FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Katie Post
Phone: +1-312-559-3658
E-Mail: kpost@iec.org

CHICAGO – January 20, 2010 – The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) Grid ComForum will present Chris Knudsen, Director of the Technology Innovation Center for Information Systems Technology Services, Strategic Planning and Architecture at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as the final keynoter this February 3 at 12:30pm at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara. Pacific Gas and Electric Company will also support the two-day conference in the role of Host Utility. The event will gather industry thought leaders who are working to empower grid communications and impact the entire smart grid ecosystem framework.

"The next year will bring significant change to the business case related to all aspects of the powergrid network, and more than ever it is essential for the regulatory bodies and utilities to connect with the communications industry," commented IEC President John R. Janowiak. "Therefore, we are so pleased to welcome Pacific Gas and Electric Company as host utility of the Grid ComForum program."

PG&E keynote speaker Chris Knudsen notes, "As an active participant in California's ongoing efforts to create a modern energy system for the 21st century, PG&E is pleased to act as host utility for IEC's inaugural Grid ComForum event. This gathering will facilitate greater dialogue and information sharing between the energy and communications industries and promises to yield both insights and relationships that will help accelerate the modernization of our nation's electric grid."

Mr. Knudsen is currently the Director of the Technology Innovation Center at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, where he is responsible for integrating advanced technologies into PG&E's electric grid. In his role at PG&E, he leads and coordinates labs and pilot programs to facilitate development of nascent Smart Grid systems and ensure their seamless integration into PG&E's electric system, transforming it over time into a Smart Grid capable of reliably integrating PG&E's large and growing portfolio of renewable energy resources.

All industry professionals are invited to register at www.GridComForum.com/registration/register.asp. To view the entire schedule, visit www.GridComForum.com/attendees/program_schedule_gcf.asp.

For more information, visit www.GridComForum.com or contact Katie Post at kpost@iec.org or +1-312-559-3658.

About the IEC
A nonprofit organization, the IEC is dedicated to catalyzing technology and business progress worldwide in a range of high-technology industries and their university communities. Since 1944, the IEC has provided high-quality educational opportunities for industry professionals, academics, and students.

In conjunction with industry-leading companies, the IEC has developed an extensive, free, on-line educational program. The IEC conducts industry-university programs that have substantial impact on curricula. It also conducts research and develops publications, conferences, and technological exhibits that address major opportunities and challenges of the information age.

More than 70 leading high-technology universities are IEC affiliates, and the IEC handles the affairs of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association and Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. Please visit www.iec.org.