People

This session examined how to unlock the full value of demand flexibility innovation in a variety of market and regulatory models. Panelists looked at the value of flexible grid-connected assets and the evolution on the horizon.

With the help of several experts, we’re going to explore key areas that highlight divisions. Those areas are technology, including the digital divide, consumer communication and moratoriums, policy issues, and racial equity. Our members will offer honest perspectives and they’re uniquely qualified in each of these topic areas.

Voted on were Idaho’s Paul Kjellander to be NARUC’s president from 2020 to 2021, along with Virginia’s Judy Jagdmann as NARUC’s first vice president, and Connecticut’s Michael Caron as NARUC’s second vice president.

NARUC carries on, online, with the important business of regulating in the public interest.

Alaska Consumer Advocate Jeff Waller wrote a song about the digital divide.

“If you’re not improving, if you’re not innovating, you’re falling behind.”

California’s utilities are using drones, sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to reduce wildfire risk in ways that would seem like science fiction a few years ago.

Their project prevents mylar balloons from causing a blackout or fire when they float into a power line.

“The hacker can ramp down or up the DC power. We monitor those. If the behavior is not consistent with normal operation, we stop the command from being executed.”

“In nuclear construction, inspecting by removing samples from the structure is not desirable. That is when nondestructive evaluation becomes a key factor in allowing us to inspect.”