The States

“Local leaders must have substantive conversations with developers long before a formal docket opens. Applicants learn quickly that they better be hosting workshops and ironing out concerns before the regulatory clock starts ticking. This is now codified into our permitting law.”

“When we order a utility to make a siting or routing change, we do it because local citizens wrote in, showed up, and made a data-backed case. We force collaboration because it delivers a cleaner, more durable outcome where people get something out of the process.”

“I hope that NARUC participants will see what I love about our Minnesota utility community. We are resilient, practical, and welcoming. I’m so proud of our Minnesota Commission and the larger stakeholder community we engage with.”

“We approved an Xcel Energy pilot project to test a geographic-based approach that targets areas of concentrated poverty. A third party will evaluate the pilot results to understand the efficacy and trade-offs.”

“When I became the Chair, I intentionally directed resources toward public communications and engagement with the legislature to help explain the value of our decisions and our agency.”

The PUC opened its doors to PUF, and Commissioners and Staff took time from their busy schedules to discuss priorities, including affordability, electric-gas coordination, transmission, permitting, and more. Enjoy these conversations with Minnesota Chair Katie Sieben, Vice-Chair Joseph Sullivan, Commissioner Audrey Partridge, Commissioner Hwikwon Ham, and Commissioner John Tuma. Plus, the all-important PUC Staff.

“They want to pay their fair share but run into issues when the Independent Market Monitor and PJM attribute a large amount of the increase in capacity market auction costs to data centers, but those costs are not necessarily being allocated to data centers.”

“Today, hydropower isn’t just about producing energy — it’s keeping the system reliable and responsive, and allowing us to use water more strategically as the grid becomes more dynamic. As demand continues to grow, that flexibility becomes even more valuable.”

The PUF series with Commission Chairs continues with conversations with Idaho Chair Edward Lodge and Illinois Chair Doug Scott, with PUF Senior Advisor Paul Kjellander, featuring his original paintings.

“Should utilities have to disclose to utility regulators when they’re making filings with a regulatory agency that they’ve used AI to develop the filing? Why should they do that or why not, and what should they be disclosing?”