IEPEC 2027 Call for Abstracts

(printable call for abstracts form)
(online submission form)

IEPEC is excited to announce the Call for Abstracts for the 2027 conference, being held on October 25th-27th, in Minneapolis, MN.

This year’s theme is Rigorous Evaluation in a Disruptive Era.

The theme signals our commitment to methodological rigor and providing meaningful evaluation insights in a time of new tools, focus areas, funding shifts, and the evolving shape of energy programs.

We hope to cover key topics related to this theme, such as:

• Evaluation at the Speed of Disruption
  Rapid shifts in policy, funding, and technology are compressing evaluation timelines and raising the stakes of getting it right, fast. At the same time, consolidation and change within the energy industry are reshaping the organizations doing the work. We welcome abstracts on real-time and embedded evaluation methods, adaptive study designs, and approaches that keep pace with the many changes unfolding around us.

• Maintaining Rigor Under Pressure
  Amid shifting utility priorities, legislative initiatives, the rise of AI, integrated resource optimization, and other trends, staying anchored in strong methods matters more than ever. We invite submissions showcasing how evaluators are sustaining methodological integrity, transparency, and defensibility with real examples of high standards holding firm even as the ground shifts.

• New Tools, New Questions
  AI, automation, and advanced analytics are changing both what’s being evaluated and how evaluation itself gets done. We seek abstracts exploring the use of AI, machine learning, and other analytical tools in evaluation practice, as well as the evaluation challenges these same tools and technologies create in programs.

• Equity in a Shifting Landscape
  Disruption doesn’t land evenly. Evaluators have a role in surfacing who benefits, who’s left behind, and how programs hold up under stress (e.g., grid, climate, economic). We welcome submissions incorporating equity-centered evaluation, resilience metrics, and approaches to measuring differentiated impacts across communities. 

Key Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 10/16/2026
• Webinar – How to Submit a Winning Abstract: September 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: March 2027
• Conference Dates: October 25-27, 2027

For more information on submission guidelines and conference details, email kishagresham@iepeconference.onmicrosoft.com.