Consumers and the Public Interest
Sunday
Poverty Simulation: What Roles Do and Can Regulators Play?
9:45-11:59 a.m. • Grand Ballroom 6
This unique event is an activity in which participants have the opportunity to experience some of the challenges facing low-income consumers and other vulnerable populations. Participants will be assigned the role of a "family member" and encounter obstacles as they go about their day trying to pay bills and deal with routine responsibilities. Participants must fully participate in the full two-hour simulation for results to be accurate.
Objectives of this poverty simulation include:
- Exploring factors impacting consumer decisions related to utility payments
- Increasing understanding about the numerous challenges and dueling priorities facing low-income consumers and vulnerable populations
- Identifying specific ways Commissions, utilities, and consumer advocates can collaborate to address these challenges as they relate to the affordability of utilities
Participants must be registered for the Summer Policy Summit and must commit to the full 2-hour session.
Monday
(Joint Meetings)
10:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m. • Grand Ballroom 3 & 4
|
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. |
Finding Clean Energy Solutions for Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Communities: The Crucial Role of Policymakers in Closing the LMI Energy Technology Gap and Listening to the Consumer Voice (joint with Committee on Gas and Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity) Part 1 of 2 This panel will help examine how to protect low and moderate income (LMI) households from potential adverse consequences of new technologies. No one can benefit from energy savings more than LMI customers, who often pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than middle- and high-income consumers. LMI communities and consumers can be subject to challenges when trying to access new technologies and examine what are the technologies true economic benefits. Regulators grapple with the proper role of the regulated utility in serving the LMI community with new and emerging technologies. In fact, regulators have a long history of striving to ensure underserved communities get fair access to and are afforded the full benefits of the energy grid regardless of economic wherewithal. This panel will explore best practices and lessons learned in these endeavors in seeking to increase the disproportionately low deployment of new and emerging technologies in the LMI community. The focus is on truly engaging in a dialogue on roles regulators can play in better serving this sector. NOTE: This is a two-part panel discussion featuring opportunities for the panelists to showcase and demonstrate technology case studies and help foster partnerships across energy sectors to engage with the LMI community. Co-moderators: Hon. Maida Coleman, Missouri Hon. Sadzi Oliva, Illinois Panelists: Joseph Dominguez, CEO, COmEd Joe Hampton, President, Spire Sandra Mattavous-Frye, People's Counsel, District of Columbia Office of the People's Counsel Jerrold Oppenheim, President and Founder, Democracy and Regulation Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point Suzanne Sitherwood, CEO, Spire Energy |
| 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. |
Finding Clean Energy Solutions for Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Communities: The Crucial Role of Policymakers in Closing the LMI Energy Technology Gap and Listening to the Consumer Voice (joint with Committee on Gas and Subcommittee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity) Part 2 of 2 This panel will help examine how to protect low and moderate income (LMI) households from potential adverse consequences of new technologies. No one can benefit from energy savings more than LMI customers, who often pay a much higher portion of their income for energy than middle- and high-income consumers. LMI communities and consumers can be subject to challenges when trying to access new technologies and examine what are the technologies true economic benefits. Regulators grapple with the proper role of the regulated utility in serving the LMI community with new and emerging technologies. In fact, regulators have a long history of striving to ensure underserved communities get fair access to and are afforded the full benefits of the energy grid regardless of economic wherewithal. This panel will explore best practices and lessons learned in these endeavors in seeking to increase the disproportionately low deployment of new and emerging technologies in the LMI community. The focus is on truly engaging in a dialogue on roles regulators can play in better serving this sector. NOTE: This is a two-part panel discussion featuring opportunities for the panelists to showcase and demonstrate technology case studies and help foster partnerships across energy sectors to engage with the LMI community. Co-moderators: Hon. Maida Coleman, Missouri Hon. Sadzi Oliva, Illinois Panelists: Corey Capasso, Founder and CEO, Urbint Joseph Dominguez, CEO, COmEd Joe Hampton, President, Spire Sandra Mattavous-Frye, People's Counsel, District of Columbia Office of the People's Counsel Jerrold Oppenheim, President and Founder, Democracy and Regulation Judith Schwartz, President and Founder, To the Point |
| 4:00 p.m-5:00 p.m. |
The Affordability Challenge – Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) (Joint with the Committee on Water) Despite water service’s historic undervaluation, some customers still struggle to afford water. Affordability issues are likely to rise to the forefront as costs increase to address critical infrastructure replacement and safe water quality requirements. This panel will examine affordability policies such as low-income tariffs along with any issues that impede such policies from being implemented. Moderator: TBA Panelists: Larry Dickerman, Senior Director Public Policy, Landis + Gyr Jeff Hughes, Teaching Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Additional panelists TBA |
Tuesday
(Joint Meetings)
10:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m. • Room TBD