomb said. “Video doorbells are the highest-rated smart home device, and smart speakers score the lowest. Smart thermostats are at the higher end of that range within smart home device category. This data – alongside generally positive experiences with demand response programs– are encouraging for the long-term prospects of these devices.”
Registration is through the DISTRIBUTECH Website. To request data or an interview, contact mindi.sue@parksassociates.com, 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.
