SEPA
Sheri Givens is President and CEO of the Smart Electric Power Alliance.
When people talk about the future of the energy sector, the conversation often begins in Washington — federal policy, regulatory direction, legislative priorities. That context matters. But the decisions that ultimately shape how customers experience the grid are overwhelmingly made closer to home.
They are made in state commission hearing rooms, utility planning processes, cooperative board meetings, local government councils, and stakeholder workshops. They are made by regulators, utilities, consumer advocates, and policymakers working through practical questions in real time: how to manage rapid load growth, how to modernize infrastructure while maintaining affordability, and how to integrate emerging technologies without compromising reliability.
What continues to excite me most about this industry is how much innovation is happening at the state level.