The electricity distribution business is changing rapidly with an increasing need to plan and respond to technical change, growth in dispersed generation and the liberalization of electricity markets and regulation. CIRED, an international electricity distribution conference and exhibition held in Europe every two years, provides an ideal forum for discussing these and other key issues facing the industry. CIRED 2005 will take place June 6-9 in Turin, Italy, at the Lingotto Conference and Exhibition Centre.

The city of Turin was the first capital of Italy in 1861, and it will host the 2006 Winter Olympics. Regarded as a jewel in the crown of Italy, Turin is all set to give CIRED delegates a warm welcome to a venue that will encourage industry professionals to share technical knowledge and expertise. The Lingotto Conference and Exhibition Centre, created by world-famous architect Renzo Piano, was built within Fiat's first major car factory, which was constructed between 1917 and 1920.

CIRED 2003 attracted nearly 1000 conference delegates from more than 50 countries and almost 80 exhibitors from around the world, creating a truly international atmosphere.

Building on that success, CIRED 2005 will include all of the popular features of its past CIRED events, as well as some new features designed to ensure that delegates benefit from face-to-face discussions with key decision makers in the electricity distribution business. Delegates, who represent utilities, academia, manufacturers, consultants and service providers, will have ample time throughout the three-day event to visit the exhibition, where exhibitors will showcase state-of-the-art distribution equipment and innovative hardware and software that optimizes network design, control and management.

CIRED 2005 Program

The opening ceremony will be held on Monday, June 6, at 6 p.m. Welcome addresses will be given by the CIRED organizing chairman and the CIRED chairman, after which the keynote speakers, Francesco Gagliardi, president of AEIT (Federazione Italiana Elettrotecnica, Elettronica, Automazinoe, Informatica e Telecomunicazione), and Franco Reviglio, president of AEM Torino (Azienda Energeticas Metropolitana Toriono), will address the conference delegates and their companions. Following the keynotes, attendees will be invited to the opening of the exhibition and a welcome reception.

The three-day technical conference program will commence on June 7. Attendees will be able to choose from four-track interactive sessions:

ALPHA Sessions. CIRED 2005 has attracted technical papers from contributors around the world. The ALPHA sessions form the core of the conference program, during which 600 papers will be presented and discussed. The papers fall under one of six technical themes: Network Components; Power Quality and EMC; Operation, Control and Protection of Supply Systems; Distributed Generation — Management and Utilization of Electricity; Power Distribution System Development; and Deregulation, Management, Organization and Skills.

BETA Sessions will consist of round-table meetings, research innovation forums and tutorial sessions, each scheduled for a half-day maximum. The sessions will offer discussions between smaller groups of delegates and the distribution industry's leaders and technical experts.

Poster Sessions. In addition to all of the ALPHA and BETA sessions, CIRED 2005 will include poster presentations that will be organized and scheduled in accordance with the conference's six technical themes. These displays will be positioned in the main conference thoroughfare with facilities for contributor/delegate discussion.

Technical Exhibition. The CIRED 2005 Technical Exhibition will be held in Pavilion 5 at the Lingotto Conference Centre. The exhibition will be open for the duration of the conference and is expected to attract more than 100 exhibitors from around the world.

Social and Partners Program

The CIRED organizing committee has arranged an array of half-day and full-day tours for delegates and their companions to enjoy the treasures of Turin and the beautiful Italian countryside and castles in the Susa, Langhe and Canavese areas.

Technical Visits

Three technical visits have been arranged for Friday, June 10, for delegates who would like to visit an ENEL-HV/MV substation or one of two AEM Torino projects.

To register, visit www.cired.org.uk or contact the conference organizer at cired@ieee.org.uk.