Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Information Officer Jim Jones recently spoke on a keynote panel of utility executives at the 2026 UTC Telecom & Technology Conference in Minneapolis.
Joining Jones on the panel were Ron Sandstrom of Allete, and David Walter of WEC Energy Group. Rusty Williams, president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council (UTC), moderated the panel, which included discussion about technology advances and key challenges facing the utility industry.
“Reliable communications are just as critical as the power lines themselves,” Jones said. “As technology evolves, it’s essential that utilities stay connected, share insights and work together to ensure the grid remains secure and resilient.”
Great River Energy and Minnesota Power co-hosted the four-day conference, which brought together information and communications technology professionals, grid operators and industry partners in the utility sector. Each year, the UTC conference serves as a forum for utilities to explore how new technologies are shaping the industry and what the next five to 20 years could look like for critical infrastructure.
More than 30 Great River Energy employees attended, engaging in sessions on topics ranging from maintaining timing signals during a GPS outage to the potential impact of FCC policy decisions on communications networks. The event also provided valuable opportunities for networking with other professionals from utilities around the country.
The UTC, a global trade association in which Great River Energy is an active participant, supports education and advocacy for the telecommunications technologies essential to the utility industry. Throughout the year, Great River Energy employees contribute to regional meetings, technical committees and industry discussions focused on strengthening communications systems and ensuring regulatory decisions do not negatively impact utility operations.
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