The NARUC Center for Partnerships & Innovation facilitates various state working groups open to any commissioner or commission staff interested in learning from experts and collaborating with peers across the country. All of the NARUC state working groups listed below are accepting new members. If you are interested in joining any of these working groups, please be sure to contact the listed representatives found under each working group description.
Energy Security and Grid Resilience Cohorts: To respond to state needs around implementation of federal grid resilience funding and state energy security plans, public utility commissions, state energy offices, consumer advocates, and emergency management agencies are being supported to exchange ideas and get input on best practices for advancing critical energy topics in their states. Six cohorts are operating for the remainder of 2024: (1) Grid resilience grant implementation, (2) Risk assessment approaches, (3) Risk mitigation strategies, (4) Regulatory mechanisms for grid resilience, (5) Resilience valuation frameworks, (6) Grid resilience metrics. To express interest and for questions, contact Hyleah O'Quinn.
Electric Vehicles State Working Group: Reflecting the rise in electric vehicle adoption and related investments and the increased interest from utilities and commissions, NARUC facilitates a learning group on electric vehicles. Members hear from experts and peers and discuss regulatory topics related to EVs during monthly webinars. This working group meets monthly. To express interest and for questions, contact Robert Bennett.
Transmission State Working Group: Efficient development and deployment of transmission is essential to prepare for the grid needs of the future. This working group brings together state utility commissioners and commission staff in 6 meetings per year to explore the commission role and influence on transmission development and evaluation. This working group meets bi-monthly. To express interest and for questions, contact Sarah Fitzpatrick.
Performance-Based Regulation State Working Group: Several public utility commissions, state legislatures, and utilities are exploring alternative ratemaking, including performance-based (PBR). NARUC facilitates the PBR State Working Group, which meets six times per year (usually virtually) to support commissioners and commission staff in exploring the degree to which PBR can be a useful tool for balancing the interests of customers and financial requirements for utilities. This working group meets bi-monthly. To express interest and for questions, contact Elliott Nethercutt.
Workforce Development Peer Advisory Group: As public agencies, commissions face numerous workforce development challenges related to hiring, growth and development of staff, implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, and more. NARUC facilitates peer advisory group meetings for open dialogue among state commissioners and commission staff to discuss challenges and successful strategies. This working group meets bi-monthly. To express interest and for questions, contact Hyleah O'Quinn.
NARUC-NASEO Microgrid State Working Group: Microgrids can provide reliable, resilient, affordable, and efficient power to critical infrastructure and other electricity consumers, yet technology, policy, and costs barriers remain. This working group brings together Public Utility Commissions and State Energy Offices to participate in facilitated virtual and in-person discussions. The group explores state needs for microgrids, barriers to broader deployment, and strategies to increase adoption. This working group meets quarterly. To express interest and for questions, contact Kiera Zitelman.
NASEO-NARUC Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings Working Group: The purpose of advancing Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs) and demand flexibility is to optimize energy management by using sensors, analytics, and smart controls to best serve the needs of customers while considering the grid and external conditions (e.g., peak loads and weather). This working group brings together State Energy Officials and state utility commissioners and commission staff to explore opportunities, barriers, and implications of demand flexibility. This working group meets quarterly. To express interest and for questions, contact Jeff Loiter.