The Critical Consumer Issues Forum (CCIF) Kickoff will feature state commissioners, consumer advocates, and electric company representatives to introduce CCIF’s new topic, ENERGY SECURITY THROUGH RESOURCE ADEQUACY: Resources and Regulation to Reinforce Reliability, Resilience, and Reasonable Rates for Customers.

Separate registration required (no fee but space limited): REGISTER HERE

Networking Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:00 AM (buffet sponsored by Edison Electric Institute)

Program: 8:00 – 9:15 AM (in collaboration with NARUC Staff Subcommittees)

(Separate registration required.)

Click here to register.

Customer bills have been rising across the country, leading to concerns that affordability will continue to decline as investments are needed to accommodate load growth, modernize the grid, improve resilience, and meet a range of state priorities. Public utility commissions are grappling with how to manage these costs and improve affordability for all customers while ensuring safe and reliable service. During this interactive workshop, participants will explore cost drivers in and across states and discuss challenges that commissions face in assessing and controlling costs for customers. Participants will discuss a range of strategies available to better identify, evaluate, and manage these costs.

This is a closed session, for NARUC and NASUCA members only. Due to space constraints, separate, free registration is required in advance.

Affordability is a foundational pillar of utility service. One of the key contributors to affordability are utility line extension programs. These programs, rooted in foundational economic principles of utility regulation, seek to provide low-cost utility service while expanding service offerings to both current and future customers. This program will examine the foundations of line extension programs, and how utilities currently leverage those programs to provide affordable service to consumers.

1:00 pm        Welcome & Roll Call

1:05 pm         Approval of July 23, 2025 Minutes

1:10 pm         Updates

• Center for Partnerships & Innovation Update 
• NARUC Professional Development  
•      NARUC Rate School
•      Online courses
•      NARUC New Commissioner Regulatory Orientation (NCRO)
• 2025 Summer Internships

1:50 pm         Any Other Business

2:00 pm         Adjourn

For 30 years, the North American Numbering Council (NANC) provided a forum for state commissions, service providers, and other stakeholders to discuss telephone numbering issues and provide input to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding preservation of the North American Numbering Plan.  The discontinuance of the NANC raises questions on how state commissions and other stakeholders can resolve challenges that arise regarding telephone number conservation and provide meaningful input to the FCC on possible solutions.  This roundtable is designed to obtain input from state commissions, industry, and other stakeholders regarding such questions as: 

1. What type of collaborative process, if any, would be beneficial for state commissions, industry, and other stakeholders to have to address number conservation issues?
2. What role should state commissions, industry, and other stakeholders have in numbering conservation going forward?
3. What is the importance of geographic numbers in an IP world?
4. What changes to FCC numbering administration rules are necessary?
5. Are IP numbering rules necessary?

The goal of the Demand Roundtable is to bring together a rotating group of seven Public Utility Commissioners, seven large electricity customers, and seven utility/regional transmission operators to discuss the critical issues surrounding increased energy demand over the next decade. The Roundtables aim for open, transparent discussion to foster dialogue that allows state commissioners to better understand energy demand associated with re-shoring, electrification, and data center growth, and what that will mean for individual states.

Utilities and regulators face difficult challenges as they navigate the evolving energy landscape and work to strike the right balance between affordability, reliability, and other objectives. In particular, concerns about both customer costs and reliability are increasing. According to the Energy Information Administration, retail electricity prices have increased faster than the rate of inflation over the past three years. From a reliability standpoint, recent federal actions as well as utilities and grid operators have delayed fossil-fuel retirements in response to rapid load growth. This panel will examine how utilities, regulators, and grid operators are addressing affordability and reliability challenges and provide insights on balancing these two objectives.      

How can established nuclear operators provide operational solutions for small modular reactors, microreactors, and advanced technologies to utilities new to nuclear power? As adopting utilities include nuclear for decarbonization and reliability, discussions will focus on experienced insight about partnerships, training, regulatory support, workforce development, supply chains, and collaboration to address experience gaps.

(Commission Chairs Only)

Welcome and Introductions

Roundtable Discussion – Hon. Mike La Rosa, Florida

• Commissioners will share what the current important issues are in their state, the problems their Utilities and Consumers are facing, and what kinds of support and education they would like to receive from the ERE Committee in 2026.

Update on the status of the Home Energy Rebate (HER) and Home Efficiency Accelerator Rebate (HEAR) programs - Speaker TBD

Past ERE Resolution Update – Hon. Stacey Paradis, Illinois

NARUC Center for Partnerships & Innovation (CPI) Update – Jeff Loiter, Technical Director, CPI, NARUC

Recent developments thrust the Canada-US energy partnership into the media spotlight. Lost amidst the headlines is a discussion of the issues shaping Canada’s energy sector. Topics include: (1) geopolitical and trade pressures (Buy Canada Act), and (2) regional and political divisions over energy policy, which can impact reliability. An international panel explores these developments and considers how Canada and the United States’ energy systems are different.

President's Remark, Officer Elections, In Memoriam

Regulation Without Borders: Regulatory Leadership Across Jurisdictional Lines

Many utilities operate across state lines, triggering the need to juggle multiple jurisdictional prerogatives. The possibility of increased merger and acquisition activity may increase this phenomenon. This session will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with regulation across jurisdictional borders, with a focus on providing regulators and utilities practical advice on improving efficiency and customer outcomes.

From Silos to Synergy: The GEAR Task Force

In 2023, NARUC Pres. Fedorchak established the Gas - Electric Alignment for Reliability Taskforce. GEAR is comprised of a representative from each portion of the gas generation for electricity value chain and 7 state commissioners. After two years, and hundreds of hours of meetings and negotiations, GEAR has wrapped their work. Learn how it all happened from every GEAR member and get details on their report premiering at the 2025 NARUC Annual Meeting.

(Invitees Only)

(Invitees Only)

(Invitees Only)

(Invitees Only)

(Invitees Only)

(Invitees Only)

(Commissioners Only)

Remarks from Redmond: Microsoft's Energy Outlook

Bobby Hollis, Vice President of Energy, Microsoft

Public Purpose, Private Pressures: Navigating Demand Growth in the Not-for-Profit Utility Sector

This session will focus on demand growth in the electricity sector. Attendees will first hear from Microsoft, followed by a panel of experts from not-for-profit utilities.

Not-for-profit utilities are facing demand growth pressures that are similar to investor owned utilities, yet they have a distinct business model for financing these large-scale investments. This session will discuss how the nation's public power and cooperative utilities are addressing the need for more electricity to power the nation's increasing demand.

Where Have All the Workers Gone? The Future of Workforce Development in the Utility Sector

There is a looming talent gap in utility sector. This is not just a problem for utilities because there is evidence that there is a connection between operator quality and utility performance. Panelists will discuss their most pressing workforce challenges related to hiring, employee retention, salary, and benefits. Panelists will share successful workforce programs and partnerships, insights into attracting and retaining the next generation of water professionals, and skills needed for the future of the industry.

As BEAD funds are distributed to the states and construction of broadband infrastructure ramps up, pole attachments become a key issue in ensuring that end users get access to broadband on an expedited basis. Both telecom providers and electricity companies must work together to ensure that broadband infrastructure is deployed in a timely manner. The FCC’s Fifth Report And Order, Fourth Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking, And Orders On Reconsideration seeks to promote fast and efficient deployment and ensure that “access to the vital infrastructure of utility poles [is] “swift, predictable, safe, and affordable, [and] to ensure that broadband providers can continue to enter new markets and deploy facilities that support high-speed broadband.” Pole owners and “attachers” agree that changes are needed to meet this goal, but differ on requirements and processes. This panel follows up on July’s discussion of the best way to ensure that issues with pole attachments do not impede the swift installation and deployment of broadband across the nation.

Federal Emergency Orders in Energy Emergencies

This session will examine existing federal statutes and tools available to address widespread, multi-state, grid or fuel emergencies with specific case studies of their benefits and limitations. Recently, U.S. DOE has issued a request for information about approaches that could accelerate speed to power and has invoked emergency authority of the Secretary of Energy to keep open plants that were otherwise closing—in some cases in spite of opposition from the affected state. In other cases, there are potential gaps in authority and unclear procedures to address issues like widespread fuel emergencies resulting from cyber or physical attacks affecting the grid. This panel will review these challenges from the perspective of state commissions seeking to protect the consumers they serve.

Fireside Chat on Data Centers

State of the Gas Utility Industry

NARUC 2025-2026 President's Remarks

Save the Pipes! Tips and Tricks for Successful Asset Management

Threats to utility assets come from all directions – weather events, cyber criminals, aging pipes. Utility asset management is essential to ensuring the longevity of infrastructure and the safety and reliability of service. Recognizing the importance of adequate asset management, some state utility commissions have begun to implement policies to ensure that all utilities, regardless of ownership structure, are effectively managing their infrastructure. This panel will share ideas for how to manage utility assets proactively and effectively to the benefit of the customer.

Promoting Consumer Protections for Gas Supply Choice Customers in Regulatory Frameworks

Gas supply choice programs are widely leveraged by consumers across the country. A concern for many consumers and stakeholders alike are the protections offered to consumers that participate in these programs. In certain jurisdictions, such as Georgia’s retail natural gas market, there exists a robust regulatory framework that promotes consumer choice, market competition, and innovation. This program will further dive into regulatory frameworks for gas supply choice programs, and how those frameworks protect customers both today and in the future.

Managing Interconnection Complexity: Proven State Strategies to Accelerate DER Adoption

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are essential to the energy transition, yet interconnection is increasingly complex – balancing federal and state rules, rising load demand, rapid DER adoption, and aging grid infrastructure. Efficiently managing this process is critical to keeping costs affordable, ensuring reliability, and meeting clean energy goals. This session shares practical, regulator-relevant solutions from across the U.S.: New York’s cost-sharing and hosting capacity maps; Maine’s IOU Grid Plans; Massachusetts’ fixed cost limits and faster timelines; Ohio’s HB 15 to accelerate behind-the-meter generation; and Hawaii’s partnership with Enphase to clear solar backlogs using smart inverters and high-resolution grid data. Attendees will gain actionable insights to adapt these proven approaches to their own states, accelerating DER deployment while maintaining reliability and affordability.

Hot Rocks! Turning Up the Heat with Next-Gen Geothermal

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and superhot rock drilling can access heat nearly anywhere, offering up to 90-300 GW of potential capacity by 2050. Geologic studies show that 36 states have at least moderate EGS potential at 7 km deep, and all 48 contiguous states meet that threshold at 10 km. With existing strong federal incentives, bipartisan support, and new technologies reducing cost and risk, 1+ GW of new geothermal capacity could come online by 2028. Still, next-gen geothermal faces steep hurdles: high upfront capital needs, long and unpredictable permitting, limited procurement pathways, and minimal regulatory guidance. What regulatory and permitting reforms are needed to accommodate deep-drilled geothermal in planning proceedings, interconnection queues, and procurement planning? What new financing and ownership models can help share risk and attract investment? And how can regulators weigh the resilience and land-use benefits of geothermal alongside its risks and costs?

Shovels in the Ground for New Nuclear

Future Proofing the Grid: Overcoming Inverter-Based Resource Reliability Challenges

States play an enormously consequential role driving clean energy policies and as a result, renewable inverter-based resources (IBRs) comprise an increasing share of bulk power system. However, recent ERO Enterprise assessments identified significant reliability gaps associated with IBRs, primarily wind and solar assets, which threaten grid security. In response, FERC issued Order 901 to address these reliability challenges and recently approved new NERC rules that require bulk power system connected IBRs to comply with existing NERC Reliability Standards.

Watts Up With That? The Latest on Resource Adequacy

A discussion amongst leaders across different regions of the country discussing how they establish and maintain resource adequacy. The role of state regulators in this process will be the central focus, followed by regional factors that influence RA.

Legal Ethics Session

(Invitees Only)

More information about the Collaborative here

How Much Water Does AI Drink?

Much of the discussion around data centers and AI has focused on the energy demands of the industry. But- data centers also require significant water resources. Water quality and quantity are keeping many regulators up at night even before AI moves into the neighborhood. The discussion will assist regulators, utilities and other ensure that their policies on data center growth are including both water and energy resources in the discussion and decision making.

After BEAD, What's Next for Broadband?

By the end of this year, the U.S. will be on a path towards universal broadband availability. With that issue solved, what's next for the broadband sector and what role should states play in this new environment? Numerous issues still remain to be addressed, notably boosting broadband adoption rates, addressing affordability concerns, and equipping more users with core digital literacy skills. Should states play a lead role on these issues? What about pursuing formal regulation of broadband and other advanced services? The FCC has all but abandoned the regulation of these services, leaving an opening for states to pick up the slack. Is state regulation of these services necessary? This panel will explore where states stand post-BEAD and where they might go.

Remarks by US Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT)- (virtual)

Blazing Trails: Policy and Technology Innovation in Wildfire Resilience and Response

Wildfires are no longer a distant risk—they’re here and they’re reshaping how every utility and community must prepare and respond. From Maui to the Texas Panhandle to Long Island, the consequences can be devastating. In response, NARUC’s members, utilities and others have focused over the last year to develop a workbook for states focused on Managing Wildfire Risk in the Electric Utility Sector, sharing the efforts of states, utilities and others to mitigate and reduce the risk to utilities, customers and communities. Drawing from industry leaders and wildfire resilience experts, this panel will highlight innovations in regulatory policies, strategies and technologies, including through the use of AI, to support cost effective wildfire risk assessment, mitigation planning, grid hardening and community resilience while balancing safety, affordability, and reliability.

The audience will learn: How utilities and regulators analyze wildfire risks and develop mitigation plans and strategies to enhance wildfire resilience and balance grid reliability with wildfire safety and customer affordability. How innovative technology deployment and collaboration between utilities and state and local entities is enhancing wildfire preparedness. How regulators and policymakers are managing financial risks and improving wildfire preparedness and resilience.