The Way We Power and Control Buildings is Changing — Fast.
From the 2026 NEC's landmark introduction of "limited energy" as a unifying framework, to the first fundamental restructuring of the NEC since 1937 anticipated in 2029, to Fault Managed Power — the first new class of electrical power in nearly 50 years — the codes, technologies, and market forces reshaping Ohio's built environment are converging right now. Buildings are no longer passive consumers of electricity. They are becoming intelligent, grid-interactive assets: measurable, controllable, and capable of carbon-neutral operation. The electrical contractors who understand what's coming will capture the work that defines the next decade. Steve Eaves — inventor Digital Electricity, also known as Fault Managed Power, and founder of VoltServer — joins us to discuss the technology he created and what he sees coming next, including early conversations already forming around a potential Class 5. Bob D'Agostino brings the contractor's perspective from one of the most high-profile FMP deployments in the country — Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh — walking through what the installation required, what it delivered, and what every contractor needs to know before their first FMP project.
See It in Action.
The Columbus Hilton 2.0 is one of the largest hotels in Ohio — a 28-story, 460,000 square foot tower connected to both the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the existing Hilton, completing one of the most significant hospitality and convention campus expansions in the state. Behind that scale is an electrical installation of equivalent complexity. Mid City Electric's scope covered all electrical work throughout the building — including a new AEP service with 13.2kV medium voltage switchgear, utility transformers, and a 1MW generator — along with power distribution to 463 guest rooms, three kitchens, multiple ballrooms including a 15,000 square foot grand ballroom, and a complex lighting control system integrated with AV, room schedulers, and room partition controls, all tied across three separate buildings. Over 100 different light fixture types were installed, including one fixture exceeding 5,000 pounds composed of nearly 550 components. Join Mid City Electric's project team for a guided facility tour and a firsthand look at what large-scale, integrated electrical systems look like when they're designed, installed, and commissioned at the highest level — and what that means for the next generation of smart, AI-ready commercial buildings in Ohio.
Two days of sessions, case studies, expert panels, facility tours, and peer networking, covering the 2026 and 2029 NEC code cycles, Fault Managed Power, cybersecurity as the new safety standard, NFPA 70B and data-driven electrical service, Building Performance Standards, and the commercial electrical market through the 2030s.
Event Schedule
Monday, November 9th
11:30 a.m. – Registration & Networking Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:15 p.m. – Opening Keynote: One Workforce, Many Partners: Building a Green Job Ready Ohio
- Cassie Johnson, City of Columbus
- Thanapat Vichitchot, City of Cincinnati
- Ian Marks, Built Environment Collaborative
- Moderator: Rebecca Kusner, Ohio Workforce Coalition
2:00 p.m. – Featured Presentation: Beyond the Horizon — Limited Energy Systems, the 2026 NEC, and Modernizing the Code for the Future
- Kyle Krueger, NECA
- Corey Hannahs, NFPA
3:00 p.m. – Audience Q&A
3:15 p.m. – Fault Managed Power: Acrisure Stadium Case Study and a Comparison of FMP and Traditional AC Distribution in High-Performance Data Centers
- Steve Eaves, VoltServer
- Bob Dagostino, Dagostino Electronic Services, Inc.
4:45 p.m. – Closing Remarks & Day One Preview
5:00 p.m. – Adjourn & Evening Reception
Tuesday, November 10th
7:30 a.m. – Breakfast & Morning Networking
8:30 a.m. – Columbus Hilton 2.0, a Case Study
- Steve Driver, Mid-City Electric/Technologies
- Dave Hackworth, Mid-City Electric, Technologies
- Moderator: Jeff Beavers, NECA
9:15 a.m. – Security is the New Safety: The Electrician's Role in Cybersecure Infrastructure
- Chuck Faichild, Fairchild Communications
- Matthew Apfel, Bluestone Communications, Inc.
- Corey Hannahs, NFPA
- Moderator: Jim Simpson, electrical training ALLIANCE
10:15 a.m. – Break
10:30 a.m. – Closing Keynote
- Eric Carlson, Joe Dickey Electric, Inc.
11:15 a.m. – Industry Fireside Chat
- Eric Carlson, Joe Dickey Electric, Inc.
- Jack Savage, NECA
- Scott Satterlee, IBEW Fourth District
11:45 a.m. – Morning Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
12:00 p.m. – Morning Program Concludes & Facility Tours begin