IDEA2026 Thursday Plenary Panels

District Energy as an Electricity System Resource
Thursday, June 25, 2026; 9:00-9:55am

 

Panelists will discuss how utilities, electricity system operators and energy planners can leverage district energy to support a more reliable, affordable approach to electrification and energy needs AND how district energy owners/operators can work with these entities to ensure that the value of our systems to support more reliable, affordable, sustainable and secure energy outcomes is fully realized.

Valerie Bennett
Director, Regulatory & Commercial Affairs


Professional engineer with 17 years' experience in energy efficiency, energy regulation and policy in Canada, Asia, and Europe, seeking to support the effectiveness of the energy sector, as well as promote the sector's role in economic, social, and environmental progress. Special interests include cost of service regulation, optimization of energy systems and the energy transition. In 2021 I was included as a rising star on Public Utility Fortnightly's Under 40 list, and as one of the Top 100 Women in Energy Transformation in 2022.



Frank A. Cuomo, PE, MBA, PMP
Director - Commodity Operations, Con Edison

Frank A. Cuomo is the Director of Commodity Operations at Con Edison, where he oversees a substantial annual portfolio of approximately $500 million. He began his engineering career in the consulting industry before joining Con Edison in 2011. Over the years, he has held various positions within Con Edison Steam Operations, including project manager and general manager.

Frank is a NYS Licensed Professional Engineer, a graduate of Manhattan College School of Engineering, and holds an MBA from the Baruch Zicklin School of Business. He has also served as an adjunct professor at NYU Shack Institute of Real Estate. Frank's expertise lies in customer energy use and system design. He has collaborated with numerous customers, stakeholders, and industry partners to explore paths towards a Clean Energy Future. Notably, he led the Future of Renewable Steam Team (FIRST), a company initiative focused on decarbonization efforts.

As a subject matter expert in Steam Operations and customer building systems, Frank is known for his ability to cultivate positive relationships with stakeholders and communicate complex business topics effectively. He has also served as Incident Commander during large-scale emergency events. In his current role, Frank ensures the seamless procurement and scheduling of energy commodities, maintaining 24/7 operations to meet customer energy demands. His strategies in gas planning and regulatory proceedings reflect his competencies in networking, customer energy systems, and overall energy distribution, essential for steering the company towards a sustainable future





Mike Crawley
Executive Chair, Creative Energy

Since May 2025, Lars Gullev has served as Principal Consultant at Gullev DH Advisory, providing strategic guidance on the green transition of district heating systems internationally. His recent work includes projects in Poland (Gdynia, Ostróda, and Gliwice), Ukraine (Rivne), China (supporting the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing), and North America (supporting Danish Trade Offices in Toronto and New York).
 
Through projects financed by the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), Lars has led initiatives to accelerate the decarbonization of district heating systems, including the Green Accelerator Project in Bytom, Poland, and a major reconstruction and green transition effort for the district heating system in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
 
He has also contributed to projects funded by the Danish Energy Agency, supporting district heating modernization and electricity market integration in Grudziądz, Jelenia Góra, and Lubin, Poland.
 
Prior to founding Gullev DH Advisory, Lars spent more than three decades with VEKS (Vestegnens Kraftvarmeselskab I/S), one of Denmark’s leading district heating transmission companies serving the Greater Copenhagen region. VEKS operates a 135-kilometer transmission network supplying heat to 12 municipalities west of Copenhagen and is part of one of Europe’s most fuel-flexible CHP-based district heating systems.
 
From 2022 to 2025, Lars served as Senior Consultant for VEKS’ international activities, working with organizations including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Danish Board of District Heating (DBDH). In this role, he supported district heating development initiatives in Poland and the Czech Republic through collaborations with the Royal Danish Embassies in Warsaw and Prague.
 
During his tenure at VEKS, Lars served as Managing Director from 1997 to 2022 and as Technical Manager from 1992 to 1997, helping shape the development of one of the world's most advanced district heating systems.
 

Aksana Krasatsenka
Director of Knowledge Transfer, Euroheat & Power

Aksana Krasatsenka is the Knowledge Transfer Director at Euroheat & Power, where she leads efforts to strengthen skills, capacity building, and knowledge exchange across the district heating and cooling sector. She also coordinates the DHC+ Platform, fostering collaboration between academia, research, business and industry committed to move to a sustainable energy system. She oversees a wide range of flagship knowledge-transfer and skills-development initiatives, including the Knowledge Hub, the Global District Energy Climate Awards, the DHC+ Summer School, DHC+ Student Awards, and the Crash Course for Cities. In addition, she coordinates the Erasmus+ DHC Academy project and leads the District Heating Divas initiative in Brussels, promoting diversity, inclusion, and talent development within the sector.

Kevin Wallace
Senior Program Manager, BC Hydro

Kevin is a Senior Program Manager focused on custom and integrated project development within BC Hydro’s Industrial Key Accounts. He has a degree in mechanical engineering and over 30 years of experience in utility Demand Side Management. This includes experience with energy management systems, energy efficiency, energy information systems covering technical, design, program management and business planning perspectives. His current priority is supporting the development of district energy systems and thermal networks through the integration of efficiency and capacity focused BC Hydro programs.



Moderated by:

Katherine Sparkes
Vice President, Grid Solutions, Enwave Energy Solutions

Katherine is recognized throughout Ontario’s energy sector and beyond for her energetic leadership, ability to achieve results and drive positive change. Katherine integrates business savvy with public good and a skill for developing effective, meaningful partnerships.