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ICER Honors Recipients of 2018 Distinguished Scholar Awards

CANCUN, MEXICO – The International Confederation of Energy Regulators honored the 2018 recipients of the ICER Distinguished Scholar Awards, which celebrate important contributions to scholarship in electricity and natural gas regulation. The ceremony was held today during the 7th World Forum on Energy Regulation.

The 2018 awards recognize scholarship on the theme of Regulating in a Time of Innovation: Empowered Consumers, Dynamic Markets and Sustainable Infrastructure. Two papers were selected by an international group of leaders in energy and regulation as the best within two categories – Impact on Developing Countries and Next Practices.

“The ICER Distinguished Scholar Awards recognize pioneering thinking in energy regulation,” said ICER Chair and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners President John W. Betkoski III. “Through these awards, regulators encourage research, innovative thinking and sharing best practices to meet the many challenges in the world of energy.”

Impact on Developing Countries 2018 Awardee

This paper argues that to improve the power sector in Haiti, which now constitutes a critical constraint to economic growth, it would be necessary to carry out significant regulatory and utility governance reform. The paper assesses the feasibility of a multi-phase reform program to ensure that it could be economically and financially viable.

Next Practices 2018 Awardee

While the combination of technology, public policies and economics should stimulate additional customer engagement in the future, questions remain about growth in retail electricity markets over the next several years. Utilities will increasingly operate in an environment with a distinct line between engaged and traditional customers, and state utility regulators will face challenges in protecting traditional customers while encouraging utilities to serve engaged customers.

To learn more about ICER and its members, visit: www.icer-regulators.net.