8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Closed Session

8:30 - 8:45       Call to Order

8:45 – 9:15      State Roundup Summary

9:15 – 9:45    Lifeline Update

9:45 - 10:15 Department of Homeland Security Update

10:15 – 10:30  Future Meeting Planning

Truth in Billing

The FCC has issued a Public Notice proposing to extend the Truth-In-Billing (TIB) requirements to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers either one-way or two-way.  The FCC also proposes to require carriers to separate government-mandated charges from other charges on consumers’ telephone bills.  The Panelists will address what the FCC is proposing, what this means to consumers, and what public interest issues may arise in connection with the issues under consideration in this proceeding. 

Moderator:

Cary Hinton, DC PUC

Panelists:

David C. Wallden, Esq., Managing Partner, Kairos Partners 

Johnathan Marashlian, Esq., Communications Law Group 

NASUCA, Invited

Rural Development Opportunity Fund:  What the Bidding States Might Want to Think About

The FCC just adopted final rules that will govern the Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RuDOF) auction.  The auction is almost certain to occur this year.  This means that bidders from multiple states could be in direct competition with bidders from other states for the limited support.  The panelists will discuss the issues from their auction experience that bidding states might want to consider and think about to make their bids more successful.  This supplements the Commissioners’ efforts to expand the states’ efforts knowledge about RuDOF. 

Moderator:

Daniel Klein, ID PUC

Panelists:

Joe Gillan, Gillan Associates 

Carol Mattey, Mattey Consulting

Johann Clendenin, Commissioner & NARUC Member 

NASUCA, Invited

12:00 p.m.

Closed Executive Session

1:30 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

Hon. Sarah Freeman, Subcommittee Chair, Indiana

1:35 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

1:40 p.m.

ICER and Other Matters

Erin Hammel, Director, International Programs, NARUC

1:50 p.m.

Update on Subcommittee Projects

• New Commissioner Regulatory Orientation
• Other

2:00 p.m.

Update on Staff Subcommittee Projects

• Scholarships

Patti Lucarelli, Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Education and Research, Rhode Island

2:10 p.m.

NARUC Center for Partnership and Innovation Update

Danielle Byrnett, Director of Center for Partnership and Innovation, NARUC

2:20 p.m.

NRRI Update

Carl Pechman, Executive Director

2:40 p.m.

New Business

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

The Future of Fiber

The Emergence of 5G underscores the need for the capacity to transport huge volumes of traffic.  There have also been calls to “future proof” the voice and broadband networks, including the ability to respond to natural & manmade disasters.  Current federal policy such as Auction 903 and the Rural Development Opportunity Fund Program include fiber.  Fiber continues to lurk in the background as the solution to these challenges, an issue heightened by recent studies suggesting that the cost to deploy fiber may be less than the billions stated in the National Broadband Plan of 2009.  The panelists will explore the role of fiber and the technological, economic, and policy challenges it faces going forward

Moderator:

Joe Witmer, PA PUC

Panelists:

Angie Kronenberg, Chief Advocate & General Counsel, INCOMPAS

Kevin De Louise, VP Engineering & Operations, Crown Castle

Lisa Youngers, Fiber Broadband Association

Johann Clendenin, Commissioner & NARUC Member

Teresa Ferguson, State of Colorado

NASUCA, Invited

Networking Break

Section 214:  What's Up with That?

The States have seen a recent uptick in the number and scope of Section 214 Abandonment applications.  The panelists will discuss how the Section 214 process works, the impact of Section 214 determinations, the relationship with the pending UNE proceeding, and what this means to states. 

Moderator:

Angel Stenmark, Mississippi PSC

Panelists:

Angie Kronenberg, Chief Advocate & General Counsel, INCOMPAS   

Randy Clarke, Vice-President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, CenturyLink

Johnathan Marashlian Esq., Managing Partner, Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group

Sana Sheikh, Esq., Sr. Counsel, Granite Telecommunications

NASUCA, Invited

9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Affordable Energy Efficiency Programs: How to Design Programs to Get the Most Customer Participation

Joint with the Staff Subcommittees on Consumers and the Public Interest and Rate Design

Energy efficiency programs are designed to help lower a customer’s energy bills.  But often low-income customers who could benefit the most can’t afford to participate due to the high upfront costs of EE measures or are unable to access financing, or both. This is often true even if rebates or other financial incentives are offered.  This panel will discuss what Commissions and utilities are doing to bridge the energy efficiency program financing gap.  It will highlight results of Pennsylvania’s recent energy affordability study and universal service program review to better demonstrate how to design and implement effective energy assistance programs.  It will also dive into possible rate structures, partnerships with Community Action Agencies and other nonprofit entities, and utility programs offering on-bill financing (OBF) or tariff-based financing (TBF) (e.g., Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS®)). The session will also review Arkansas’s Consistent Weatherization Approach, which is providing EE services, without an out-of-pocket payment, to thousands of customers each year, many of whom are low-income.

Moderator:

Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher for Energy and Environment, NRRI

Panelists: 

Joseph Magee, Energy Policy Manager, Pennsylvania PUC

Wally Nixon, Commissioners' Legal Advisor, Arkansas PSC

Meg Power, Senior Advisor, Community Action Partnership

State Approaches to Electric Vehicle Proceedings

With the increase in electric vehicle adoption in many areas of the country—and projections for even faster growth—many Commissions have been tasked with weighing proposals and decisions related to EVs. As of December, at least 31 states plus DC have seen EV-related filings, with the number growing each year. In this session, organized by the recently launched NARUC Electric Vehicles Working Group, we will hear from three Commissions who have recently completed EV proceedings on topics including charging infrastructure proposals, rates to encourage off-peak charging, and charger rebate programs. Staff from Maryland, Michigan, and Minnesota will each share a case study of their proceeding(s) and highlight how they scoped the issues, how they approached pilot proposals, what decisions their commissions eventually made, and the rationales for those decisions.

Moderator:

Hon. Maria Bocanegra, Illinois, NARUC EV Working Group Chair

Panelists:

Amanda Best, Senior Commission Advisor, Maryland Public Service Commission

Joey Chen, Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Maryland Public Service Commission

Al Freeman, Commissioner Advisor, Michigan Public Service Commission

Hanna Terwilliger, Economic Analyst, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

9:00 - 10:15

Affordable Energy Efficiency Programs: How to Design Programs to Get the Most Customer Participation

Joint with the Staff Subcommittees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Consumers and the Public Interest

Energy efficiency programs are designed to help lower a customer’s energy bills. But often low-income customers, who could benefit the most from energy efficiency programs, can’t afford to participate due to the high upfront costs of EE measures or are unable to access financing, or both. This is often true even if rebates or other financial incentives are offered. This panel will discuss what Commissions and utilities are doing to bridge the energy efficiency program financing gap.  It will also dive into possible rate structures, partnerships with Community Action Agencies and other nonprofit entities, and utility program offering on-bill financing (OBF) or tariff-based financing (TBF) (e.g., Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS®)). The session also highlights results of Pennsylvania’s recent energy affordability study and universal service program review to better demonstrate how to design and implement effective energy assistance programs and reviews Arkansas’s Consistent Weatherization Approach, which is providing EE services, without an out-of-pocket payment, to thousands of customers each year, many of whom are low-income.  

Moderator:

Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher, Energy and Environment, NRRI

Panelists:

Joseph Magee, Energy Policy Manager, Pennsylvania PUC

Wally Nixon, Commissioners' Legal Advisor, Arkansas PSC

Meg Power, Community Action Partnership

Dividing the Pie: New Concepts in Electric Cost Allocation

A lot has changed since the 1992 NARUC electric cost allocation manual was first published. Wind, solar, and storage are now additions to the list of utility resources, and customers are supplying power and grid services from solar, storage, demand response and other distributed energy resources. With the advancement of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), there is also more data available. The recently released, RAP Manual, Electric Cost Allocation for a New Era provides a guide through methods that can more accurately incorporate today’s resources and data into the electric cost allocation framework. This panel will explore the cost allocation handbook and how it can be utilized in future utility rate case proceedings.

Moderator:

Jamie Barber, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Manager, Georgia Public Service Commission and Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Rate Design

Panelists:

Rick Gilliam, Program Director, DG Regulatory Policy, Vote Solar

Jim Lazar, Senior Advisor, Regulatory Assistance Project

Augie Ros, Ph.D., Principal, The Brattle Group

9:00-10:15 a.m.

Affordable Energy Efficiency Programs: How to Design Programs to Get the Most Customer Participation

Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittees on Rate Design and on Energy Resources & the Environment (Ballroom North)

Energy efficiency programs are designed to help lower a customer’s energy bills. But often low-income customers, who could benefit the most from energy efficiency programs, can’t afford to participate due to the high upfront costs of EE measures or are unable to access financing, or both. This is often true even if rebates or other financial incentives are offered. This panel will discuss what Commissions and utilities are doing to bridge the energy efficiency program financing gap.  It will also dive into possible rate structures, partnerships with Community Action Agencies and other nonprofit-entities, and utility programs offering on-bill financing (OBF) or tariff-based financing (TBF) (e.g., Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS®)). The session also highlights results of Pennsylvania’s recent energy affordability study and universal service program review to better demonstrate how to design and implement effective energy assistance programs and reviews Arkansas’s Consistent Weatherization Approach, which is providing EE services, without an out-of-pocket payment, to thousands of customers each year, many of whom are low-income.  

Moderator: Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher, Energy and Environment, NRRI

Panelists: 

Joseph Magee, Energy Policy Manager, Pennsylvania PUC

Wally Nixon, Commissioners' Legal Advisor, Arkansas PSC

Meg Power, PhD, Senior Advisor, Community Action Partnership

Business Meeting

• Minutes from November 17, 2019 NARUC SSWD Meeting in San Antonio, Texas
• NARUC Resolutions

Labor & Workforce Diversity

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 750,000 active members and retirees across North American, who are specialized in various fields such as utilities, construction, telecommunications, manufacturing, and railroads. To address issues important to its minority members and develop the next generation of trade workers, IBEW offers caucuses, like the RENEW/NextGen Caucus, Women’s Caucus, and Minority Caucus, to facilitate support, resources, and solutions to these causes. Additionally, local union chapters are also focused in fostering workforce diversity throughout the country and similarly recognize the need create opportunities to train the next generation with much focus on inner-city residents. With the need and demand of infrastructure modernization, which requires the skill of the trades, a great potential exists for labor unions, such as the IBEW, to fill the workforce gaps across the utility. Accordingly, it is critical for industry leaders to understand how unions and interested parties can work together to build a diverse and inclusive workforce now and in the future.

Speaker: Donnie Colston, Director, Utility Department, IBEW

Certification & Women-Owned Businesses

The need for supplier diversity is expanding across all the utility sectors. This call-to-action should avail greater business opportunities for new entrants as well as existing participants. Evaluating the requirements to be considered a diverse supplier and the benefits and barriers of operating as a minority-owned business will identify the necessary changes the industry needs to implement in order to continue moving the needle on diversity and inclusion. This panel will highlight the perspective of two women-owned business on the certification process and business development as diverse suppliers.

Speakers:  

• Mary Stephenson-Schroeder, Principal, Stephenson-Schroeder Ltd. & M. Ford Consulting, Inc.
• Anne Serewicz, Senior Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets, CL King & Associates

Open-Mic

Closing Remarks 

1:00-1:05 p.m.

Welcome and approval of resolution

Hon. David Morton - British Columbia, Co-Vice Chair, International Relations Committee

1:05-1:50 p.m.

Joint Session with Committee on Critical Infrastructure

Cybersecurity in the Eurasia and the Black Sea Region: The USAID-NARUC Partnership

For the countries of Europe and Eurasia, cyber attacks are not just a threat, but a reality that came into sharp relief with a 2015 attack that brought down a portion of Ukraine's electric grid. To help forestall future attacks, the US Agency for International Development has partnered with NARUC to create the Europe and Eurasia Energy Sector Cybersecurity Initiative, which is helping to build resilience and expertise within energy regulators in the Black Sea region and beyond. In this session, USAID staff and NARUC participants will discuss the work of the initiative and the progress that ir has made.

Moderator: Hon. Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, Pennsylvania

Panelists:

Hon. Dan Scripps, Michigan

Steve Burns, Chief, Energy and Infrastructure, Europe and Eurasia, US Agency for International Development

1:50 - 2:30 p.m.

Special Session with Department of Energy

Featured participants include:

Karen Evans, Assistant Secretary, DOE

Bruce Walker, Assistant Secretary, DOE

2:30-2:45 p.m.

Joint Session with Staff Subcommittee on Electric Reliability and Staff Subcommittee on Electricity

Electric Reliability and Public Health

There is an obvious connection between electricity and public health: everything from wastewater treatment plants to incubators in neonatal intensive care units are dependent on a reliable source of electricity. Is the best and most cost-effective way to provide that power in areas that face both economic and public health challenges the creation of a centralized grid, micro-grids, or generation on an even smaller scale? Professor Abigail Mechtenberg’s research on the nexus between power reliability and health outcomes can help answer that question. In this presentation, she will discuss her work and present some of the creative solutions that are being developed to address the need for reliable electricity for health facilities in developing economies.

Moderator: Hon. David Danner, Washington

Panelist: Prof. Abigail Mechtenberg, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame

3:45-4:00 p.m.

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Joint session with Committee on Consumers and the Public Interest

Communicating Effectively About Rates

Effective communication about ratemaking and rates is an essential element in establishing the credibility of a utility regulatory agency. In recent years, rate communication has been a central aspect of NARUC’s work with utility regulators in emerging economies, including countries which are establishing cost-based rates for the first time. This work has included the development of a best practices manual for international regulators. Hisham Choueki of NARUC’s international staff, author of the manual, will discuss how it was developed and some of the issues it is intended to address. His presentation will be followed by a discussion with commissioners and staff who have participated in regulatory exchanges that have focused on public outreach and rate communications.

Moderator: Hon. Odogwu Obi Linton, Maryland

Panelists:

Hon. Maida Coleman, Missouri

Hisham Choueki, Ph.D., P.E., NARUC International Department

Andrew Melnykovych, Director of Communications, Kentucky PSC

1:00 - 1:45 p.m.

Joint Committee meeting with the Committee on International Relations

Welcome and approval of resolution

Hon. David Morton - British Columbia, Co-Vice Chair, International Relations Committee

1:05 - 1:45 p.m.

Cybersecurity in the Eurasia and the Black Sea Region: The USAID-NARUC Partnership

For the countries of Europe and Eurasia, cyber attacks are not just a threat, but a reality that came into sharp relief with a 2015 attack that brought down a portion of Ukraine's electric grid. To help forestall future attacks, the US Agency for International Development has partnered with NARUC to create the Europe and Eurasia Energy Sector Cybersecurity Initiative, which is helping to build resilience and expertise within energy regulators in the Black Sea region and beyond. In this session, USAID staff and NARUC participants will discuss the work of the initiative and the progress that ir has made.

Moderators: Hon. David Morton, British Columbia, Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille

Panelists:

Hon. Dan Scripps, Michigan

Steve Burns, Chief, Energy and Infrastructure, Europe and Eurasia, US Agency for International Development

1:45 - 4:20 p.m.

Federal Partnership Update

1:45 - 2:45 p.m.

Special Session with Department of Energy

Featured participants include:

Karen Evans, Assistant Secretary, DOE

Bruce Walker, Assistant Secretary, DOE

2:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Networking Break

3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Steven Harris, Deputy Assistant Director, DHS/CISA

3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Joe McClelland, Director, Office of Energy Infrastructure Security, FERC

4:00 - 4:20 p.m.

Scott Aaronson, Vice President, Security and Preparedness, Edison Electric Institute

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Regulators Role in Communications with a Focus on Tariff Issues  

Joint with the Committee on International Relations

Effective communication about ratemaking and rates is an essential element in establishing the credibility of a utility regulatory agency. In recent years, rate communication has been a central aspect of NARUC’s work with utility regulators in emerging economies, including countries which are establishing cost-based rates for the first time. This work has included the development of a best practices manual for international regulators. Hisham Choueki of NARUC’s international staff, author of the manual, will discuss how it was developed and some of the issues it is intended to address. His presentation will be followed by a discussion with commissioners and staff who have participated in regulatory exchanges that have focused on public outreach and rate communications.

Moderator: Hon. Odogwu Obi Linton, Maryland

Panelists:

Hon. Maida Coleman, Missouri

Hisham Choueki, Ph.D., P.E., NARUC International Department

Andrew Melnykovych, Director of Communications, Kentucky PSC

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage: Reflections on the Past Decade and Outlook into the 2020s

2019 saw multiple leaps forward in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies capable of decreasing emissions from fossil-fueled power generation and industrial processes. This discussion will focus on:

• The most recent Global Status of CCS report, released by the Global CCS Institute in December 2019;
• The U.S. federal approach to funding research, development, and demonstration projects through the National Energy Technology Lab and U.S. Department of Energy; and
• Meeting the Dual Challenge: A Roadmap to At-Scale Deployment of Carbon Capture, Use, and Storage, a 2019 report from the National Petroleum Council in response to a request from the Secretary of Energy. 

Moderator: James Branscomb, Senior Technical Engineer, Wyoming Public Service Commission

Panelists:

Lee Beck, Senior Advocacy and Communications Advisor, Global CCS Institute

Lynn Brickett, Carbon Capture Program Manager, Office of Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Jan Mares, Senior Advisor, Resources for the Future

1:45 - 2:30 p.m.

2:45-3:45 p.m.

Special Session with Department of Energy (Congressional Ballroom)

Featured participants include:

Karen Evans, Assistant Secretary, DOE

Bruce Walker, Assistant Secretary, DOE

Electric Reliability and Public Health (Ballroom South)

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committee on International Relations, Staff Subcommittee on Electricity, and Staff Subcommittee on Electric Reliability and Resilience

There is an obvious connection between electricity and public health: everything from wastewater treatment plants to incubators in neonatal intensive care units is dependent on a reliable source of electricity. Is the best and most cost-effective way to provide that power in areas that face both economic and public health challenges the creation of a centralized grid, micro-grids or generation on an even smaller scale? Professor Abigail Mechtenberg’s  research on the nexus between power reliability and health outcomes can help answer that question. In this presentation, she will discuss her work and present some of the creative solutions that are being developed to address the need for reliable electricity for health facilities in developing economies.

Moderator: Hon. Dave Danner, Washington

Panelist: Prof. Abigail Mechtenberg, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Adoption of IEEE 1547-2018 and Interconnection Procedures

Joint session co-sponsored by the Staff Subcommittees on Electricity and Electric Reliability and Resilience

As more distributed energy resources (DERs), like solar and storage, interconnect with the utility distribution grids, it is important that both the DERs and the grids are reliable. IEEE 1547 is a foundational, technology neutral standard for the interconnection and interoperability of DERs that, when adopted at the State level, provides commissions and utilities with the framework and tools to ensure reliable interconnection and operation of DERs in distribution systems. This session will address the technical considerations and best practices for updating DER interconnection procedures. 

Moderator: Michelle Rosier, DER Specialist, MN PUC

Panelists:

Jay Liu, Sr. Lead Engineer, Infrastructure Coordination, PJM

Michael Ingram, Chief Engineer, Sensing and Predictive Analytics, NREL

Ryan Quint, Senior Manager, Advanced System Analytics and Modeling, NERC

1:45 - 2:30 p.m.

2:45-3:45 p.m.

Special Session with Department of Energy (Congressional Ballroom)

Featured participants include:

Karen Evans, Assistant Secretary, DOE

Bruce Walker, Assistant Secretary, DOE

Electric Reliability and Public Health (Ballroom South)

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committee on International Relations, Staff Subcommittee on Electricity, and Staff Subcommittee on Electric Reliability and Resilience

There is an obvious connection between electricity and public health: everything from wastewater treatment plants to incubators in neonatal intensive care units are dependent on a reliable source of electricity. Is the best and most cost-effective way to provide that power in areas that face both economic and public health challenges the creation of a centralized grid, micro-grids, or generation on an even smaller scale? Professor Abigail Mechtenberg’s research on the nexus between power reliability and health outcomes can help answer that question. In this presentation, she will discuss her work and present some of the creative solutions that are being developed to address the need for reliable electricity for health facilities in developing economies.

Moderator: Hon. Dave Danner, Washington 

Panelist: Prof. Abigail Mechtenberg, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Adoption of IEEE 1547-2018 and Interconnection Procedures

Joint session co-sponsored by the Staff Subcommittees on Electricity and Electric Reliability and Resilience

As more distributed energy resources (DERs), like solar and storage, interconnect with the utility distribution grids, it is important that both the DERs and the grids are reliable. IEEE 1547 is a foundational, technology neutral standard for the interconnection and interoperability of DERs that, when adopted at the State level, provides commissions and utilities with the framework and tools to ensure reliable interconnection and operation of DERs in distribution systems. This session will address the technical considerations and best practices for updating DER interconnection procedures.

Moderator: Michelle Rosier, DER Specialist, MN PUC

Panelists:

Jay Liu, Sr. Lead Engineer, Infrastructure Coordination, PJM

Michael Ingram, Chief Engineer, Sensing and Predictive Analytics, NREL

Ryan Quint, Senior Manager, Advanced System Analytics and Modeling, NERC 

Regulatory Updates

Commissioners, Staff and the Audience are encouraged to share relevant updates from their states/regions

Moderator: Andreas Thanos,  Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Gas

2:00 - 2:40

Sustainable Energy in America Factbook Briefing

Representatives from the Business Council for Sustainable Energy will offer a preliminary look of the  BCSE-BNEF 2020 edition of the "Sustainable Energy in America Factbook."  The Factbook, produced annually, for the Business Council for Sustainable Energy by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, provides up-to-date, accurate market information about the broad range of industries — energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy— that are contributing to the country’s move towards cleaner energy production and more efficient energy usage.

Facilitator: Lisa Gorsuch, Emergency Preparedness Manager, Public Utility Commission of Oregon

Presenters:

Ruth McCormick, Director, Federal and State Affairs Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Dan LeFevers, Gas Technology Institute

Richard Meyer, American Gas Association

Patrick Serfass, American Biogas Council

Technology Session 

Whether it has to do with safety or the efficient use of our resources, technology groups continue with their efforts to improve today's commercially available solutions, thus assuring safer, more efficient and lower cost delivery of the services consumers want. In this session we will hear about methane capture technologies as well as GTI's Natural Gas Heat Pump roadmap. 

Moderator: Kiera Zitelman, Senior Manager, NARUC Center for Partnerships & Innovation

Speakers:  

Mishal Thadani, Director of Market Development and Policy, Urbint

Dan LeFevers, Director, State & Consumer Programs, GTI

Mike McMahon, Product Manager, Aclara

REPAIR

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) agency is in the process of launching a 3-year, $38 million program, appropriately named REPAIR, to develop low-cost alternatives for replacing cast iron and bare steel gas distribution mains. A representative of the DOE's ARPA-E  will present the program's objectives.

Facilitator: Andreas Thanos,  Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Gas

Presenter: Jack Lewnard, Program Director, ARPA-E

Dynamic Delivery; America's Evolving Oil and Natural Gas Transportation Infrastructure

The National Petroleum Council recently posted the draft report on the oil and natural gas transportation infrastructure.  The audience will be provided with a summary and major conclusions of the over 600 page report.   

Facilitator: Andreas Thanos,  Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Gas

Presenter: James A. Slutz, Director of Study Operations,  National Petroleum Council

Natural Gas Bans

This session is a continuation of the discussion on natural gas bans that took place in San Antonio, TX -- during the Annual Meeting.  As more towns are considering imposing natural gas bans on new construction, consumers, the industry and regulators are expected to deal with a new reality.  Do gas bans violate consumers' rights?  What is the financial impact on consumers?  At a time when regions continue to rely on coal and oil for power generation, do such bans make sense?

The session is intended to encourage a discussion following brief presentations.   

Moderators: Andreas Thanos,  Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Gas

                     Lisa Gorsuch, Vice-Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Gas

Participants:

Angela O'Connor, Commissioner Emeritus, Angela O' Connor, Inc.

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

Bill Malcolm, Senior Legislative Representative, State Advocacy and Strategy Integration, AARP

Zach Kravitz, Director, Rates & Regulatory Affairs, Northwest Natural

Dan Lapato, Senior Director, State Affairs, American Gas Association

10:45-11:45 a.m.

The Future of the U.S. Coal Fleet: Retrofit, Retire, or Change the Business Model?

This session will cover the near-term outlook for closing coal plants; the factors that utilities, commissions, and state and local leaders weigh in deciding to close aging plants; retrofit options that can defer plant closures while maintaining energy reliability and regional economic benefits of energy production; and new market opportunities for the coal fleet. 

Moderator:

Hon. Jeremy Oden, Alabama

Panelists:

Dr. Dave Goldtooth, Superintendent of Central Consolidated School District, New Mexico

Don Gaston, President and CEO, Prairie State Generating Company, LLC

Michelle Bloodworth, CEO, America’s Power

Nate Duckett, Mayor, Farmington, New Mexico

Dr. Peter Balash, Senior Economist, National Energy Technology Lab

What’s Next for PJM’s Capacity Market:  Market Implications and Effect on State Policies in the Wake of FERC’s Expanded MOPR Decision.

As states increasingly promote renewable energy and zero or low-carbon emissions resources, FERC’s directive to PJM to expand its price floor to all resources in the capacity market caught many by surprise.  Can competitive markets continue to deliver value if a growing number of state-subsidized resources seek to participate in the RPM?  Moreover, the panel will discuss what can be done to advance and accommodate state policies favoring emissions reduction and to ensure that clean and renewable energy targets are met. 

Moderator:

Hon. Jason Stanek, Maryland

Panelists: 

Travis Kavulla, NRG Energy

Asim Haque, Executive Director, PJM

Christine Tezak, Managing Director, Clearview Energy Partner

Mason Emnett, Vice President, Exelon Corporation

Retired with New Ownership: What Happens to Closed Nuclear Plants that are Purchased by New Companies?

As nuclear plants are retiring around the country, companies are purchasing these assets from the utilities and companies that own them. This panel will examine what goes into this process and the related issues of waste safety and financial safeguards for ratepayers.

Moderator: Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia

Panelists:

Juliann Edwards, VP Business Development, EnergySolutions

Hon. Sarah Hofmann, Vermont

Ted Smith, Senior Project Manager, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Electricity Committee Business Meeting: Featuring -

Hon. Bernard McNamee, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Jim Robb, the President and CEO of NERC, will provide a presentation on GridEx 2019, a grid security exercise.

Resolution Discussion

10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

The Future of the U.S. Coal Fleet: Retrofit, Retire, or Change the Business Model?

This session will cover the near-term outlook for closing coal plants; the factors that utilities, commissions, and state and local leaders weigh in deciding to close aging plants; retrofit options that can defer plant closures while maintaining energy reliability and regional economic benefits of energy production; and new market opportunities for the coal fleet. 

Moderator:

Hon. Jeremy Oden, Alabama

Panelists:

Dr. Dave Goldtooth, Superintendent of Central Consolidated School District, New Mexico

Don Gaston, President and CEO, Prairie State Generating Company, LLC

Michelle Bloodworth, CEO, America’s Power

Nate Duckett, Mayor, Farmington, New Mexico

Dr. Peter Balash, Senior Economist, National Energy Technology Lab

10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

Business Meeting

• Introductions
• Mary Kilmarx Award
• Resolutions
• Center for Partnerships and Innovation Update - Danielle Sass Byrnett, Director
• BCSE-BNEF Factbook Presentation - Ruth McCormick, Director, Federal and State Affairs, Business Council for Sustainable Energy

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

(Congressional Ballroom)

The Evolution of Gas DSM and Energy Efficiency to Keep Up With a Changing World

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Gas

The natural gas market is experiencing a relatively long period of relatively stable, and low, retail prices. Concurrently, it is also experiencing increasing disruption, as it moves from being perceived as a "bridge fuel" to more targeted focus on increased carbon reduction efforts, and feeling potential adverse impacts of expanding electrification efforts. Within this changing world, how does gas DSM and energy efficiency need to evolve? Does measurement and verification need to improve? What has worked around the country to help ensure prices do not spike on rate payers and how do we ensure there is also adequate supply as DSM and energy efficiency are more firmly implanted to be able to deliver for current and new customers.

Moderators: 

Hon. Harold Gray, Delaware

Hon. Dianne Solomon, New Jersey

Panelists: 

Hon. Robert Hayden, Massachusetts

Erick Ford, Executive Director, New Jersey Energy Coalition

Paula Gant, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Commercialization, GTI

Greg Leventis, Program Manager, Electricity Markets and Policy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

What If We Build It and They Don't Come

This panel will challenge regulators, advocates and industry reps to identify and discuss concerns associated with amplified electrification, from potential impacts upon consumers to existential threats to utilities. Panelists will strive to detail the new entrants into the market and their vision for more open and competitive markets, to provide a voice of caution, and to represent the consumer's wants and needs.  

Moderator:

Hon. Jeff Ackermann, Colorado

Panelists:

Christopher Budzynski, Director, Utility Strategy for Exelon Utilities

Bill LeBlanc, Chief Instigation Agent, eSource

Marc Monbouquette, Regulatory and Government Affairs Manager, Enel X e-Mobility

Commissions Know Economics, But Do We Know Economic Development? 

If your commission is expanding decision making criteria to incorporate economic effects or explicitly to achieve certain economic development goals, you are not alone.  More states are asking or telling Commissions to consider the economic impacts of resource plan decisions, policies that promote specific emerging markets, and the potential roles of utilities in helping to achieve diverse labor and community impact objectives.  This hour features a Commissioner round table discussion about these ideas and what different states are directing their regulators to do to incorporate economic development criteria in utility regulatory decisions. 

Moderator: Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher for Energy and Environment, NRRI

Panelists:

Hon. Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island

Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia

Hon. David Ober, Indiana

Hon. Mary Throne, Wyoming

10:45 - 11:45 am

The Future of Gas in a Carbon-Constrained World 2.0

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas and Consumers and the Public Interest

Following a 2019 annual meeting panel on natural gas’s role in a rapidly decarbonizing economy, this panel will explore intersections between climate policies and energy production. With the Natural Gas Supply Association coming out in favor of carbon pricing in electricity markets and American Petroleum Institute’s new climate initiatives, what are the potential impacts on the path forward? For example, what does this mean for carbon pricing on gas-fired (and other types of) generation? What is the gas sector doing to align with state greenhouse gas reduction goals? What may be the role for gas utilities in the energy mix in 2050? Will meeting future GHG goals under various scenarios require more or less geologic natural gas than is currently produced? Relatedly, will meeting goals require shifting the uses of geologic natural gas and / or using gas in new ways? 

Moderators: 

Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York

Cheryl LaFleur, Former Commissioner & Chair, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Panelists: 

Jason Klein, VP, Energy Transition Strategy, Shell Oil Company

Sarah Ladislaw, Senior Vice President & Director, CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program

Humayun Tai, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co. 

Andy Carrasco, Director, Regional Public Affairs, Southern California Gas Company

The Evolution of Gas DSM and Energy Efficiency to Keep Up With a Changing World

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas and Energy Resources and the Environment

The natural gas market is experiencing a relatively long period of relatively stable, and low, retail prices. Concurrently, it is also experiencing increasing disruption, as it moves from being perceived as a "bridge fuel" to more targeted focus on increased carbon reduction efforts and feeling potential adverse impacts of expanding electrification efforts. Within this changing world, how does gas DSM and energy efficiency need to evolve? Does measurement and verification need to improve? What has worked around the country to help ensure prices do not spike on rate payers and how do we ensure there is also adequate supply as DSM and energy efficiency are more firmly implanted to be able to deliver for current and new customers.

Moderators: 

Hon. Harold Gray, Delaware

Hon. Dianne Solomon, New Jersey

Panelists: 

Paula Gant, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Commercialization, GTI

Greg Leventis, Program Manager, Electricity Markets and Policy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Erick Ford, Executive Director, New Jersey Energy Coalition

Hon. Robert Hayden, Massachusetts

Workforce Development Best Practices in Pipeline Safety

The fundamental tasks assigned to utility regulators have remained unchanged for decades.  Least cost, safe and reliable delivery of utility services is what regulators are expected to ensure and promote.  In light of several events in recent years, the panel will discuss “Best Practices” for both regulators and natural gas LDCs as they relate to safety.  Relying on the lessons learnt, the panelists will address the question of “what is adequate staffing” as well as the training of PUC inspectors, LDC employees and third-party contractors in, among others, pipeline inspections, communications and preparedness.  

Moderators: 

Hon. Jay Balasbas, Washington

Hon. Robert Hayden, Massachusetts

Panelists: 

Shane Early, General Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

Massoud Tahamtani, Deputy Associate Administrator,  Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA  

Christina Sames, Vice President, Operations & Engineering, American Gas Association

Kevin Speicher, Chief, Pipeline Safety and Reliability, New York Department of Public Service

Gas and Cybersecurity—What do State Regulators Need to Know?

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas, Critical Infrastructure, and Telecommunications

This panel would discuss critical information that state regulators need to know in the natural gas utility space. This is a follow up from the NARUC November 2019 resolution on criticality of utilities operating in the 6 GHz spectrum band. We will explore what the next steps are, and how we all can be more engaged, as appropriate, in addressing cybersecurity issues in the natural gas space.   

Moderators: 

Hon. Sarah Freeman, Indiana

Hon. Bob Pickett, Alaska

Panelists: 

Sharla Artz, Senior Vice President of Government & External Affairs, Utilities Technology Council

Zoe Cadore, Policy Advisor, American Petroleum Institute

Brian Finch, Partner, Pillsbury Law

Suedeen Kelly, Partner, Jenner & Block and Regulatory Counsel, Protect Our Power

Spectrum Tutorial 101

While state commissioners don’t deal directly with spectrum issues, those same issues are becoming a more prominent part of discussion and emphasis in the telecom space. This session’s discussion is meant to be a brief tutorial on how spectrum is used and licensed, the current issues in the spectrum space including who needs what kinds of spectrum in the future, and how different kinds of spectrum will fill urban vs rural 5G needs. 

Moderator:

Hon. Chris Nelson, South Dakota

Panelist:

Adam Krinsky, Partner, Wilkinson Barker Knauer

Making Technology Accessible to All

Joint session co-sponsored by Committees on Telecommunications, Consumers and the Public Interest

People with disabilities are almost three times less likely to use the internet than those without disabilities, according to research studies, and 48 million people in the U.S. have physical or mobility disabilities that exclude them from being able to use much of the technology, television, and internet services available today. We’ll explore what policymakers, advocates and industry are doing, and can do, to change those statistics and find innovative ways to remove barriers and bridge the digital divide for Americans with disabilities, by making technology, television, and the internet as accessible and affordable as possible to all.

Moderator:

Hon. John Clendenin, US Virgin Islands

Panelists:

Diane Burstein, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau’s Disability Rights Office, Federal Communications Commission

Joel Moffatt, Customer Experience Lead, Comcast

Debra Berlyn, President, Consumer Policy Solutions

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund?

The FCC just adopted rules that will govern the Rural Development Opportunity Fund (RuDOF) auction. Panelist will discuss the auction process and the opportunities for states.

Moderator: 

Hon. Crystal Rhoades, Nebraska

Panelists: 

Michael Janson - Director of the RuDOF Task Force, Federal Communications Commission

Mike Saperstein, Vice President, Law and Policy, USTelecom

Chuck Keller, Partner, Wilkinson Barker Knauer

Mike Romano, Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs and Business Development, NTCA

4:00 - 5:00 pm

Gas and Cybersecurity—What do State Regulators Need to Know?

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas, Critical Infrastructure, and Telecommunications 

This panel would discuss critical information that state regulators need to know in the natural gas utility space. This is a follow up from the NARUC November 2019 resolution on criticality of utilities operating in the 6 GHz spectrum band. We will explore what the next steps are, and how we all can be more engaged, as appropriate, in addressing cybersecurity issues in the natural gas space.

Moderators: 

Hon. Sarah Freeman, Indiana

Hon. Bob Pickett, Alaska

Panelists: 

Sharla Artz, Utilities Technology Council

Suedeen Kelly, Regulatory Counsel, Protect our Power

Zoe Cadore, Policy Advisor, API

Brian Finch, Partner, Pillsbury Law

10:45 - 11:45 a.m.

Business Meeting

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

How to Keep Technology Flowing – Making Life Easy for  Water Utility Customers

Moderator:  Hon. Maria Bocanegra, Illinois

Panelists:

Deron Austin, Director, Water Management Solutions, Mueller

Suzanne Chiavari, Director of American Water Engineering and Resiliency

Debbie Dewey, President, MO American Water

Justin Ladner, President, IL American Water

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.

How to Keep Technology Flowing - Making Life Easy for Water Utility Customers

(Part 2)

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Fireside Chat with NYT Bestselling Author, Seth Siegel

David Stanton, CEO – Utility Holdings, SUEZ North America, will sit down with New York Times bestselling author, Seth Siegel to discuss his new book, Troubled Water:  What’s Wrong With What We Drink. This must-read book is full of shocking stories of contaminated water found throughout the country and the everyday heroes who have successfully forced changes in the quality and safety of our drinking water.  Troubled Water also addresses the positive role that many private water utilities play in this story, and what America must do to reverse decades of neglect of the country’s water infrastructure.  Mr. Siegel is a campaigner for change in water policy in the U.S. and around the world and has been recognized for his thought leadership and advocacy on water scarcity and quality concerns.  He has spoken about water issues before hundreds of audiences on four continents, and in more than 60 U.S. cities.  The discussion between Mr. Stanton and Mr. Siegel is not just for those who follow water issues.  This panel should be of interest to anyone who drinks water and cares about the future of water infrastructure in this country.

10:45 - 11:45 am

(Congressional Ballroom)

The Future of Gas in a Carbon-Constrained World 2.0

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas and Consumers and the Public Interest

Following a 2019 annual meeting panel on natural gas’s role in a rapidly decarbonizing economy, this panel will explore intersections between climate policies and energy production. With the Natural Gas Supply Association coming out in favor of carbon pricing in electricity markets and American Petroleum Institute’s new climate initiatives, what are the potential impacts on the path forward? For example, what does this mean for carbon pricing on gas-fired (and other types of) generation? What is the gas sector doing to align with state greenhouse gas reduction goals? What may be the role for gas utilities in the energy mix in 2050? Will meeting future GHG goals under various scenarios require more or less geologic natural gas than is currently produced? Relatedly, will meeting goals require shifting the uses of geologic natural gas and / or using gas in new ways? 

Moderators: 

Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York

Hon. Valerie Means, Minnesota

Panelists: 

Sarah Ladislaw, Senior Vice President & Director, CSIS Energy & National Security Program

Humayun Tai, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co.

Representative from Shell Energy North America (invited)

Making Technology Accessible to All

Joint with the Committee on Telecommunications

People with disabilities are almost three times less likely to use the internet than those without disabilities, according to research studies, and 48 million people in the U.S. have physical or mobility disabilities that exclude them from being able to use much of the technology, television, and internet services available today.  We’ll explore what policymakers, advocates and industry are doing, and can do, to change those statistics and find innovative ways to remove barriers and bridge the digital divide for Americans with disabilities, by making technology, television, and the internet as accessible and affordable as possible to all.  

Moderator: Hon. John Clendenin, Virgin Islands

Panelists:

Debra Berlyn, President, Consumer Policy Solutions and Project GOAL

Diane Burstein, Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office

Joel Moffatt, CPACC, Principal Product Manager and CX Lead, Comcast Accessibility Team

Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind (ACB)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT – THE REGULATORY TRAINING INITIATIVE (RTI)

Come share food and thought and learn how the NRRI RTI benefits Commissions and Stakeholders! Monday, February 10, from 11:45 to 1:15 in meeting rooms 12-14.  There is no charge for lunch, but pre-registration is required and space is limited!

Registration link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NRRIRTILuncheon2020 [surveymonkey.com]

4:00 - 5:00 pm

(Congressional Ballroom)

Gas and Cybersecurity—What do State Regulators Need to Know?

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas, Critical Infrastructure, and Telecommunications

This panel would discuss critical information that state regulators need to know in the natural gas utility space. This is a follow up from the NARUC November 2019 resolution on criticality of utilities operating in the 6 GHz spectrum band. We will explore what the next steps are, and how we all can be more engaged, as appropriate, in addressing cybersecurity issues in the natural gas space.   

Moderators: 

Hon. Sarah Freeman, Indiana

Hon. Bob Pickett, Alaska

Panelists: 

Sharla Artz, Senior Vice President of Government & External Affairs, Utilities Technology Council

Zoe Cadore, Policy Advisor, American Petroleum Institute

Brian Finch, Partner, Pillsbury Law

Suedeen Kelly, Partner, Jenner & Block and Regulatory Counsel, Protect Our Power

Retired with New Ownership: What Happens to Closed Nuclear Plants that are Purchased by New Companies?

As nuclear plants are retiring around the country, companies are purchasing these assets from the utilities and companies that own them. This panel will examine what goes into this process and the related issues of waste safety and financial safeguards for ratepayers.

Moderator: Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia

Panelists:

Juliann Edwards, VP Business Development, EnergySolutions

Hon. Sarah Hofmann, Vermont

Ted Smith, Senior Project Manager, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

10:45 - 11:45 am

4:00 - 4:15 pm

(Ballroom Central)

Opening Remarks for the Joint Session on Energy Affordability

Hon. Neil Chatterjee, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

4:15 - 5:15 pm

(Ballroom Central)

A New Approach to Energy Affordability

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Consumers and the Public Interest, Electricity, Energy Resources and the Environment, and Gas

This panel will examine the depth of energy affordability challenges in a way that showcases opportunities for regulators to drive a more successful approach. Low- and moderate-income customers and vulnerable populations pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than other customers and experience barriers when trying to access energy. This will continue or worsen under the clean energy future if regulators do not approach the challenges of clean energy and affordability in concert. A typical approach to energy efficiency and other distributed energy resources involves offsetting infrastructure costs with program and participant costs. This trade-off may not necessarily benefit low-income customers, particularly if their program participation rates are disproportionately low. This panel will discuss how regulators, consumer advocates, and utilities can ensure that low- and moderate-income customers receive value from a clean energy future and do not get left behind.

Moderators: 

Hon. Greer Johnson Gillis, District of Columbia

David Springe, Executive Director, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates

Panelists: 

Hon. Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

Elizabeth Stein, Senior Manager and Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund

Ted Trabue, Managing Director, District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility

David Velazquez, President and CEO, Pepco Holdings

10:45 - 11:45 am

Electric Reliability and Capacity: What’s the Role of Resource Adequacy for Keeping the Lights On? 

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Electricity

Utilities must have sufficient resource capacity to reliably meet the aggregate electric power (demand) and energy requirements of electric customers at the times of highest demand and in almost every system condition. Electric reliability involves the balancing of supply and demand, which means that both demand and supply can be considered as reliability management tools. While capacity entails both static output (MW) and ramping or flexible capability (rate of change in MW over time), resource adequacy is a measure of the probability that the utility or region has the capability to meet customer requirements. This panel will provide a basic overview of capacity and resource adequacy, and how the changes in a region’s resource mix and demand capabilities affects capacity and resource adequacy needs. This panel will also review how different regions and markets in the U.S. identify and consider capacity and resource adequacy for reliability planning.

Moderator: Hon. Charlotte Mitchell, North Carolina

Panelists:

Arne Olson, Senior Partner, Energy and Environmental Economics

Glen Snider, Director IRP and Analytics, Duke Energy

Marcus Hawkins, Executive Director, Organization of MISO States

Nick Wintermantel, Principle, Astrape Consulting, LLC

Warren Lasher, Senior Director, System Planning, ERCOT

1:30 - 2:30 pm

The Next Perfect Storm: Corporate and State Clean/Low-/No-Carbon Goals Moving Forward at the Same Time as Existing Generation Facilities Are Retiring. Can the Grid Deliver?

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Electricity

Consumers and corporations are demanding cleaner energy to power their new electric vehicles and newly converted electric household devices. Companies, states, and municipal governments have publicly stated and adopted clean energy and sustainability goals. All of these are changing the face of energy supply and demand. Different types of resources will be needed, peaks can be shaved, and demand will look different. As this is occurring, many baseload generators have retired. However, the remaining and planned generation sources meeting these clean, low/no carbon goals are not always near the demand. New transmission investments are at the intersection of meeting these goals – can our grid deliver? 

• What investments are needed to meet these goals while maintaining grid reliability and efficiency? 
• Will these investments be made, and, if so, how will these investments be planned and how will the costs of these investments be allocated? 
• What are the implications for customers?

Moderators: 

Hon. Talina Mathews, Kentucky

Hon. Kimberly O'Guinn, Arkansas

Panelists:

Bryn Baker, Director of Policy Innovation, REBA

Hon. Carrie Zalewski, Illinois

Claire Moeller, President and COO, MISO

Hon. Jordan White, Utah

Linda Apsey, President and CEO, ITC

Stu Bresler, Senior VP of Market Services, PJM

2:45 - 3:45 pm

In Demand: Regulatory Considerations for Load Flexibility

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Electricity

Historically, utilities offered demand response programs that do not require frequent changes in loads. Customer-sited solar has largely been supported by net metering programs. Now, utility offerings are adapting to more flexible balancing of demand and supply to support enhanced grid reliability, electrification of transportation and other loads, and higher penetrations of wind and solar.  Load flexibility — the capability of distributed energy resources (DERs) to adjust demand profiles across different timescales —  uses a wide array of programs and technologies, including time-varying rates, energy efficiency and other DERs.  This panel will describe key regulatory barriers and solutions to engaging load flexibility in continued support of affordable, reliable electric service. 

Moderator: Hon. Matt Schuerger, Minnesota

Panelists:

Natalie Mims-Frick, Energy Efficiency Programs Manager, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

Phil Markham, Smart Buildings R&D Manager, Southern Company

Ryan Hledik, Principal, Brattle Group 

4:00 - 4:15 pm

Opening Remarks for the Joint Session on Energy Affordability

Hon. Neil Chatterjee, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

4:15 - 5:15 pm

A New Approach to Energy Affordability

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Consumers and the Public Interest, Electricity, Energy Resources and the Environment, and Gas

This panel will examine the depth of energy affordability challenges in a way that showcases opportunities for regulators to drive a more successful approach. Low- and moderate-income customers and vulnerable populations pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than other customers and experience barriers when trying to access energy. This will continue or worsen under the clean energy future if regulators do not approach the challenges of clean energy and affordability in concert. A typical approach to energy efficiency and other distributed energy resources involves offsetting infrastructure costs with program and participant costs. This trade-off may not necessarily benefit low-income customers, particularly if their program participation rates are disproportionately low. This panel will discuss how regulators, consumer advocates, and utilities can ensure that low- and moderate-income customers receive value from a clean energy future and do not get left behind.

Moderators: 

Hon. Greer Johnson Gillis, District of Columbia

David Springe, Executive Director, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates

Panelists: 

Hon. Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island

David Velazquez, President and CEO, Pepco Holdings

Elizabeth Stein, Senior Manager and Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

Ted Trabue, Managing Director, District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility

10:45 - 11:45 am

(Ballroom Central)

Electric Reliability and Capacity: What’s the Role of Resource Adequacy for Keeping the Lights On? 

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Electricity

Utilities must have sufficient resource capacity to reliably meet the aggregate electric power (demand) and energy requirements of electric customers at the times of highest demand and in almost every system condition. Electric reliability involves the balancing of supply and demand, which means that both demand and supply can be considered as reliability management tools. While capacity entails both static output (MW) and ramping or flexible capability (rate of change in MW over time), resource adequacy is a measure of the probability that the utility or region has the capability to meet customer requirements. This panel will provide a basic overview of capacity and resource adequacy, and how the changes in a region’s resource mix and demand capabilities affects capacity and resource adequacy needs. This panel will also review how different regions and markets in the U.S. identify and consider capacity and resource adequacy for reliability planning.

Moderator: Hon. Charlotte Mitchell, North Carolina

Panelists:

Marcus Hawkins, Executive Director, Organization of MISO States (OMS)

Warren Lasher, Senior Director, System Planning, ERCOT

Arne Olson, Senior Partner, Energy and Environmental Economics (E3)

Glen Snider, Director IRP and Analytics, Duke Energy

Nick Wintermantel, Principle, Astrape Consulting, LLC

1:30 - 2:30 pm

(Ballroom Central)

The Next Perfect Storm: Corporate and State Clean/Low-/No-Carbon Goals Moving Forward at the Same Time as Existing Generation Facilities Are Retiring. Can the Grid Deliver? 

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Electricity

Consumers and corporations are demanding cleaner energy to power their new electric vehicles and newly converted electric household devices. Companies, states, and municipal governments have publicly stated and adopted clean energy and sustainability goals. All of these are changing the face of energy supply and demand. Different types of resources will be needed, peaks can be shaved, and demand will look different. As this is occurring, many baseload generators have retired. However, the remaining and planned generation sources meeting these clean, low/no carbon goals are not always near the demand. New transmission investments are at the intersection of meeting these goals – can our grid deliver? 

• What investments are needed to meet these goals while maintaining grid reliability and efficiency? 
• Will these investments be made, and, if so, how will these investments be planned and how will the costs of these investments be allocated? 
• What are the implications for customers?

Moderators: 

Hon. Talina Mathews, Kentucky

Hon. Kimberly O'Guinn, Arkansas

Panelists:

Hon. Jordan White, Utah

Hon. Carrie Zalewski, Illinois

Linda Apsey, President and CEO, ITC

Bryn Baker, Director of Policy Innovation, REBA

Stu Bresler, Senior VP of Market Services, PJM

Claire Moeller, President and COO, MISO

2:45 - 3:45 pm

(Ballroom Central)

In Demand: Regulatory Considerations for Load Flexibility

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Energy Resources and the Environment and Electricity

Historically, utilities offered demand response programs that do not require frequent changes in loads. Customer-sited solar has largely been supported by net metering programs. Now, utility offerings are adapting to more flexible balancing of demand and supply to support enhanced grid reliability, electrification of transportation and other loads, and higher penetrations of wind and solar.  Load flexibility — the capability of distributed energy resources (DERs) to adjust demand profiles across different timescales —  uses a wide array of programs and technologies, including time-varying rates, energy efficiency and other DERs.  This panel will describe key regulatory barriers and solutions to engaging load flexibility in continued support of affordable, reliable electric service. 

Moderator: Hon. Matt Schuerger, Minnesota

Panelists:

Ryan Hledik, Principal, Brattle Group 

Phil Markham, Smart Buildings R&D Manager, Southern Company

Natalie Mims-Frick, Energy Efficiency Programs Manager, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

4:00 - 4:15 pm

(Ballroom Central)

Opening Remarks for the Joint Session on Energy Affordability

Hon. Neil Chatterjee, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

4:15 - 5:15 pm

(Ballroom Central)

A New Approach to Energy Affordability

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Consumers and the Public Interest, Electricity, Energy Resources and the Environment, and Gas

This panel will examine the depth of energy affordability challenges in a way that showcases opportunities for regulators to drive a more successful approach. Low- and moderate-income customers and vulnerable populations pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than other customers and experience barriers when trying to access energy. This will continue or worsen under the clean energy future if regulators do not approach the challenges of clean energy and affordability in concert. A typical approach to energy efficiency and other distributed energy resources involves offsetting infrastructure costs with program and participant costs. This trade-off may not necessarily benefit low-income customers, particularly if their program participation rates are disproportionately low. This panel will discuss how regulators, consumer advocates, and utilities can ensure that low- and moderate-income customers receive value from a clean energy future and do not get left behind.

Moderators: 

Hon. Greer Johnson Gillis, District of Columbia

David Springe, Executive Director, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates

Panelists: 

Hon. Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

Elizabeth Stein, Senior Manager and Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund

Ted Trabue, Managing Director, District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility

David Velazquez, President and CEO, Pepco Holdings

10:45 - 11:45 am

Electric and Gas Coordination and Resilience

This discussion will broadly focus on the natural gas and resiliency needs of electric generators and opportunities for innovation to achieve increased efficiency and sustainability. Panelists will highlight areas of collaboration between the gas and electric industries.

Moderators: 

Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York

Anthony T. Clark, Commissioner Emeritus, Senior Advisor, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Panelists: 

Nancy Bagot, Senior Vice President, Electric Power Supply Association

Stan Brownell, VP Business Development, Natural Gas & LNG, Argus 

Anne George, Vice President, External Affairs and Corporate Communication, ISO New England

Arshad Mansoor, President, Electric Power Research Institute

Matthew J. Picardi, Vice President, Shell Energy North America (U.S.), L.P.

Business Meeting

Federal Regulatory Infrastructure Leadership Roundtable

Moderators: Committee on Gas leadership team

Panelists: 

Shawn Bennett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas, U.S. Department of Energy

Kristy Hartman, Program Director, National Conference of State Legislatures

Dorian Mead, Energy Reform & Reconstruction Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development

Amy Shank, Director of Pipeline Safety and Asset Integrity, Williams

Resolutions and Committee Matters

Mexico Regulatory Reforms

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Gas and International Relations

The United States currently provides the bulk of Mexico's natural gas supply.  This panel will discuss the energy policies of the Andrés Manuel López Obrador administration and how these policies may affect the cross-border trade with the U.S. 

Moderators: 

Hon. Ethan Kimbrel, Illinois

Colette Honorable, Commissioner Emeritus, Partner, Reed Smith LLP

Panelists: 

Duncan Wood, PhD, Director, Wilson Center Mexico Institute

Jose Maria Lujambio, Partner, Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton

Eduardo Prud'homme, Independent Energy Analyst and Contributor to Natural Gas Intel

4:00 - 4:15 pm

(Ballroom Central)

Opening Remarks for the Joint Session on Energy Affordability

Hon. Neil Chatterjee, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

4:15 - 5:15 pm

(Ballroom Central)

A New Approach to Energy Affordability

Joint session co-sponsored by the Committees on Consumers and the Public Interest, Electricity, Energy Resources and the Environment, and Gas

This panel will examine the depth of energy affordability challenges in a way that showcases opportunities for regulators to drive a more successful approach. Low- and moderate-income customers and vulnerable populations pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than other customers and experience barriers when trying to access energy. This will continue or worsen under the clean energy future if regulators do not approach the challenges of clean energy and affordability in concert. A typical approach to energy efficiency and other distributed energy resources involves offsetting infrastructure costs with program and participant costs. This trade-off may not necessarily benefit low-income customers, particularly if their program participation rates are disproportionately low. This panel will discuss how regulators, consumer advocates, and utilities can ensure that low- and moderate-income customers receive value from a clean energy future and do not get left behind.

Moderators: 

Hon. Greer Johnson Gillis, District of Columbia

David Springe, Executive Director, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates

Panelists: 

Hon. Abigail Anthony, Rhode Island

Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point

Elizabeth Stein, Senior Manager and Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund

Ted Trabue, Managing Director, District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility

David Velazquez, President and CEO, Pepco Holdings

10:45 - 11:45 am

Lifeline Program Updates from USAC

The federal Lifeline program continues to undergo tremendous change due to several FCC orders. These changes have shaped the direction of engagement between the states and USAC’s Lifeline division on several key issues. Additionally, the Lifeline Division launched the Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier in all 56 states and territories at the end of 2019, and is shifting its focus from implementation to continuous improvement based on consumer, state, tribal and industry engagement and feedback. USAC’s Lifeline division leadership would like to present key performance metrics, progress updates and implementation goals with the Telecommunications Committee members. Similar to last year, this session would provide valuable insights to both commissioners and USAC about how best to improve the integrity and delivery of this important program.

Moderator: 

Hon. Upendra Chivukula, New Jersey 

Panelist: 

Michelle Garber, Vice President, Lifeline Division, Universal Service Administration Company

Digital Right to Privacy

In the constantly evolving world of digital privacy, policy makers are debating the nature of digital identity and consumers right to control the personal information internet companies collect about them.  This panel will review some of the major state and federal privacy bills being debated, discuss the issues that those proposals raise for both industry and consumers, and talk about what outcomes from these discussions our panelists expect.

Moderator: 

Hon. Michael Caron, Connecticut

Panelists: 

Alan Butler, EPIC General Counsel

Joseph Wender, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Sen. Edward Markey

Jordan Crenshaw, Policy Counsel, US Chamber of Commerce

Real Time Text Capable Telephony?

Real Time Text (RTT) is here. State planning and oversight for how RTT will impact Relay and NG 9-1-1 services is needed as RTT becomes more mainstream and to ensure that consumers who are Deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf-Blind continue to have the ability to utilize the telecommunications network in the most efficient manner possible. This panel discussion provides the perspective of a consumer, a wireless carrier, a relay and 911 services provider. Learn more about how RTT is impacting telecommunications networks and consumers with a specific emphasis on relay and 911 users.

Moderator: 

Hon. Tim Schram, Nebraska

Panelists: 

Seth Marks, Vice President of Engineering, Hamilton Innovations 

Beth Slough, Director of Account Management/Compliance Manager, Hamilton Relay

Drew Morin, Director for Federal Cybersecurity Technology and Engineering Programs, T-Mobile

David Bahar, Director, Telecommunications Access Maryland

10:45-11:45am

ALGAE: It'll Grow on You and Everything Else

Although algae blooms are commonly perceived to be most prominent in temperate climates such as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, they can occur in colder environments and were pervasive across America in 2019.  A harmful algal bloom (HAB) and its toxins can affect water bodies for recreation, agriculture, drinking or eating contaminated fish or shellfish.  The severity of illness and symptoms can vary depending on the type of exposure and the type of HAB toxin.  How do the complex quality and quantity, purification, process upsets and plant discharge issues help or hinder the economic operation of facilities?  Is point-source discharge restrictions for phosphorus an answer?

Moderator:  Hon. Mary-Anna Holden, NJ

Panelists:   

John Albert, Chief Research Officer, The Water Research     Foundation

Cheryl Norton, President, New Jersey; Sr. VP, Eastern Division at American Water

Carol T. Walczyk, Director, Water Quality and Compliance, SUEZ

NARUC Water Committee Tour of DC Water’s Blue Plains Biofuel Facility

The NARUC Committee on Water will be touring DC Water’s Blue Plains biofuel facility on Tuesday, Feb. 11th from 1:30-4:30pm.  

DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant is the largest plant of its kind in the world. On an average day, the facility treats close to 300 million gallons of wastewater and has the ability to treat over 1 billion gallons a day at peak flow. During the treatment process, useful products like biosolids and energy are extracted to be reused. The thermal hydrolysis process used in the digesters generates about 10 megawatts of electricity that DC Water reuses to cut electricity consumption by a third. 

For more information about the Blue Plains facility, visit: https://www.dcwater.com/blue-plains

Please bring a state-issued ID, and wear close-toed shoes. Attendees will need to pre-register for this event, space is limited and will be first-come first-serve. Due to the secure nature of this facility, the tour time may be adjusted. If this happens, you will be notified in advance.