IEEE Maine Section ExCom + PES Tech Talk
Dear IEEE Maine Section Members and Colleagues,
You are cordially invited to the IEEE Maine Section Executive Committee (ExCom) Meeting.
Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: RLC Engineering, South Portland Office
To foster networking and strengthen connections among our leadership team and interested participants, we will provide light refreshments and a meal during the meeting.
We are also pleased to welcome Prof. Hepeng Li from the University of Maine ECE Department, who will deliver a short talk titled:
“AI for the Power Grid: From Autonomous Control to Agentic Intelligence”
This is a great opportunity to engage with fellow IEEE leaders, discuss section activities, and learn about cutting-edge developments in AI applications for power systems.
RSVP: Please reply to this invitation by April 5, 2026 to help us plan for refreshments, seating, and the virtual link.
We look forward to seeing you there—whether in person or virtually!
Best regards,
IEEE Maine Section
Date and Time
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- Starts 27 March 2026 04:00 AM UTC
- Ends 06 April 2026 08:00 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Dr. Hepeng of University of Maine
AI for the Power Grid: From Autonomous Control to Agentic Intelligence
AI has emerged as a powerful tool for modernizing power grid operations, enabling adaptive, data-driven control in the face of increasing uncertainty from distributed energy resources and new fast-growing loads such as data centers. This talk will discuss the application of AI for real-time decision-making and control in modern power systems. Specifically, the talk will discuss how the advances in deep reinforcement learning enable autonomous agents to address complex, dynamic optimization challenges in power system operation and control. I will then discuss the latest trends in Agentic AI, where autonomous agents plan, reason, and act over long horizons, and its emerging implications for grid and energy system operation. Finally, I will highlight ongoing research in our lab at UMaine and our vision for building intelligent, scalable, and reliable AI-driven power systems.
Biography:
Prof. Hepeng Li is the Robert N. Haskell Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maine. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island, along with M.S. and B.S. degrees from Northeastern University in China.
His research focuses on Smart Grid, Power Systems, and Machine Learning, with particular interests in reinforcement learning and multi-agent systems for power system applications. He teaches courses in feedback control systems and smart grid enabling technologies.
Prof. Li’s work explores the integration of advanced AI techniques into power grid operations, bridging autonomous control with emerging agentic intelligence.
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Agenda
IEEE Maine Section ExCom Meeting Agenda
Monday, April 6, 2026 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: RLC Engineering, South Portland Office
4:00 – 4:30 PM Arrival, Networking & Light Refreshments
4:30 – 5:00 PM Welcome and Call to Order & ExCom Business Meeting
- Introductions and opening remarks
- Section updates and reports
- Discussion of upcoming activities and initiatives
- Open floor / new business
5:00 – 5:30 PM Guest Talk “AI for the Power Grid: From Autonomous Control to Agentic Intelligence” Presented by Prof. Hepeng Li Robert N. Haskell Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Maine
5:30 – 6:00 PM Networking & Meal
- Informal discussion and dinner
6:00 PM Adjourn