The States

“I am always interested in exploring innovation and technology that can better our electric grid and water and gas infrastructure. However, I also generally don’t want to see our utilities as first movers if there are risks to our reliability and affordability in Arizona.”

Conversations with Arizona Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson, Iowa Commissioner Erik Helland, and North Carolina Commissioner Floyd McKissick with former NARUC President Paul Kjellander.

“By implementing a systematic assessment and restoration program, utilities can double that lifespan, extracting 100 to 150 years of reliable service out of a single transmission asset.”

“By upgrading the existing grid, advanced conductors slash deployment timelines from decades to months, integrating large loads faster and more affordably.”

“Everyone in the regulatory space wants to understand outcomes. When a utility spends ratepayer dollars, stakeholders must see the resulting risk reduction.”

“Connecting and automating physical grid infrastructure introduces immense systemic complexity compared to traditional information technology networks.”

Four innovators — Dragos, Rhizome, TS Conductor, and Osmose — rewrite the operational playbook for a highly automated and heavily loaded grid.

“Ultimately, adding this massive load expands the economic foundation to absorb the fixed costs of grid modernization, ensuring that future rate increases for everyday citizens are significantly smaller than they would have been without it.”

“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.”