NARUC
Moderator Ann Rendahl is the current President of NARUC, leading the organization of state utility regulators and serving on its Executive Committee and Board. She is also a commissioner on the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Cory Gardner is CEO of The Internet and Television Association. Karen Harbert is CEO of the American Gas Association. Mike La Rosa is a Commissioner for the Florida Public Service Commission. Drew Maloney is the CEO of EEI. Jim Matheson is CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Cheryl Norton is COO of American Water.
From hurricanes to wildfires, extreme events test the resilience of critical infrastructure. These emergencies demand more than technical expertise; they require cooperation across sectors. This session at the 2026 NARUC Winter Policy Summit examined how essential service providers and public officials overcome silos to share resources, prioritize restoration, and communicate effectively under pressure.
This panel, Resilience in Action: Teams Working Together When Everything Else Falls Apart, included moderator and NARUC President Ann Rendahl, The Internet and Television Association CEO Cory Gardner, American Gas Association CEO Karen Harbert, and Florida Commissioner Mike La Rosa, EEI CEO Drew Maloney, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson, and American Water COO Cheryl Norton.
Moderator and NARUC President Ann Rendahl: We're going to have a conversation about how the utility sector works together to prepare, respond, and restore service when the worst happens. These are powerful weather systems and events that impact, and can significantly and catastrophically damage utility infrastructure, and result in significant loss of service and even loss of life. The frequency and severity of these events is causing utilities to change their operations.