9:00-10:00 a.m.

Competitive Markets at a Crossroads?

Competitive energy markets have been operating in the US for over 20 years. Competitive markets were originally born out of customer frustration with the high cost of coal and nuclear generation and later reinvigorated by the cost savings potential of pooled resources. Markets have often been a vehicle for delivering new services and options to customers in the electric industry. Now, as we stand on the verge of the next generation revolution with utility scale renewables costs quickly approaching the levelized cost of natural gas, it is time to reflect on the cost and realized benefits of electricity restructuring and market development in the United States. This panel will focus on growing pains and lessons learned from the last two decades of electricity restructuring and how we can leverage these learnings to maximize customer benefits as we look to transition to a low-carbon future.  

Moderators: 

Hon. DeAnn Walker, Texas 

Hon. Beth Trombold, Ohio

Panelists:

Alison Silverstein, Independent Consultant, Alison Silverstein Consulting

Mike Jacobs, Senior Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists

Mason Emnett, Vice President of Competitive Markets, Exelon

Business Meeting

The business meeting will include an update from Vermont Law. Richard Mroz will speak to the law school’s partnership with Protect Our Power, an organization conducting research on grid security and resilience. Mark James will also present the key findings of the Phase 2 report on State regulatory issues and cybersecurity

Energy and Regulatory Transitions: State Updates

States across the country are seeing changes in technology and the energy resource mix. This panel will provide a glimpse into the efforts of four States responding to these changes and transforming their states’ generation portfolios through regulatory initiatives that include both traditional and innovative tools. Commissioners from different regions will present their views on how these changes are occurring, regulatory policies that support them and impacts on ratepayers from an affordability and reliability perspective

Moderator: 

Hon. Judith Williams Jagdmann, Virginia

Panelists:

Hon. Anthony O’Donnell, Maryland

Hon. Charlotte Mitchell, North Carolina

Hon. Richard Lozier, Jr., Iowa 

Hon. Kara Fornstrom, Wyoming 

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

NARUC 132nd Annual Meeting and Education Conference

Welcome by NARUC President Nick Wagner of Iowa

Presentation of the Colors by Marine Corps Support Battalion Company H.

Singing of our National Anthem by Andrea Howard, Contract Specialist for Dept of Air Force, 502 Contracting Squadron.

Election of Officers for 2019 - 2020

Nomination for President: Hon. ToNola Brown-Bland

Second for President: Hon. Jack Betkoski

Nomination for First Vice President: Hon. Butch Howard

Second for First Vice President: Hon. Kristine Raper

Nomination for Second Vice President: Hon. Willie Phillips

Second for Second Vice President: Hon Ann Rendahl

In Memoriam 2018-2019

The Great Debate: Energy Resource Options

Every electricity resource has various attributes that can or do support a well-functioning grid. However, how those resources and their benefits are defined, valued, and compensated is a subject of some controversy. Join representatives of coal, natural gas, nuclear, renewables, battery storage, and demand-side management industries as they take center stage to debate the attributes they think should be valued and compensated at the state and regional levels.

Facilitator: Hon. Nick Wagner, NARUC President

Participants:

Michelle Bloodworth, CEO, America's Power

Katherine Hamilton, Executive Director, Advanced Energy Management Alliance

Karen Harbert, CEO, American Gas Association

Maria Korsnick, President and CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute

Nat Kreamer, CEO, Advanced Energy Economy and AEE Institute

Kelly Speakes-Backman, CEO, Energy Storage Association

9:00 - 9:40 a.m.

Who wants to be a Regulator?

9:40 - 10:15 a.m.

Commissioners Nick & Glick

Hot Topic Talk

Who wants to be a Regulator? 

                                    It’s much more than a game!

This interactive general session will kick off with NARUC representatives squaring off against FERC staff in an adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Participants will answer questions about the history, members, and work of the other organization. 

TEAM NARUC

Hon. Talina Mathews, Kentucky

Hon. Jordan White, Utah

TEAM FERC

Christy Walsh, Office of Energy Policy and Innovation

Commissioners Nick and Glick: Hot Topic Talk

 NARUC President Nick Wagner and FERC Commissioner Richard Glick will discuss current issues and challenges of state and federal commissions. 

AI....It's a Thing!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) are cutting-edge technologies that are quickly transforming industries around the world. These technologies present several opportunities for utilities to achieve efficient operations and cost savings.  However, the proliferation of these technologies raises concerns about the viability of the human workforce, safety, privacy & ethics, among other considerations.

Attendees will:

• Learn what AI and AR are; including types and uses
• Learn how AI and AR are transforming the utility industry;
• Hear about benefits, if any, to consumers; 
• Hear why commissions need to know about this technology as it relates usage by utility companies;
• Learn about challenges with AI and AR: including workforce, safety, and privacy concerns

Facilitator: Hon. Willie Phillips, District of Columbia

Participants:

Mark Holtermann, Vice President, Technology, American Water

Suzanne Russo, CEO, PecanStreet

Jordana Temlock, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Bidgely

Harshal Upadhye, Program Manager for Artificial Intelligence, EPRI