vPAC Alliance – Utility-Led Collaboration for Software-Defined Substations

Booth #6115

The vPAC Alliance booth at DISTRIBUTECH is designed as a utility-led collaboration hub, not a traditional exhibit. Its purpose is to demonstrate—clearly and credibly—that Software-Defined Automation for substations is deployable today, using implemented, utility-validated solutions rather than conceptual demonstrations or future promises.

At the center of the booth experience are two production-proven “solutions in a box,” grounded in real deployments from leading utilities and supported by an open, multi-vendor ecosystem. These implementations illustrate how compute, networking, and analytics come together to form a scalable, standards-based architecture—aligned with real-world utility requirements including cybersecurity, interoperability, lifecycle management, and operational reliability.

Rather than product pitches, the booth is structured around live, peer-to-peer dialogue with utility leaders. Attendees engage directly with utilities operating vPAC-based architectures, enabling informed discussion around deployment realities, lessons learned, and realistic adoption paths based on production use rather than prototypes.

Design & Experience

The booth design emphasizes clarity, trust, and approachability through a clean, modern aesthetic and consistent visual language. Open sightlines, minimal clutter, and intentional lighting create an inviting environment that encourages longer engagement and conversation.

Large-format architectural visuals and restrained messaging reinforce system-level thinking over component-level promotion. Sponsor recognition is integrated thoughtfully, strengthening credibility without overwhelming visitors. The result is a space positioned not to browse products, but to learn, validate, and discuss real-world solutions with peers.

Engagement & Programming: A Key Differentiator

The booth hosts live, moderated dialogue sessions throughout the event, featuring utilities—including Salt River Project (SRP) and Southern California Edison (SCE)—alongside OEMs and technology partners. Sessions focus on:

Deployments happening now

Lessons learned from implementation

Incremental, realistic adoption strategies

Coffee-served sessions increase dwell time and encourage repeat visits, transforming the booth into a destination for substantive, utility-driven conversation rather than a stop for passive viewing.

Solution Readiness & Credibility

A consistent message anchors the entire booth experience:

These solutions are available for deployment today.

Visitors have the opportunity to engage directly with utilities operating live vPAC-based systems, reinforcing trust, credibility, and practical relevance. The booth demonstrates how software-defined approaches modernize substation architectures without disrupting existing operations—enabling utilities to adopt new capabilities at a pace aligned with operational realities.

Collaboration & Industry Impact

The vPAC Alliance booth reflects true ecosystem collaboration, with shared ownership of dialogue sessions, demonstrations, and content across utilities, OEMs, and technology providers. All sessions are recorded and amplified through social media and post-event content, extending impact beyond the show floor and building momentum for continued engagement throughout 2026.

The result is not just an exhibit—but a working model for how utilities and industry partners collaborate today to modernize grid infrastructure.