Utility CEOs on 'Tightrope' at NARUC Summer Summit

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NARUC

Fortnightly Magazine - September 2024

The NARUC Summer Policy Summit convened in West Palm Beach from July 14 – 17 as pictured in the August issue of Public Utilities Fortnightly. The meeting was presided over by NARUC President and North Dakota Commissioner Julie Fedorchak.

In this issue, PUF brings a look at a General Session that was divided into four panels, with the title, “The Tightrope: Utility CEOs’ Balancing Act.” In those four panels, utility CEOs faced Commissioners and a Consumer Advocate to discuss how they balance new resource investments and grid modernization, while ensuring reliability and reasonable rates. The CEOs grappled with tough questions, including how decisions are made concerning how and when to operationalize new initiatives, and whether communication and engagement levels are adequate.

The facilitators were New York Chair Rory Christian, North Carolina Commissioner Jeff Hughes, South Dakota Vice Chair Gary Hanson, California Commissioner Darcie Houck, and with the Consumer Advocate on all four panels, AARP Florida State President Ken Thomas.

The utility leaders who took part were Exelon CEO Calvin Butler, American Water CEO Susan Hardwick, TECO People’s Gas CEO Helen Wesley, and Xcel Energy Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota President Ryan Long. Enjoy these excerpts of the four panels.

 

Tightrope articles at fortnightly.com

  • The Tightrope: Panel One: North Carolina Commissioner Jeff Hughes, American Water CEO Susan Hardwick, AARP Florida State President Ken Thomas
  • The Tightrope: Panel Two: TECO Peoples Gas CEO Helen Wesley, New York Chair Rory Christian, AARP Florida State President Ken Thomas
  • The Tightrope: Panel Three: Xcel Energy Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota President Ryan Long, South Dakota Vice Chair Gary Hanson, AARP Florida State President Ken Thomas
  • The Tightrope: Panel Four: Exelon CEO Calvin Butler, California Commissioner Darcie Houck, AARP Florida State President Ken Thomas