Master Blog

On November 6, in Las Vegas, as the lights dimmed and the music swelled, the Ballroom at Durango Resort came alive with applause. It wasn’t just another evening; it was a celebration of brilliance. The WE3 Annual Awards 2025 brought together visionaries, innovators, and changemakers from across the world to honor those redefining what the energy and water industry can be - connected, intelligent, and deeply human.

The evening stood as a tribute to belief, collaboration, and purpose. It was where innovation met intention, where transformation took the spotlight, and where leaders, organizations, and partners came together to celebrate progress that truly matters. Across categories spanning technology, digital transformation, and community impact, the WE3 Annual Awards recognized those who are not just keeping pace with change but defining it.

The night began with the Visionary Industry Leader of the Year awards - an honor reserved for those who are shaping the future of energy and water through innovation, foresight, and purpose.

This year’s visionary Brian Bentz, and Paul Lau - embodied what industry innovation truly looks like. Their leadership is rewriting the rules of what’s possible in utilities today. Each, in their own way, is proving that transformation isn’t a trend - it’s a responsibility to build a more sustainable, intelligent, and customer-first energy future. Together, they represent a new era of utility leadership - one defined by courage, collaboration, and the conviction to act.

Brian Bentz, President and CEO of Alectra Utilities, was recognized for transforming Alectra into a model of digital innovation that blends technology, community, and sustainability to deliver real impact. Under his leadership, Alectra has become a benchmark for how utilities can use intelligence and empathy to power meaningful progress.

And Paul Lau, CEO and GM of SMUD, was honored for his vision in transforming SMUD into a data-driven, AI-powered utility championing clean energy and community progress. His commitment to pairing technology with purpose continues to set an industry standard for innovation with impact.

Technology leadership took center stage next, with Gibbons Saint Paul, Director of Customer Modernization at Salt River Project, receiving the Tech Leader of the Year recognition at the WE3 Annual Awards 2025. Gibbons has been a driving force behind SRP’s digital evolution - leading modernization initiatives that deliver seamless, personalized experiences across its diverse customer base.

The Customer Transformation Leader of the Year award was presented to Jody Allison, Vice President – Customer Transformation, Xcel Energy, for her visionary approach to customer-centric innovation that bridges technology with empathy and creates meaningful digital experiences built on trust.

AI Innovation Leader of the Year went to Raied Stanley, VP and CIO at SouthWest Gas, for his forward-thinking leadership in using AI to optimize operations, anticipate customer needs, and drive intelligent, proactive engagement. His vision for AI-powered automation has helped Southwest Gas evolve into a truly connected, intelligent utility of the future.

Brandy Bolden, Chief Customer Officer at SMUD, was recognized as the Digital Customer Champion of the Year. Her people-first approach to innovation has embedded empathy, accessibility, and intelligence across SMUD’s digital journey, empowering communities with connected and meaningful energy experiences.

Leaders shared the stage for the Digital Business Technology Leader of the Year honor. Marney Antunes, Distribution EVP at CEMIG, was celebrated for leveraging analytics and digital intelligence to redefine efficiency and operational resilience.

Emerging talent was also in the spotlight, highlighting the next generation of leaders driving the industry forward. Mandip Samra, General Manager of Burbank Water and Power, was named Rising Industry Leader of the Year for her dynamic leadership and focus on accelerating digital transformation to build connected, customer-focused utilities. Reagan Monroe, VP - Customer Experience at SouthWest Gas, received the Customer Innovation Leader of the Year award for pioneering customer-centric initiatives that strengthen engagement and trust through intelligent, connected digital experiences.

As the evening progressed, the spotlight turned to the organizations that continue to drive transformation at scale - those that are proving digital innovation isn’t just an advantage, it’s the new foundation of modern utilities.

The Customer Experience Transformation of the Year award recognized Salt River Project (SRP), Duke Energy, Aqualectra, and GASMIG for setting new benchmarks in digital engagement and personalization. SRP, a utility with a century-long legacy of trust, continues to elevate customer experiences through innovation and data-driven insights, turning interactions into intuitive and impactful moments. Duke Energy was celebrated for connecting millions of customers through one unified digital platform, making every interaction simpler and smarter. Aqualectra’s focus on transparency and convenience redefined accessibility for its customers, while GASMIG transformed customer experience across Brazil’s energy landscape through AI-driven automation and personalization.

The Energy Future Innovator Award honored Alectra Utilities, Delsur, and the City of Lodi for their forward-thinking use of AI and digital intelligence to optimize grid operations and enable connected, efficient ecosystems. Alectra Utilities is leading the evolution toward a smarter energy ecosystem, leveraging AI for predictive insights and distributed energy integration. Delsur’s customer-centric approach to digital innovation is strengthening community engagement, while the City of Lodi continues to redefine how local utilities lead with technology and purpose.

Dominion Energy and CPS Energy were honored with the Trusted Utility Partner Award for redefining transparency and reliability through technology and collaboration. Dominion’s data-driven digital experiences have strengthened connections with over seven million customers, while CPS Energy’s integration of field operations and customer experience exemplifies how technology and purpose come together to deliver reliability and trust at scale.

The Workforce Experience Transformation of the Year award was shared by APS and PG&E, recognizing utilities that are empowering their field teams through intelligent, connected tools. APS has redefined operational excellence by modernizing field operations and enhancing collaboration, while PG&E’s focus on mobile-first platforms has created a connected, agile workforce that delivers faster and more customer-focused service.

The Leadership in Connected CX + WX Experiences Award was presented to OPPD, honoring its visionary approach to building a truly connected utility powered by AI-driven collaboration. By uniting customer and workforce platforms, OPPD has delivered predictive insights, real-time communication, and operational excellence.

SDG&E was honored with the Leadership in Business Experience & Automation Award for transforming enterprise operations through AI-driven automation and intelligent workflows. Serving over 3.7 million people across Southern California, SDG&E has modernized systems to give customers real-time control over their energy use and continues to set benchmarks for reliability and customer satisfaction.

Washington Gas and NiSource earned the Digital AI Transformation of the Year Award for embedding AI into the heart of their operations. Washington Gas unified billing, payments, and usage insights into an intelligent ecosystem that connects people, data, and purpose, while NiSource set a new benchmark in digital excellence by combining automation and personalization to transform customer engagement.

Adding to its achievements for the evening, SMUD received the Vertical AI Breakthrough of the Year Award for pioneering industry-specific AI that delivers real-time insights, proactive communications, and personalized self-service experiences—redefining what a connected, customer-first utility looks like in the AI era.

Global innovation also took center stage with the Connected Experience AI Innovation Award, presented to Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA), Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), and Tata Power. SEWA was recognized for transforming multi-utility engagement through its AI-powered platform and 24x7 virtual assistant, NAFFA’A, delivering seamless support across services. BPC was celebrated for leading digital transformation across Africa’s energy landscape with AI-driven automation and real-time insights that strengthen reliability and access. Tata Power earned recognition for its My Tata Power App, which brings together billing, usage insights, rooftop solar, and EV management into one connected, intelligent experience for millions of customers.

Each of these organizations demonstrated what the WE3 Awards stand for - innovation with intent, technology with trust, and transformation that truly connects people, platforms, and purpose.

The night continued with partner recognitions that celebrated the ecosystem powering digital transformation forward - because no movement of this scale happens alone. The WE3 Annual Awards spotlighted the technology partners, strategic collaborators, and innovators who are helping utilities around the world move faster, think smarter, and operate with purpose.

PwC received the Leadership in Industry Co-Innovation Award for redefining what collaboration looks like in the modern energy landscape. By blending deep industry expertise with cutting-edge digital strategy, PwC has co-created transformative solutions that accelerate customer experience, enhance operational efficiency, and drive measurable digital adoption -proving that when partners share a vision, progress follows.

SAP was named the Partner Excellence & Growth winner for empowering utilities with intelligent, connected innovation. Through seamless enterprise integration and scalable technology frameworks, SAP continues to enable utilities to move from data to decision faster, turning digital transformation into tangible business outcomes.

The Digital Payment Partner of the Year honor went to PayPal, recognized for revolutionizing the way utilities and customers transact. With a focus on security, simplicity, and accessibility, PayPal has made payments more frictionless than ever - building trust in every transaction and reimagining how digital finance fits into everyday utility experiences.

Two organizations shared the spotlight as Business Transformation Partners of the Year: iGreenTree and Bridgewater Consulting. iGreenTree was celebrated for leading utilities through enterprise-wide digital modernization, harnessing AI-driven strategies and intelligent services to improve agility and operational performance. Bridgewater Consulting was recognized for its pivotal role in enabling utilities to achieve operational excellence through process simplification, optimization, and scalable innovation.

Finally, Landis+Gyr (L+G) was named the Technology Transformation Partner of the Year for advancing the industry through intelligent solutions that enable smarter grids, connected operations, and data-driven decision-making. Its work continues to push the boundaries of efficiency, reliability, and sustainability across the global energy landscape.

As each partner took the stage, one message echoed through the ballroom: progress isn’t just about technology - it’s about partnership. Every collaboration, every innovation, and every shared milestone reinforced the belief that transformation begins with trust and thrives through teamwork.

By the end of the evening, it was clear that the WE3 Annual Awards 2025 had done more than honor excellence - it had captured the pulse of an industry in motion. One where innovation meets intention, people meet progress, and technology meets transformation.

The night may have come to a close, but its message continues to inspire: the future of energy and water is being shaped by those who lead with vision, act with purpose, and innovate with heart.

Until we meet again, let the spirit of WE3 continue to ignite new ideas, new collaborations, and new possibilities.

See you next year at the WE3 Summit 2026 - November 10 – 12.

Join the movement. Be part of the future. www.we3summit.com