India Smart Utility Week 2026 Wraps Up with Record Attendance in New Delhi
The 12th edition of the India Smart Utility Week (ISUW) 2026, organized by the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), concluded successfully in New Delhi from March 10 to 14, 2026. This flagship international conference and exhibition attracted over 2000 delegates, more than 230 speakers and experts, and representatives from over 40 electricity utilities from India and abroad, solidifying its position as a premier global platform for smart energy and smart mobility discussions.
Event Highlights and Global Collaboration
ISUW 2026 served as a critical hub for strengthening international collaboration and showcasing cutting-edge technologies aimed at future-ready utilities. The event featured a diverse range of activities, including high-level plenary sessions, keynote addresses, bilateral workshops, technical sessions, roundtables, tutorials, technical paper presentations, and technical tours. These components created a vibrant environment for the exchange of ideas, global best practices, and emerging technologies in the energy sector.
Participants from numerous countries, such as the USA, UK, Brazil, Indonesia, Netherlands, France, Australia, Slovenia, UAE, African nations, and Korea, attended the event, highlighting its growing international significance. A key focus was on bilateral smart grid workshops with partner countries like the UK, Brazil, and Indonesia, aimed at enhancing collaboration in areas such as grid modernization, renewable integration, digitalization of utilities, electric mobility, and emerging energy technologies.
Support and Partnerships
The event received substantial support from key Indian organizations, including the Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority, Department of Science & Technology, NITI Aayog, and the All India DISCOMs Association (AIDA). Host utilities for ISUW 2026 included BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, BSES Yamuna Power Limited, The Tata Power Company Limited, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, and Noida Power Company Limited. Smart Energy Water served as the Platinum Partner, while the Power Foundation of India acted as the Knowledge Partner.
Innovation Awards and Leadership Insights
ISUW 2026 also hosted the 10th edition of the ISGF Innovation Awards 2026, which recognized outstanding innovations, projects, and technologies accelerating transformation in the energy and utility sectors. Awards were presented to utilities, technology providers, and startups for their contributions to building smarter and more resilient energy systems.
Mr. Reji Kumar Pillai, President of ISGF, emphasized the event's role, stating, "India Smart Utility Week has evolved as a globally recognized platform that brings together leaders from utilities, governments, technology companies, and academia to accelerate the transformation of the power sector. As energy systems become more digital, decentralized, and sustainable, platforms like ISUW are critical to enable collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation." He added, "India is rapidly advancing its energy transition journey with ambitious renewable energy targets, grid modernization initiatives, and electrification of mobility. ISUW continues to support this transformation by bringing global expertise, technologies, and partnerships to the Indian power sector."
Conference Themes and Exhibition
The conference sessions covered a wide array of themes, reflecting the latest trends and challenges in the energy industry:
- Agentic AI: How to Build and Deploy AI Agents
- Digitalization Roadmap for Utilities and Data Governance Framework
- Flexumers
- Electric Mobility and Vehicle-to-Grid Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics for Utilities
- Cybersecurity for Power Systems
- Gender Balance in Power Sector
An international exhibition accompanied the conference, where leading global and Indian companies showcased advanced technologies, including smart grid solutions, digital platforms, AI-based energy management systems, energy storage solutions, electric mobility infrastructure, and cybersecurity technologies for utilities.
Inauguration and Future Outlook
ISUW 2026 was inaugurated by esteemed dignitaries such as Mashal Dhawan, CEO - Asia, SEW.AI and General Secretary, ISGF; Brian Motherway, Head-Energy Efficiency Division, IEA; Amal Sinha, Director and Group CEO, BSES; Ashish Khanna, DG, International Solar Alliance; Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, ANRF; Ashish Goel, Chairman, UPPCL; Alok Kumar, DG, All India DISCOMs Association; Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, CEA; and Richard Schomberg, Special Envoy on Smart Electrification, IEC.
The India Smart Grid Forum expressed gratitude to all ministries, partners, speakers, delegates, exhibitors, and supporting organizations for their contributions to the success of ISUW 2026. As a public-private partnership initiative supported by the Ministry of Power, ISGF continues to focus on accelerating the adoption of smart grid technologies, digital utilities, and modern power systems in India, promoting innovation and capacity building in the energy sector.
