San Antonio, Texas: CHARGE North America 2026 convened senior leaders from across the energy sector for two days of strategic discussion, industry insight, and recognition of excellence in energy brand leadership. Hosted at CPS Energy, the summit culminated in the prestigious CHARGE Awards, celebrating organizations transforming brand strength into measurable business value.
Held under the theme “From Uncertainty to Clarity: Turning Brand Strength into Business Value,” the 2026 summit explored how energy companies can navigate volatility, regulatory pressure, stakeholder scrutiny, and technological disruption — while elevating brand from a communications function to a board-level strategic asset.
Throughout the conference, senior executives from utilities, retailers, clean energy innovators, and technology providers examined how brand now directly influences investment confidence, employee engagement, customer trust, and long-term enterprise value.
2026 CHARGE North America Award Winners
The CHARGE Awards recognise excellence in positioning, reputation leadership, employer brand strategy, and clean energy impact. The 2026 winners are:
- Utility Brand of the Year: Xcel Energy
- Retailer Brand of the Year: Octopus Energy
- The World’s Best Employer Brand: NRG Energy
- Clean Energy Impact Brand of the Year: Dragonfly Energy
Each winning organisation demonstrated clarity of strategy, consistency of execution, and measurable commercial impact in an increasingly complex operating environment.
“These awards recognize organizations that understand brand as a driver of trust, transformation, and long-term business value,” said Prof. Fridrik Larsen, Founder of CHARGE. “In today’s energy landscape, clarity is a competitive advantage. The companies recognized this year are proving that strong brand leadership directly contributes to measurable performance.”
Rising Stars in Energy Branding 2026
The Rising Stars category honours emerging professionals shaping the future of energy brand and reputation leadership. The 2026 Rising Stars are:
- Nour Ghadanfar, Fervo Energy
- Lucia Game, Con Edison
- Maile Resta, rPlus Energies
- Kristina Zagame, EnergySage
- Addie Moore, Solar Energy Industries Association
- Kiana Michaan, Clean Energy Advocate
These six individuals were recognised for leadership, innovation, and growing influence within their organisations and across the broader energy ecosystem.
About CHARGE
CHARGE is the world’s leading platform dedicated to energy brand, reputation, and strategic communications leadership. Since 2016, it has convened global energy executives to explore how strategy, sustainability, technology, and stakeholder trust intersect to drive long-term enterprise value.
The CHARGE Awards celebrate organisations and individuals who raise the standard across the energy industry and demonstrate that brand excellence is a catalyst for measurable business performance.
CHARGE Europe 2026 will take place in Florence, Italy, on 19–20 October, in partnership with Baker Hughes.