2016 Annual Meeting Presentations
- December 6, 2016
- Value of DER to D
- 2016 NARUC Annual Meeting and Education Conference presentation from Susan Tierney, Senior Advisor, Analysis Group, Inc.
- November 16, 2016
- A Square-Off on Nuclear Policy
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 16, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.A Square-Off on Nuclear PolicyThe Headlines tell the story:These Two Huge States Are Both Going Green, But Only One Is Trying to Save Nuclear Energy; Nuclear's Decline Will Raise Clean Power Plan Compliance Costs; Climate Scientists Urge California to Reconsider Diablo Canyon Closure Plans; Current Plant Closures Expected to Increase U.S. Carbon Emissions by 46 Million Metric Tons.The debate on this issue will unfold live at NARUC! New York and California have taken different policy paths—each with merit. Ralph Cavanagh of NRDC and others will argue which State took the better alternative and why. Commissions and stakeholders will hear varying views on the most efficient way to migrate to a reduced carbon generation portfolio, including how to handle nuclear generation going forward. This problem is front and center before a large number of State Commissions and of interest to all stakeholders in the energy sector.Moderator: Hon. Travis Kavulla, NARUC President, MontanaParticipants:-Ralph Cavanagh, Co-Director Energy Policy, NRDC- Michael Shellenberger, President, Environmental Progress, Co-founder and Senior Fellow at The Breakthrough Institute
- November 16, 2016
- Opening the Door on Open Records Requests
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 16, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Opening the Door on Open Records RequestsWith an increased trend for transparency and information sharing from state, local, and federal governments come an ever-increasing number of Freedom of Information Act requests. Although the Act itself pertains to federal government, there are related guidelines or statutes in place for each state. This session is designed to help states better understand and manage these requests and decrease the chilling effect associated with communicating internally and externally. Attendees will learn more about the rules of FOIA and open records requests, share and hear best practices for effective responses, understand the exemptions and, understand how State regulations on releasing public records differ from federal law.Moderator: Hon. Lamar Davis, ArkansasParticipants:- Kelly Speakes-Backman, Alliance to Save Energy, Commissioner Emeritus Maryland PSC- Rich Heidorn Jr., Editor-in-Chief & Co-Publisher, RTO Insider LLC- Jennifer Murphy, Assistant General Counsel, NARUC
- November 15, 2016
- A Roadmap for a Successful Stakeholder Process
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.A Roadmap for a Successful Stakeholder ProcessBefore that thorny issue becomes a full-blown contested case before your Commission, consider engaging in a stakeholder process. But what does that mean? What does a successful one look like? Failure to engage a stakeholder process could lead to negative consequences such as protests and disruptions that detract from the issues. How do you prevent stakeholder engagement from just being a talk-a-thon leading up to a whole lot of nothing? Hear from stakeholders who will present their ideas about how to make the process work. Learn what tools are needed and how to map successful implementation. Also, learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of the process.Moderator: Ellen Nowak, WisconsinParticipants:- Michael Champley, Commissioner Emeritus, Hawaii- Cindy Schonhaut, Consumer Advocate, Colorado- Elizabeth Upchurch, Senior Program Manager, Stakeholder Relations, Tennessee Valley Authority- John Sterling, SEPA
- November 15, 2016
- Exploring Performance-Based Regulation
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Exploring Performance-Based RegulationSome jurisdictions have moved away from the model of a return-on-rate-base/cost-of-service regulatory model, and have instead targeted utility revenues to establish measures of performance, such as customer satisfaction and reliability. This panel presents a few case studies on what has worked—and what hasn’t. In this session, participants will learn what experiences States and other countries have had in using performance-based regulation, as well as exploring what recommendations exist for implementing it at pilot or scale in your jurisdiction.Moderator: Hon. Kenneth Anderson, TexasParticipants:- Hon. Ken Quesnelle, Ontario Canada- Sonia Aggarwal, Director of Strategy, Energy Innovation- Lisa Frantzis, Senior Vice President, Advanced Energy Economy
- November 15, 2016
- How to Consider Big Data in Prudence Reviews and Rate Cases
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.How to Consider Big Data in Prudence Reviews and Rate CasesBig data is becoming an invaluable tool to power, water, gas, and telecommunications companies. The power of the Cloud and of predictive analytics are opening up services and markets that were unimaginable five years ago. Participants will answer the tough questions: What are the most promising leads? What are the trade-offs, cautions, and wait-and-see areas? Do regulatory structures create barriers, and if so, what can we do about it? What can we do to get out of the way? All attendees will learn about accounting and ratemaking implications of utility expenditures on remotely hosted software. Commissioners and staff will learn what opportunities can be realized for utilities and rate payers from big data analytics, what regulatory structures create barriers to this and how to remove them, and how to judge which investments are prudent in terms of preserving optionality for future innovative issues? Stakeholders will learn how to navigate those regulatory barriers.Moderator: Hon. Brien Sheahan, IllinoisParticipants:- Christopher Franklin, President & CEO, Aqua American Inc.- Dian Grueneich, Board of Advisors, FirstFuel and Senior Research Scholar, Stanford University, and Commissioner Emeritus, California PSC- Nikhil Krishnan, VP of Products, C3 loT Inc.- Kristin Munsch, Deputy Director, Illinois Citizens Utility Board- Kyle Seymour, President and CEO, S&C Electric
- November 15, 2016
- Is Bigger Better? What You Need to Know about Mergers and Acquisitions
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Is Bigger Better? What You Need to Know about Mergers and AcquisitionsWith a few high profile deals already done, another rejected, two recently announced and at least another ten utility companies looking ripe for takeovers, now is a good time to ask whether bigger is better. Experts will discuss why they are happening and how commissions should review them. Attendees will learn the reasons why - despite the time and controversies involved - utilities seek to merge with or acquire other utilities. Commissioners and staff will gain insight on different approaches to reviewing proposals and will learn how to spot the salient issues at stake.Moderator: Hon. Willie Phillips, District of ColumbiaParticipants:- Hon. Thomas Gorak,Hawaii- Dan Ford, Managing Director, Barclays- Elin Katz, Consumer Counsel,Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel- Richard McMahon, Jr., Vice President, Energy Supply and Finance, Edison Electric Institute
- November 15, 2016
- Is There a Federal Infrastructure Package in Our Future?
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Is There a Federal Infrastructure Package in Our Future?For years Congress has been discussing new ways to fund investment to upgrade and repair aging infrastructure across the country. The recent events in Flint, Michigan have shed new light on the infrastructure challenges facing our nation. ASCE issues grades for the different infrastructures: Energy – D+; Drinking Water – D; Waste Water – D. Overall ASCE estimated that $3.6 trillion in investment is needed by 2020 to bring all our infrastructure up to a passing grade. The question is how to pay for it? Presidential and congressional candidates are increasingly talking about the need to invest in America’s infrastructure. With a new President and new Congress the initiative may get some traction in 2017. If so what form would this federal funding take? What priorities would States and the utility sector be looking for in such funding?Moderator: Hon.Robert Powelson, PennsylvaniaParticipants:- Hon. Mary Anna Holden, New Jersey- Anthony F. Earley, Jr., Chairman, CEO and President, PG&E Corporation- Christopher Guith, Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy- Walter Lynch, Chief Operating Officer, American Water
- November 15, 2016
- Methane Regulation: The Achilles Heel of Natural Gas
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Methane Regulation: The Achilles Heel of Natural Gas?Plan to attend this unscripted and honest discussion on the PHMSA pending rulemakings on safety issues and on otherplanned regulations that may helpdetermine how durable a future natural gas has as the default fuel for American electric generation.Background: The EPA released sweeping rules targeting methane emissions from new or modified oil and gas wells, as well as equipment that transports and stores oil and natural gas. The regulations drew sharp criticism as costly and unnecessary. EPA says the new rules will cost operators at least $530 million – adding more financial burdens to a stressed industry laboring under comprehensive oversight. The EPA also signaled plans to apply similar rules to existing rigs/equipment and sought more data from industry to study how to further contain emissions.Moderator: Hon. Diane Burman, New YorkParticipants:- Ralph LaRossa, President and COO, Public Service Electric & Gas- N. Jonathan Peress, Air Policy Director, US Climate and Energy, Environmental Defense Fund- Thomas Hutchins, P.E., Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety, Kinder Morgan- Andrew Woerner, Partner, ERM- PHMSA, Senior Staff Representative
- November 15, 2016
- RTO/ISO Governance: When Should States Lead, Follow or Get OUt of the Way?
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.RTO/ISO Governance: When Should States lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way?States are all over the map in terms of their involvement in the decision-making process of ISOs and RTOs. Should they be in the driver’s seat on certain questions, like transmission cost allocation and resource adequacy, or should they tend to their knitting back home? State representatives will share their experience on the regional state committees that do everything from making decisions to providing advice to the multi-state organized markets. Commissioners and staff will learn about different approaches to the RTO/ISO stakeholder processes, the most effective ways to participate; how regional RTO/ISO committees differ from and interact with regional NARUC organizations; and what actions within and outside the stakeholder process can have the most impact. Stakeholders will hear about Commission priorities and learn about best methods to engage with Commissions on RTO/ISO issues.Moderator: Hon. Sarah Hofmann, VermontParticipants:- Hon. Asim Haque, Ohio- Hon. Angela Weber, Indiana- Paul Suskie, Southwest Power Pool- Stacey Crowley, California ISO
- November 15, 2016
- Storage: A Power System Game Changer?
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Storage: A Power System Game Changer? A variety of storage technologies are capable of providing grid-supporting functions. Participants will discuss how the latest research on power system storage, including large-scale and aggregated small scale stationary batteries, hold potential to support the power grid, and what the latest technology and cost trends are. Commissioners and others will learn how it can be evaluated in the context of an IRP. Lastly, attendees will learn what types of services storage provides that should be paid for in an RTO setting, including what the different rules are for different types of storage systems, and what initiatives are helping or hindering incorporation ofelectric storage assets into the wholesale markets.Moderator: Hon. Matthew Schuerger, MinnesotaParticipants:- Hon. Liane Randolph, California- Kiran Kumaraswamy, Market Development Director - AES Energy Storage- Steve Willard, Technical Executive - Energy Storage and Distributed Generation, EPRI
- November 14, 2016
- A Wholesale Market for Water: Do we need an ISO?
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 14, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.A Wholesale Market for Water: Do we need an ISO?As water scarcity becomes an increasing issue, especially in the western states, new and creative ideas to address the cost of water resources. Wholesale rates for water can differ widely especially between urban drinking water and rural agricultural uses. In the electric industry RTO/ISOs create a market for pricing the commodity. Participants will discuss the applicability of locational marginal pricing to the water industry to ensure that increasing water scarcity can be managed at least cost, for the benefit of all customers. Attendees will learn what adaptations from electricity market design would be necessary to model the hydrological, environmental and legal constraints of water supply.Moderator: Hon. Doug Little, ArizonaParticipants:- Hon. Catherine Sandoval, California- Frank A. Wolak, Director, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, Professor, Department of Economics, Stanford University- Thomas Smegal, Vice President, CFO & Treasurer, California Water Service Group- Disque Deane, Jr., CIO and Co-Founder, Water Asset Management
- November 14, 2016
- Charging Ahead: Rate Design & Electric Vehicles
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 14, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Charging Ahead: Rate Design & Electric VehiclesElectric vehicles are on the street and charging all around us, so what are the rules of the road? This session will review the role of the commission, utilities, and the stakeholders when it comes to electric vehicle rate design. State Commissioners will highlight proceedings which have discussed the appropriate role of the utility in investing in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and whether it will be rate based, or ‘below the line’ as an unregulated enterprise. Attendees will hear about the year-long investigation the State of Oregon initiated as well as pilot projects California has underway. Attendees will learn about 6 factors the State or Oregon used for consideration when determining whether to grant cost recovery.Moderator: Hon. Jeannette Mills, MarylandParticipants:- Hon. Carla Peterman, California- Hon. Norm Saari, Michigan- Bob Jenks, Oregon CUB
- November 14, 2016
- Earthquake Impacts from Waste Water Injection from Oil and Gas Production
- Meeting session presentation delivered November 14, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Earthquake Impacts from Waste Water Injection from Oil and Gas ProductionSpeaker: Hon. Dana Murphy, Oklahoma
- November 14, 2016
- Into Darkness: The Use of Interactive Exercises to Reduce Unknowns for Commissions
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 14, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Into Darkness: The Use of Interactive Exercises to Reduce Unknowns for CommissionsMany infrastructure challenges come from preparing for events that have never happened before. These "unknown unknowns" may be impossible to predict until after they’ve happened. A number of State Commissions have used tabletop exercises to help prepare for unpredictable events like earthquakes, cyber-attacks, terrorism, and even more mundane threats like rapid changes in technology and markets or renewable energy adoption. Commissions will learn how other states have learned from the interactive approach of using tabletop exercises. Commissions will hear about success stories and how they can replicate this preparedness. Stakeholders will learn how interactive exercises can contribute to building strong partnerships between public and private sectors, which is an essential precursor for effective communication in emergencies. A mini-interactive demonstration will be produced to illustrate some of the ways this approach can help your Commission navigate the unknown.Moderator: Hon. Rick Mroz, New JerseyParticipants:- Hon. Gladys Brown, Pennsylvania- Hon. Phil Jones, Washington
- November 14, 2016
- Irrigation and Large Volume Water Use: Balancing Economic Interests, Conservation Efforts, and Rate Impact
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 15, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Irrigation and Large Volume Water Use: Balancing Economic Interests, Conservation Efforts, and Rate ImpactIrrigation and other large volume water use sustain important economic interests including agriculture and recreational activities such as the golf course industry. The panel will discuss what efforts are being undertaken to improve irrigation practices to sustain those interests while being engaging in conservation practices. The panel will also discuss how State regulators and the water utilities they regulate can facilitate improved irrigation practices.Moderator:Hon. Mary-Anna Holden, New JerseyPanelists:- Brian Brady, General Manager, Fallbrook Public Utilities District- Don Distante, Director of Planning and Strategic Projects, SUEZ North America- Tracy Quinn, Policy Analyst, Water Program, Natural Resources Defense council- Jim Schmid, Director of Agronomy, The Lakes Country Club- William J. Steele, Area Manager, Southern California Area Office, United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
- November 14, 2016
- Market Darlings: Understanding the Appeal of Regulated Utilities in Today’s Capital Markets
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 14, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Market Darlings: Understanding the Appeal of Regulated Utilities in Today’s Capital MarketsUtilities are trending hard on Wall Street and are red hot for investors seeking to mobilize capital. Just how sweet of a deal are utilities getting? Debt has never been cheaper, but utilities resist the opportunity to debt-finance big investments, maintaining a capital structure that is still heavier on equity than their peers in Canada. Meanwhile, authorized returns on equity have fallen only slightly, and not as much as treasury rates have. Participants will learn what the underlying economics are and hear why financial players are responding with such interest.Moderator: Hon. David Ziegner, IndianaParticipants:- Hon. Ron Brise, Florida- Hon. Moin Yahya, Alberta Utilities Commission- James Coyne, Senior Vice President, Concentric Energy Advsors- Randy Woolridge, Professor of Finance, The Goldman, Sachsand Frank P. Smeal Endowed University Fellow in Business Administration, President, Nittany Lion Fund, LLC, The Pennsylvania State University
- November 14, 2016
- NARUC 128th Annual Meeting - Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment Presentations - November 14, 2016
- NARUC 128th Annual Meeting - Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment Presentations - November 14, 2016
- November 14, 2016
- The Architecture of Modern Telecommunications & What It Says About Competition
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 14, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.The Architecture of Modern Telecommunications & What It Says About CompetitionWhat is regulated (or not) in the world of communications depends on whether there is sufficient competition for the service in question. Some services (long-distance) are obviously competitive; others (special access on which business data service relies) perhaps less so. This informative tutorial walks through the architecture of the modern telecom world and identifies the places that are wide open for competition and those which are bottlenecks.Moderator: Hon. Upendra Chivukula, New JerseyParticipants:- Hon. Sarah Hofmann, Vermont- Hon. Chris Nelson, South Dakota- Earl Comstock, Principal, Fish-Net Consulting, PLLC- Marvin Sirbu, Professor, Engineering & Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
- November 13, 2016
- Beyond Lifeline Reform: Discussion of Other Existing Low-Income Consumer Programs in the Market
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 13, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Beyond Lifeline Reform: Discussion of Other Existing Low-Income Consumer Programs in the Market(Joint session with the Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications)Many rural and low-income customers now have access to broadband through new and modified provider-sponsored programs. Differences in participation qualifications, services, and program successesand failures will be discussed. Will Lifeline and/or other low-income programs be a broadband lifesaver? Join the discussion to find out.Moderator:Phil Boyle, Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, OregonPanelists:- Al Lubeck, Public Policy Director, CenturyLink- David Bergman, Counsel, NASUCA- Don Laub, Vice President of RegulatoryAffairs,Comcast- Mark Brown, Vice President & Counsel, Government Affairs, Charter Communications
- November 13, 2016
- Lifeline Reform Implementation Task Force - Implementation Update and RountableDiscussion
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 13, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.Lifeline Reform Implementation Task Force - Implementation Update and RountableDiscussionOn June 22, 2016 the FCC issued an order modernizing its Lifeline Program to make broadband internet access service available to qualified low income consumers as early as December 1, 2016. Recognizing the impact to the states from the significant changes outlined in the order, in October NARUC convened the Lifeline Reform Implementation Task Force to work with USAC in consultation withFCC staff. The Task Force has begun work to share information, efficiently identify and resolve key short term implementation issues and outline critical outreach for telecom carriers and consumers. This panel will provide an update on the activities of the Task Force to date and engage in interactive discussion of issues and concerns moving forward.Moderator: Greg Doyle, MinnesotaPanelists:- Michelle Garber, Vice President Lifeline Program,USAC- Jessica Zufolo, Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships,USAC
- November 13, 2016
- NARUC 128th Annual Meeting Presentations for the Committee on Critical Infrastructure
- Meeting session presentations compilation delivered November 13, 2016, at the 128th NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, CA.
- November 3, 2016
- NARUC 128th Annual Meeting Program
- A PDF file of the printed program for the NARUC 128th Annual Meeting occurring November 13-16, 2016, in La Quinta, California.
- August 31, 2016
- DRAFT Agenda - NARUC 2016 Annual Meeting
- DRAFT Agenda - NARUC 2016 Annual Meeting