People In Power

Conversations with Tricia Pridemore and Jehmal Hudson about the Chairs Council Conference and New Commissioner Orientation.

“We’re already thinking a step ahead on low-carbon resources that will help us decarbonize our steam systems, such as hydrogen. We’re also looking into the methane detectors. So, we’re already building devices and technology for the future possibilities of the decarbonizing grid.”

Extreme weather events can devastate utility infrastructure. This panel on Weathering the Storm (Resilience and Extreme Weather) discussed resilient, cost-effective strategies for safeguarding energy systems while exploring critical questions on responsibility and costs in the face of extreme weather.

As the global energy landscape pivots toward decarbonization, the role of natural gas has become the subject of intense debate. Given the continued uncertainty surrounding the future of natural gas, how should regulators proceed? This panel, Natural Gas: Risk, Uncertainty, and the Road Ahead, examined ways regulators can navigate the challenges presented by the unsettled role of natural gas as a tool for decarbonization.

“SEARUC will focus on promoting best practices, improving efficiency, reducing regulatory burdens where appropriate, and strengthening the financial prudence of utility operations, all with the goal of delivering value to the consumer.”

“One of the big issues we’ve been struggling with for a long time is that we are constrained in terms of natural gas pipelines coming into the region. That puts us at risk, particularly during winter months when gas gets prioritized for home heating, and there’s limited ability to bring in more gas to meet peak demand.”

“The Western Conference is also initiating a Commissioner-only meeting. Other regions have done that, and it might be the first one in recorded memory for the WCPS. We’re all looking forward to getting together in Scottsdale Arizona this fall and working through issues.”

“Collaboration is one of the highest priorities. MACRUC has certainly served as an essential platform for collaboration by providing opportunities for Mid-Atlantic regulators to come together and address the regional challenges we face collectively. By sharing practices, we enhance regulatory effectiveness.”

“I’ll always promote the amazing educational programming at NARUC, and we’re fortunate to be members and to avail ourselves of that content. But for the smaller regions, we’re better able to tailor education to meet the needs of our states, which do differ, to a degree, across the country.”

Conversations with Indiana URC Commissioner Sarah Freeman, Virginia SCC Commissioner Jehmal Hudson, New Mexico PRC Chair Patrick O’Connell, Maine PUC Chair Phil Bartlett, and Mississippi PSC Chair Chris Brown with Paul Kjellander on the MARC, MACRUC, WCPSC, NECPUC, and SEARUC conferences.