NARUC Winter Committee Meetings

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Closed Session — State Staff

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Networking Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Panel I: Broadband Lifeline Update: New Carriers and New Offers

This panel will discuss the new, non-traditional Broadband Lifeline offers being proposed as a result of the Broadband Lifeline Order. These offers include the managed educational Lifeline proposal from Kajeet; the medical support offer from SHOIT; and the wireline offer for HUD supported housing from Spot On. The panel will also review the status of the FCC LBP (Lifeline Broadband Provider) approval process.

Moderator: Sherry Lichtenberg, NRRI

Panelists:

Michael Flood, Vice President – Strategy, Kajeet Wireless

Darin Peterson, Vice President, SHOIT

James Ratliff, CEO, AR Designs

Eric Schimpf, Vice President & General Manager-Lifeline, FreedomPop

Saul Ramirez, President, Global Reconnect

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch (On Your Own)

Current Issues: Reports from NARUC

*Litigation Report: Brad Ramsay

*Legislative Report: Brian O’Hara

Joint Board & NRRI Reports

*Separations: George Young, Vermont

*Universal Service: Labros Pilalis, Pennsylvania

*706 Joint Conference: TBD

*NANC: Carolee Hall, Idaho

*NRRI: Sherry Lichtenberg, NRRI

Subgroup Reports

*Consumer Issues: Kerri DeYoung Phillips, Massachusetts

*Cyber Security: John McClain, US Department of Homeland Security

*Federal Regulation & Legislation: Joe Witmer, Pennsylvania

*Numbering: Bonnie Johnson, Minnesota

*State Regulation: Robin Ancona, Michigan

*Technology & Service Quality: Teresa Ferguson, Colorado

Panel II: Here Comes the IP Transition — What’s In It For You?

With or without direction from the FCC, the ILECs, CLECs, VoIP Service Providers, and others are transitioning from TDM communications networks to hybrid TDM – IP & all-IP network technology and infrastructure. The bells & whistles may be good, but how are network quality, reliability, resiliency, and security being addressed? Who benefits: residential and/or business consumers and/or the companies?

Moderator: Cary Hinton, District of Columbia

Panelists:

Joe Gillan, Principal, Gillan Associates

Diane Holland, Vice President, Law & Policy, US Telecom

David J. Malfara, Sr., President/CEO, ETC Group, LLC

Presentation: FirstNet Update

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created when The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act was signed into law on February 22, 2012. FirstNet’s mission is to build, operate, and maintain the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety first responders. FirstNet is currently in the process of selecting a provider to build & operate the network. States are currently in the planning process to evaluate their state specific needs and eventually determine whether to opt-into or out of FirstNet. The presenters will provide an update on their milestones and plans, including procurement progress, cross-jurisdiction communications and other key topics such as rural connectivity, reliability and security, pilot programs, and maximizing value for public safety.

Moderator: Lynn Notarianni

Panelists:

Andrew Delaney, Government Affairs-First Responder Network Authority, USDOC

State Representative, Invited

12:00 p.m.

Closed Executive Session

1:00 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

Hon. John (Butch) Howard, Subcommittee Chair, South Carolina

1:05 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

1:10 p.m.

NRRI Update

Dr. Rajnish Barua, Executive Director, National Regulatory Research Institute

1:20 p.m.

ICER VWG 4: Regulatory Best Practices

Hon. John Betkoski, III, Connecticut

1:30 p.m.

Update on Subcommittee Projects

Erin Hammel, Director, International Programs, NARUC

1:40 p.m.

The University of Tulsa Online Program

Gary Allison, Director, Sustainable Energy and Resources Law Program

1:55 p.m.

Review of Applications for Support

Erin Hammel, Director, International Programs, NARUC

2:15 p.m.

Scholarship Review and Selections

Selection of final Scholarship recipients

Sue Daly, Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Education and Research

2:25 p.m.

Certificate of Continuing Regulatory Education Update

Dr. Jan Beecher, Director, Institute of Public Utilities, MSU

2:35 p.m.

New Business

2:40 p.m.

Closed Executive Session

2:55 p.m.

Adjourn

Moderator:

Rajnish Barua, PhD, Executive Director, NRRI

Panelists:

Sherry Lichtenberg, PhD, Principal Researcher-Telecommunications, NRRI

Telecommunications Regulation: The Year in Review 2016 and the Outlook for 2017

2016 saw a reduced focus on telecommunications deregulation and an increased focus on growing broadband availability, broadening state universal service fund contributions, and ensuring the availability and quality of emergency services. Only two state legislatures proposed bills limiting commission oversight of wireline services during 2016 (bringing the number of states reducing commission oversight to 41), with no state directly addressing the question of regulating VoIP or IP-enabled services. The early outlook for 2017 shows a potential reversal of this trend, with a bill limiting regulation of incumbent carriers proposed in New Mexico, and a bill limiting oversight of IP-enabled services on the table in Minnesota. This presentation will review the findings from NRRI's 2016 report on changes in telecommunications legislation and provide an early look at bills proposed for the 2017 legislative sessions.

Ken Costello, Principal Researcher-Energy & Environment, NRRI

Bridging Natural Gas to a Low Carbon Future: The Debate

Up until recently there was wide consensus that natural gas could be a bridge fuel for electric generation. Now some environmentalists and others have argued that public policy should bypass natural gas and instead accelerate the penetration of renewable energy. Their reason is that unless we pursue this path climate warming will become an irreversible problem. Several questions arise as to what role natural gas will play in electric generation until 2050.

Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher-Energy & Environment, NRRI

Reimagining State Interconnection Rules for Distributed Generation Plug-and-Play Procedures

Interconnection rules have been adopted by at least 32 states and the District of Columbia. Those rules describe the procedures that applicants and utilities use to ensure that DG interconnection requests are processed expeditiously and will cause no harm to the utility system or any other utility customer’s equipment. This presentation reviews the many changes that are presently being developed in IEEE and UL standards working groups. These include updated standards for advanced inverter capabilities and advanced grid communications protocols. In addition, rapid progress in the modeling software used for evaluating the effects from proposed DG on utility distribution systems are enabling faster interconnection screening and studies of practical mitigation strategies to resolve many interconnection technical challenges. Together, such changes offer the combined promises of: (a) decreased application processing timelines and costs? (b) more, better, and less expensive mitigation tools for ensuring the reliable and safe operations of interconnected DG? and (c) higher levels of distribution system grid hosting capacity for DG.

Kathryn Kline, Research Associate, NRRI

Small Water System Opportunities: Surveying State Utility Commissions for Best Practices

In 2013, NARUC passed a Resolution supporting the consideration of regulatory mechanisms and policies deemed "Best Practices" for the regulation of Small water systems which provided a series of 10 recommendations for how commission staff could encourage regulated small water systems to meet the challenges of continued capital investment required to deliver safe and reliable service to customers. Building off of that work, this presentation examines initial findings from NRRI's survey of states about different methods utilized by state commissions to assist regulated small water systems: What are commissions doing? What has been successful? What is on the horizon?

9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Hon. Sherina Maye Edwards, Subcommittee Chair, Illinois

9:10 a.m.

Flash from the Past: A Dialogue with Former Commissioners in the Private Sector

Several former Commissioners who were heavily involved in the development and evolution of the Supplier and Workforce Diversity Subcommittee (formerly known as the Utility Marketplace Access Subcommittee) are currently excelling in the private sector. This panel will focus on how this Subcommittee has affected or otherwise influenced their current roles. Panelists will also highlight initiatives they have pursued and implemented as a result of their participation in this Subcommittee.

Moderator:

Lamar Davis, Executive Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Midcontinent Independent System Operator 

Panelists: 

Robert Kenney, VP, CPUC Regulatory Relations, Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Lori Murphy Lee, Manager, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, PJM Interconnection

Greg White, Executive Director, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

Timothy Alan Simon, Founder, TAS Strategies

10:10 a.m.

Hiring and Diversity: Utility Apathy or Enthusiasm?

As the country becomes more diverse, employers' hiring practices are expected to reflect that diversity. State Commissions increasingly expect utilities to hire a more diverse workforce and diverse suppliers. This panel will explore the sometimes-overlooked utility perspective on diversity in hiring. Panelists will discuss company approaches and programs used, as well as successes and obstacles experienced in hiring diverse suppliers and employees. 

Moderator: 

Hon. Angela R. Weber, Indiana

Panelists:

LaTonya King, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Duke Energy

Marianne Taylor, Director, Recruitment & Talent Acquisition, American Water

Chris Smith, VP, Human Resources, NiSource

11:10 a.m.

Commissioner Discussion: Supplier and Workforce Diversity Toolkit

The status of the Supplier and Workforce Diversity Toolkit was last discussed at the NARUC Annual Meeting in La Quinta, Calif. The members of the Committee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity will continue this discussion and determine a plan of action for data retrieval completion from each State represented by NARUC in the toolkit. 

Moderator:

Hon. Sherina Maye Edwards, Chair, Committee on Supplier and Workforce Diversity, Illinois

11:30 a.m.

Closing Remarks and Adjourn

9:00 a.m – 10:00 a.m.

Socializing the Cost of Solar

Solar energy is popular with customers and utilities. But, the debate on how to pay for residential solar is far from over. Some states have experienced a solar cost-shift to non-solar customers and, as a result, new demand rates for solar customers. Some utilities are implementing community solar projects that supposedly benefit all customers in a neighborhood. How are low-income customers being affected in this solar revolution? Join us as this panel examines the “cost” of residential solar.

Moderator:

Cynthia L. Muir, Director, Office of Consumer Assistance, Florida PSC

Panelists:

William H. Malcolm, Sr. Legislative Representative/State Advocacy, AARP

Galen Barbose, Electricity Markets & Policy Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Tony Sanchez, NV Energy

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Fighting Utility Customer Scams

Over the last several years, the volume and complexity of scams aimed at utility consumers have been growing, costing customers millions of dollars annually. Scammers are becoming more aggressive and have added deceptive technologies such as caller ID spoofing and convincing but fake utility IVR menus. What is being done to address this problem and what can state commissions do to educate consumers and help stop these scams? Join this presentation to learn about Utilities United Against Scams, an industry collaborative across North America to share data and best practices and implement initiatives to inform and protect customers.

Panelist:

Jared Lawrence, Vice President of Revenue Services, Duke Energy, LLC

10:15 – 10:30 a.m

Networking Break

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Disability Access Communications — The Digital Migration

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications)

While providers manage the transition of network structures to digital and IP configurations, the equipment and services themselves and how they are being used by people with disabilities have also been undergoing radical changes. Hint: It’s not the TTY anymore, and hasn’t been for years. This panel will provide an overview of how the consumer and specialized equipment markets, equipment distribution and telecom relay programs, and state and federal policies are evolving. We’ll delve into the status and future of disabled access in the digital/IP world and how people with disabilities themselves are managing and driving change to continue

Moderator:

Jeff Richter, USF Director, Wisconsin

Panelists:

Laurie Flaherty, Coordinator, National 911 Program, USDOT

Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC

Gregg Vanderheiden, Professor, iSchool, and Director of Trace R&D Center, University of Maryland

Christian Vogler, Director of Technology Access Program, Gallaudet University NASRA/TEDPA, Invited

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Panel III – Wireless Expansion: Distributed Antenna Systems & Small Cell Deployment

Over the past decade, the wireless industry has experienced an astounding 1,000-fold data traffic increase. As telecom providers densify their networks to meet consumer demand, is the answer small cell and distributed antenna systems (DAS) deployment? This panel will explore emerging wireless technologies, potential benefits and the public policy issues telecom providers and communities face.

Moderator:

Catlin M. Shields, Associate, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Panelists:

Benjamin Aron, Director State Regulatory and External Affairs, CTIA

Jason Caliento, Mobilitie, Sr. Vice President

Mike Hill, National Director, External Relations – Infrastructure, ExteNet

Angelina Panaterri, Principal Associate, Technology & Communications, Federal Advocacy, NLC

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Networking Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Panel IV: Disability Access Communications — The Digital Migration

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs)

While providers manage the transition of network structures to digital and IP configurations, the equipment and services themselves and how they are being used by people with disabilities have also been undergoing radical changes. Hint: It’s not the TTY anymore, and hasn’t been for years. This panel will provide an overview of how the consumer and specialized equipment markets, equipment distribution, telecom relay programs, and state and federal policies, are evolving. We will delve into the status and future of disability communications access in the digital/IP world and how people with disabilities themselves are managing and driving change.

Moderator:

Jeff Richter, Wisconsin

Panelists:

Laurie Flaherty, Coordinator, National 911 Program, USDOT

Greg Vanderheiden, Professor, iSchool, & Director of TRACE R&D Center, University of Maryland

Christian Vogler, Director of Technology Access Program, Gallaudet University

Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affaris Bureau, FCC

NASRA/TEDPA. Invited

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch (On Your Own)

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Panel V: Telecomm Infrastructure and the USF: New Administration, New Policies, and the Current Fund

A stated focus of the new administration and the current NARUC leadership is infrastructure. The FCC has been relying on the federal universal service fund for some time now to support, among other things, rural broadband infrastructure and the ability of low-income consumers in rural and urban areas to buy broadband service. The new administration is focused on infrastructure. Is this a time to re-think the approach to financing broadband deployment and the consumers’ ability to buy broadband? The panel will examine the issues of infrastructure and service, financing it, the current USF, the adequacy of the fund to do it all, and what new approaches are out there to address the perennial contradictions between public need and private service.

Moderator:

Joe Witmer, Pennsylvania

Panelists:

Hon. John Clendenin, United States Virgin Islands

Rick Cimerman, NCTA

John Jones, Vice President, Policy & Congressional Relations, CenturyLink

Robert Loube, Principal, Rolka-Loube Associates

Labros Pilalis, State Staff, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

Catherine Sandoval, Associate Professor, Santa Clara University School of Law, California

USTA, TBD

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Networking Break

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Presentation: Critical Infrastructure Threat Information Sharing Framework

The Office of Infrastructure Protection recently released an information sharing framework guide for the Critical Infrastructure Community. The Framework is a resource for critical infrastructure owners and operators, as well as other private sector, Federal, State, Local, Tribal and Territorial government partners that share threat information. The purpose of the Framework is to describe current processes used to facilitate the flow of threat information between and among all entities involved in the critical infrastructure security and resilience mission, and provide an overview of the key threat information-sharing entities which facilitate this process. The intention is to help critical infrastructure owners and operators and other entities better understand where and how to participate in receiving and sharing threat information with information-sharing hubs. Please join us as we learn more about the threat information sharing framework and the many organizations that make up the information sharing community.

Moderator: John McLean, DHS

Presenter: Kathryn Condello, Director National Security – Qwest Corporation Corporate Security, CenturyLink

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Resolutions Final Discussion

9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

Blockchain!: An Introduction

Blockchain is being heralded as the next generation of the Internet for its abilities to record business transactions securely, reliably, rapidly, and transparently. Many see Blockchain as an enabler of the distributed energy system for these breakthrough abilities. Companies both using Blockchain in their industries and those that envision Blockchain fitting into a distributed energy future. This session will feature an introduction to Blockchain and how it can be and is being used today for energy transactions.

Moderator: 
Chris Villarreal, Director of Policy, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Panelists:
Lawrence Orsini, LO3 Energy
Ravi Pradhan, Siemens
Lynne Kiesling, Northwestern University

10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

We Are Underused: How DER Compensation and Value Identification Affects the Utilization of DER

Technologies such as water heaters and electric vehicles sit largely underutilized absent clearer compensation measures and price signals from both retail and wholesale markets. Many technologies are capable of providing additional services, such as demand response or can act as a storage resource, yet are not valued or compensated accordingly. This session will hear from providers of technology on how the lack of appropriate accounting and valuation of new services affects the adoption and use of everyday resources.  These providers will discuss real-world capabilities of their solutions and how opening new market opportunities can enable greater savings from these technologies.

Moderator: 
Chris Villarreal, Director of Policy, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Panelists:
John Diem, Steffes
Benjamin Stafford, Advanced Energy Economy

11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Update on Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium Projects

Update from the Department of Energy on two of the GMLC projects currently underway: 1) the Metrics Analysis project, which establishes a methodology of developing and using multiple metrics for assessing the evolving state of the U.S. electricity system and monitoring progress in modernizing the system, and 2) the development of a valuation framework project—a comprehensive and transparent framework to value the services and impacts of grid-related technologies.

Moderator: 
Chris Villarreal, Director of Policy, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Panelist:
Chuck Goldman, Department of Energy

1:30 p.m. – 1:40 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Hon. David Danner, Washington

Approval of minutes

Hon. David Danner, Washington

1:40 p.m. - 2:05 p.m.

EEI in the World

The Edison Electric Institute is engaged in a variety of international activities. Lawrence Jones, EEI’s vice president for international programs, will describe those efforts.

Moderator:

Hon. David Danner, Washington

Panelist:

Lawrence Jones, Vice President, International Programs, Edison Electric Institute

ICER Explained

The International Confederation of Energy Regulators is a voluntary framework for cooperation between energy regulators from around the globe. But what exactly does it do? Members of the ICER editorial board will explain it all.

Moderator:

Hon. Murray Doehler, Nova Scotia

Panelist:

Hon. John Betkoski, Connecticut

NARUC’s International Activities: The View from USAID and DOS

Much of the international work done by NARUC is funded by the US Agency for International Development or the Department of State. Representatives of both agencies will provide an overview of their goals for the programs.

Moderator:

Hon. David Danner, Washington

Panelists:

Anna Shpitsberg, Global Power Sector Program Manager, Office of Energy Programs, Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State

Dorian Mead, Energy Reform & Reconstruction

Advisor, Office of Energy & Infrastructure/Energy Division, U.S. Agency for International Development

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Networking Break

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Report on NARUC International Programs

Erin Hammel, Director of International Programs, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Strategic Role of Natural Gas in Transatlantic International Relations

(Joint session with the Committee on Gas)

Natural gas plays an increasingly important role in the transatlantic trade market. For many policy makers, natural gas offers important strategic, commercial, security, economic and environmental opportunities for Europe and the United States, such as providing electric generation, home heating, and industrial and transportation services. This panel assesses the promises of natural gas in transatlantic trade and international security, and examines policies and potential obstacles to realizing these promises for both the United States and Europe.

Moderators:

Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York

Hon. Anthony O’Donnell, Maryland

Panelists:

Barry Smitherman, Commissioner Emeritus, Texas

David Goldwyn, Goldwyn Global Strategies

Pat Outtrim, Tellurian Investments

Thomas Cunningham, Deputy Director, Global Energy Center, The Atlantic Council

Mark Brownstein, Vice President, Oil and Gas Program, Environmental Defense Fund

1:30

Critical Infrastructure Catalog Update

1:50

Partner Updates:

Devon Streit, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ISER, DOE

Eric Goldstein, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, DHS

Dr. Arshad Mansoor, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, EPRI

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

3:45

How Safe is Safe Enough: Cybersecurity: Cost Recovery in a New Era of Risk

In the age of evolving cyber threats, ensuring absolute cybersecurity while maintaining cost-effective utility rates is impossible. To carry out their mandate of ensuring affordable, safe, and reliable service, state regulators are faced with the difficult task of weighing cost versus benefit in evaluating the prudency of cybersecurity expenditures. This panel will explore economics-based analytical frameworks for assessing cost recovery for cybersecurity investments, and the impact of regulations designed to simultaneously encourage cybersecurity investment

Moderator: Caitlin Shields, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

Panelists:

Hon. Sherina Maye Edwards, Illinois

Carol Bartucci, Vice President, IT, ComEd

Ron Darnell, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, PNM

4:30

Cyber Workforce: Addressing the Gap

The nation’s cybersecurity workforce is at the forefront of protecting critical infrastructure and computer networks from attack by a wide array of threat actors including nation-states, criminal gangs, and political hacktivists. Demand for trained personnel is growing in both the public and private sectors. This panel will discuss the strategies for building a robust and sustainable pipeline of cybersecurity skills to meet workforce demands.

Panelists:

Jim Newfrock, Senior Partner, Korn Ferry

Bill Newhouse, Program Lead, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, NIST

Dr. Mark Troutman, Director, Center for Infrastructure Protection, George Mason University

1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

Inclusive Financing for Distributed Energy Solutions

Low- and moderate-income communities have proven to be hard to reach with efficiency programs that offer an incentive for participation yet require a balance of payment in the form of either cash or credit with collateral. To overcome persistent barriers, utility commissions and oversight boards in multiple states have approved the use of an opt-in tariff for cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades. By tying investments to a meter rather than a person, utilities are able to finance efficiency projects regardless of the income, credit score, or renter status of a customer. With collective experience spanning more than 10 years, utilities offering tariffed on-bill investment programs have reported zero disconnections for non-payment, low risk to cost recovery, and elevated levels of customer satisfaction. Is their experience illuminating a bridge across the great divide that strands so many low- and moderate-income customers that commissioners, utilities, and consumer advocates are striving to reach?

Moderator: 

Hon. Brandon Presley, Mississippi

Panelists:

Jim Gardner, Commissioner Emeritus, Kentucky

Geoff Marke, Economist, Missouri Office of Public Counsel

Wally Nixon, Legal Counsel, Arkansas Public Service Commission

Curtis Wynn, CEO, Roanoke Electric Cooperative (North Carolina)

2:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Give the People What They Want?: Polling in the Wake of 2016 Election and What it Means for Congress, the New Administration and State Decision Makers

In this panel, Mr. Ashford and staff of The Hawthorn Group will discuss numerous topics on public opinion and polling. First, the polling during the presidential election and if the polls were wrong and if so why. Because climate change and clean energy were big election discussions, panelists will look at public opinion on these issues to try to determine what they really think. Finally, this panel will examine polling on the apparent public mistrust of our federal institutions and explore if this distrust is limited to federal agencies or if it also extends to State agencies as well.

Panelists:

John Ashford, Chairman, The Hawthorn Group

Michael Meyers, Managing Partner & President, TargetPoint

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety)

1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Integrated Energy Networks and Battery Storage

A series of Turbo Talks that will capture the essence and salient points of innovate projects, concepts or products and what their ‘Big Picture’ is to regulators.

Moderator: Hon. Brien J. Sheahan, Illinois

Michael Howard, CEO and President, EPRI
Introduction of the Integrated Energy Network

Kiran Kumaraswamy, Director, Market Development, AES Energy Storage
Large Scale Energy Storage Status: Addressing Peaking Capacity Needs

Sarah Van Cleve, Policy Advisor, Tesla
Distributed Energy Storage Status and Benefits

Jack Griffin, Vice President & General Manager Boston, SourceOne
Commercial Customer Perspective

Roger Flanagan, Managing Director, Lockheed Martin Energy
Long Duration Energy Storage

Don Wingate, VP of Utilities, Schneider Electric
Storage - Fitting into the New Energy Landscape

Caroline Choi, SVP Regulatory Affairs, Southern California Edison
Project Experience and Policy Needs

Michelle Blaise, Senior Vice President of Technical Services, Commonwealth Edison
Energy Storage - a Utility Perspective

Roundtable Discussion on Policy Roadmap
What policies could help accelerate storage deployment?

1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Reimagining State Interconnection Rules for Distributed Generation Plug-and-Play Procedures

Interconnection rules have been adopted by at least 32 States and the District of Columbia. Those rules describe the procedures that applicants and utilities use to ensure that distributed generation (DG) interconnection requests are processed expeditiously and will cause no harm to the utility system or any other utility customers’ equipment. This presentation reviews the many changes that are presently being developed in IEEE and UL standards working groups. These include updated standards for advanced inverter capabilities and advanced grid communications protocols. In addition, there has been rapid progress in the modeling software used for evaluating the effects from proposed DG on utility distribution systems and identifying mitigation techniques for many of the most common obstacles. Together, such changes offer the combined promises of: (a) decreased application processing timelines and costs; (b) more, better, and less expensive mitigation tools for ensuring the reliable and safe operations of interconnected DG; and, (c) higher levels of distribution system grid hosting capacity for DG. The presenters review emerging best practices that are already working in some jurisdictions and could be adopted by other States and utilities in the future.

Moderator:
Jon Kucskar, Senior Commission Advisor, Maryland Public Service Commission

Panelists:
Sarah Baldwin Auck, Director, Regulatory Program, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Michael Coddington, Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher, National Regulatory Research Institute

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Natural Gas Fracking and Water Quality – Fact vs. Fiction

(Joint session with Gas and Water Staff Subcommittees)

In recent years, the use, storage, and disposal of produced water, the byproduct of natural gas fracturing, has been presenting challenges to communities, producers, and government officials. A variety of studies and anecdotal evidence have contributed to some level of confusion in regards to health, safety and environmental impacts. The panelists will address some of the studies and their impact on the public and the industry.

Moderators:
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Donald Lomoljo, Utilities Hearing Officer, Nevada Public Utilities Commission
Karen Olesky, Economist, Nevada Public Utilities Commission

Panelists:
John A. Connor, President, GSI Environmental
Nancy Johnson, Senior Advisor, Environmental Science and Policy Analysis, U.S. DoE
David McBride, VP, Global Health Safety and Environment, Anadarko
Scott Anderson, Senior Policy Director, U.S. Climate and Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund (Invited)
Carol Montoya, Executive and Board Member, Marcellus Shale Coalition (Invited)

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Unknown Fugitive — Why We Care About Unexpected Methane Emissions and the Efforts to Capture Them

(Joint Session with Gas Staff Subcommittee)

The debate over top-down or bottom-up methane emissions measuring has slowly been eclipsed by the question of how to quantify methane emissions from unexpected leaks, malfunctions and other unpredictable problems associated with the production, delivery, and consumption of natural gas. This panel will look at the level at which methane emissions have been over/under-estimated, the research that is being done to obtain more accurate leak identification and emission measurement, and what exactly the utility industry and regulators are doing to curb these emissions.

Moderators:
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Karen Olesky, Economist, Nevada Public Utilities Commission

Panelists:
James Bradbury, Senior Advisor, Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, DoE
Talmadge Center, VP of Safety and Gas System Integrity, CenterPoint Energy
N. Jonathan Peress, Director, Energy Market Policy, Environmental Defense Fund

2:45 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

The National Cost of Power Interruptions to Customers, and Early Findings from State PUC Staff Reviews of Utility Reliability/Resilience Investment Requests

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Electric Reliability)

Moderator:

Kimberly Duffley, Vice Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Electricity, and Attorney, North Carolina Utilities Commission

Panelists:

Joseph H. Eto and Peter H. Larsen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Cloud Services for Electric Utilities

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Electric Reliability)

Moderator:

Sheree Kernizan, Director, Electric Unit, Georgia PSC

Panelists:

Felek Abbas, Senior CIP Auditor, NERC

Joe Joyce, Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft Azure

Dr. Arshad Mansoor, Senior VP, Research & Development, EPRI

Jianhui Wang, PhD, Section Manager, Argonne National Labs

Utilities have been slow to adopt cloud-based computing technologies for a variety of reasons such as lack of trust, uncertainty and financial concerns. Is now the time for electric utilities to deploy their mission-critical applications on a cloud IT architecture? This session will provide a basic understanding of cloud technology and explain how it affects a utility’s IT architecture decisions.  Our panelists will also discuss how an electric utility can best manage the financial aspects of migrating to cloud-based solutions.

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB)—Who Are We? What We Do

A presentation (re)introducing NAESB to the Subcommittee:  What NAESB does and how it works.

Moderator:
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

Presenter:
Jonathan Booe, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer North American Energy Standards Board

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Know All There is About Conversion from Coal to Natural Gas?

New regulations regarding gas pipeline, compressor station and natural gas storage safety or maintenance could cause unscheduled natural gas infrastructure downtimes ranging between a day, a week, or even a month. These interruptions may have an adverse effect on the ability of gas-fired power generators to come online when needed. Theresa Pugh will discuss the impact of these regulations on distribution companies, power generators and regulatory officials.

Moderator: 
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

Presenter: 
Theresa Pugh, Theresa Pugh Consulting  

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Natural Gas Fracking and Water Quality – Fact vs. Fiction

(Joint session with ERE and Water Staff Subcommittees)

In recent years, the use, storage, and disposal of produced water, the byproduct of natural gas fracturing, has been presenting challenges to communities, producers, and government officials. A variety of studies and anecdotal evidence have contributed to some level of confusion in regards to health, safety and environmental impacts. The panelists will address some of the studies and their impact on the public and the industry.

Moderators:
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Donald Lomoljo, Utilities Hearing Officer, Nevada Public Utilities Commission
Karen Olesky, Economist, Nevada Public Utilities Commission                                        

Panelists:
Curtis S. Stanley, Principal Hydrogeologist, GSI Environmental, Inc.
David McBride, VP Global Health Safety and Environment, Anadarko
Nancy Johnson, Senior Advisor, Environmental Science and Policy Analysis, U.S. DoE (FE-30)

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.

GTI Updates

An update on the GTI activities

Moderator:
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

Presenter:
Ron Edelstein, Director, Regulatory and Government Relations, Gas Technology Institute. 

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Unknown Fugitive—Why We Care About Unexpected Methane Emissions and the Efforts to Capture Them

(Joint session with ERE Staff Subcommittee)

The debate over top-down or bottom-up methane emissions measuring has slowly been eclipsed by the question of how to quantify methane emissions from unexpected leaks, malfunctions and other unpredictable problems associated with the production, delivery, and consumption of natural gas. This panel will look at the level at which methane emissions have been over-/underestimated, the research that is being done to obtain more accurate leak identification and emission measurement, and what exactly the utility industry and regulators are doing to curb these emissions.

Moderators:
Andreas Thanos, Gas Policy Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Karen Olesky, Economist, Nevada Public Utilities Commission

Panelists: 
James Bradbury, Senior Advisor, Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, DOE
Talmadge Center, VP of Safety and Gas System Integrity, CenterPoint Energy
N. Jonathan Peress, Director, Energy Market Policy, Environmental Defense Fund

2:45 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

The National Cost of Power Interruptions to Customers, and Early Findings from State PUC Staff Reviews of Utility Reliability/Resilience Investment Requests

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Electricity)

Moderator:

Kimberly Duffley, Vice Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Electricity, and Attorney, North Carolina Utilities Commission

Panelists:

Joseph H. Eto and Peter H. Larsen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Cloud Services for Electric Utilities

(Joint Session with the Staff Subcommittee on Electricity)

Moderator:

Sheree Kernizan, Director, Electric Unit, Georgia PSC

Panelists:

Felek Abbas, Senior CIP Auditor, NERC

Joe Joyce, Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft Azure

Dr. Arshad Mansoor, Senior VP, Research & Development, EPRI

Jianhui Wang, PhD, Section Manager, Argonne National Labs

Utilities have been slow to adopt cloud-based computing technologies for a variety of reasons such as lack of trust, uncertainty and financial concerns. Is now the time for electric utilities to deploy their mission-critical applications on a cloud IT architecture? This session will provide a basic understanding of cloud technology and explain how it affects a utility’s IT architecture decisions.  Our panelists will also discuss how an electric utility can best manage the financial aspects of migrating to cloud-based solutions.

8:30 a.m.

Remarks from The Honorable Greg Walden, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives.

9:00 a.m.

21st Century Utilities: The Role of Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment

America relies on an aging utility infrastructure, much of which is in dire need of replacement. A large portion of our pipeline distribution system, drinking water infrastructure, and electrical grid is well over 100 years old and is now nearing the end of its useful life. Although thousands of miles of additional high-voltage electric transmission lines and significant oil and gas pipelines are planned over the next several years, permitting and siting issues threaten their completion. This, combined with the impact of severe weather events on a deteriorating distribution system highlight that now more than ever is a critical time to upgrade our nation’s utility infrastructure.

The investment needed to upgrade this infrastructure is immense. On the water side, the cost over the coming decades to replace aging pipes could reach more than $1  trillion. Yet, this work to upgrade our utility infrastructure needs to be done to ensure not only safe and reliable utility service, but also long-term economic growth for our nation.  Private investment in broadband providers has been very robust, but more will be necessary to bring 21st century services to these utility segments and consumers throughout the country, especially in less dense and rural parts of the country.

There is a silver lining to this story. As we upgrade and invest in our nation’s utility infrastructure, there are endless opportunities for innovation, from smart meters and battery storage to alternative ratemaking. If harnessed correctly, innovation in the utility industry could not only improve the customer experience by making a safer and more reliable system, but also save energy and result in utility service that is more productive and efficient. The panelists will discuss their ideas for how to tackle this monumental issue of upgrading our nation’s aging utility infrastructure in ways that optimize new technology and innovation.

Moderator:
Hon. Robert Powelson, NARUC President, Pennsylvania

Panelists:
Chris Crane, EEI Vice Chairman, President and CEO, Exelon
Chris Franklin, CEO & President, Aqua America
Jack Gerard, President & CEO, API
Pierce Norton, AGA Board Chairman, ONEGAS
Jonathan Spalter, President & CEO, USTelecom

Joint Meeting with Staff Subcommittee on Water

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Resiliency Before, During, and After Disruptive Events

(Joint Session with Committee on Critical Infrastructure)

Disruptive events—from short-term service interruptions caused by weather to prolonged "Black Sky" outages caused by a bad actor—have the potential to unleash widespread failures, affecting millions of Americans and unsettling the broader economy. These challenges are compounded by increased interdependence of once-distinct utility sectors and broader use of advanced technologies in an attempt to offer smarter, more interactive real-time services. As such, the possibility of greater frequency and severity of disruptive events highlight the need for more robust systemic resiliency of the physical and digital infrastructures that underlie today’s water systems. This panel will examine these emerging challenges and evaluate the roles that regulators and service providers might play in addressing them.

Moderator: Hon. Randy Randall, South Carolina

Panelists:

Laurent Carrot, Vice President and General Manager, SUEZ Water New Jersey

Kevin Kirwan, Vice President of Operations, New Jersey American Water

Michael J. Santorelli, Director of the Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute at New York Law School

Paul Stockton, Managing Director, Sonecon

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Water Infrastructure Replacement: How Does it Get Paid For?

(Joint Session with Staff Subcommittee on Water)

Replacement of aging water infrastructure is critical to maintain the integrity of water systems and to continue the provision of safe and reliable water service to customers, but how does it get paid for? Infrastructure replacement can be daunting when faced with rate impact concerns. This panel will discuss various experiences with infrastructure replacement efforts and the rate structures and mechanisms used to accomplish replacement efforts. The panelists will discuss the pros and cons of the various structures and mechanisms as well as provide their opinions on how improvements can be made going forward.

Moderators:

Don Lomoljo, Utilities Hearing Officer, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada

Patricia Lucarelli, Chief of Legal Services, Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission

Panelists:

Sue Daly, Senior Utility Specialist, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

Christine Maloni Hoover, Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate, Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate

Cathy Pedemonti, Utilities Examiner, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

John Tomac, Senior Manager of Rates and Regulatory, West Virginia American Water

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative

Composed of 23 national public health, environmental, water utility, labor, consumer, and state and local governmental organizations, the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative recently released an online toolkit to help communities voluntarily develop and implement lead service line removal programs. Nationwide, old lead service lines connect an estimated 6.1 million or more homes and businesses to community drinking water mains. The toolkit includes a roadmap for getting started; suggested practices to identify and remove lead service lines in a safe, equitable, and cost-effective manner; policies that federal and state leaders could adopt to support local efforts; and links to additional resources that may be helpful when developing local programs. The toolkit is intended to be a living resource and the Collaborative is seeking communities to pilot and provide feedback on the materials. This interactive dialogue of the Collaborative’s Steering Committee will discuss what brought the Collaborative together, how to use the toolkit, and efforts to engage key stakeholders in communities.

Moderator: Hon. Joann T. Conaway, Delaware

Panelists:

Scott Biernat, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

Gail Bingham, President Emeritus, RESOLVE

Michael Deane, Executive Director, National Association of Water Companies

John Marciszewski, Director Business Development, Echologics LLC

Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director, Environmental Defense Fund

Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director, Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund

Steve Via, Director of Federal Relations, AWWA

Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Business Meeting

Items of business of the Water Committee will be covered, including discussion and action on resolutions and approval of the minutes from the Annual Meeting. Additionally, updates from the various partners of the Water Committee will be given, including NAWC, NARUC, and NARUC Rate School. Members of the Committee will also have time to brief the Committee on activities of interest in their States.

10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Congressional Staff Panel

Moderator:

Hon. Elliott Elam, South Carolina

Panelists:

TBA

Broadband and Privacy Issues—Who Best Protects the Consumer?

The Federal Communications Commission proposed and adopted a final rule for the privacy issues and protection of critical consumer information, based on its finding that BIAS (broadband Internet access services) are classified as common carriers under Title II. The rule addresses how carriers should be required to protect a broad range of sensitive consumer information, building on the CPNI regime. However, the Federal Trade Commission also addresses the issues of consumer privacy issues based on the premise that most communication services are competitive, and therefore are addressed best under the FTC regulatory framework that States Attorneys General also follow. The final rule has been opposed by the carriers and industry associations, by members of Congress, and others. Questions to be addressed include: How would the FTC and FCC best coordinate on oversight and enforcement issues? Which agency traditionally is best positioned to oversee this? Should the competitive market handle these issues, since consumers can easily switch carriers if unhappy with their privacy practices?

Moderator:

Hon. Phil Jones, Washington

Panelists:

Neil Chilson, Attorney Advisor, Acting Chair Ohlhausen, FTC

Jules Polonetsky, CEO, Future of Freedom Forum

Rick Chessen, Senior VP of Legal & Regulatory, NCTA

Jonathan Banks, Senior VP, Law & Policy, US Telecom

Dallas Harris, Policy Fellow, Public Knowledge

2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

Update on the Transition to a New Local Number Portability Administrator

In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission approved the North American Portabillity Management LLC’s (NAPM) Transition Oversight Plan (TOP) to ensure that the migration from Neustar, Inc., the current Local Number Portability Administrator (LNPA), to the incoming LNPA, iconectiv, is a success for all stakeholders. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was selected in 2016 by the NAPM as the independent third-party Transition Oversight Manager (TOM) to assist the NAPM in overseeing the transition from the current LNPA to the new LNPA. In this session, PwC and iconnectiv will provide an overview on the TOP and their progress to ensure a seamless transition in such critical areas as risk management, implementation timelines, performance benchmarks and incentives, dispute resolution, regional testing, stakeholder outreach, education and onboarding, and performance reliability and security.

Moderator:

Hon. Betty Ann Kane, District of Columbia

Panelists:

Bill Reilly, Director, Advisory – PwC Services, LLC

Kathy Timko, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Number Portability Services, iconectiv

Telecommunications Resiliency and Critical Infrastructure 

This panel will explore regulatory, technical, and policy issues and initiatives to ensure that advanced telecommunications services are resilient and serve the needs of the nation including critical infrastructure. As telecommunications networks evolve they introduce new features but may also introduce new vulnerabilities. Are software-driven networks more vulnerable to cybersecurity issues or to software-driven outages that affect several states and how to we increase their resiliency? We will explore the characteristics of resilient networks including cybersecurity, route and network diversity, software-designed diversity, and other technical features. We will discuss the levels of resiliency necessary for energy and water resources that increasingly depend on data for maintenance and operations. Federal and many state laws require electric generators to be visible to the network operators and able to receive control signals. Are current outage reporting standards consistent with the level of response and reliability needed for controllable energy resources and energy markets? Should regulatory policies encourage resilience through outage reporting including reporting of the impact of data transport failures (OC3 minute outages) on downstream users including voice and data users?

Moderator:

Hon. Gregg Sayre, New York

Panelists:

Catherine J. K. Sandoval, Commissioner Emeritus, California; Associate Professor, Santa Clara School of Law

Karen A. Geduldig, Director, Office of Telecommunications, NY PSC

CTIA - to be named

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Political Prognostications About Nuclear Issues

Three speakers will discuss the prospects of nuclear issues moving forward under the new Congress and Administration.  Attendees will hear perspectives of the House of Representative's Energy and Commerce Committee staff, as well as from the Heritage Foundation and MWR Strategies. Why action on disposal of spent nuclear fuel is necessary and the potential for issue movement in 2017 and beyond will be discussed. 

Moderators:

Hon. Anthony O’Donnell, Maryland

James Spearman, Executive Assistant & Sr. Technical Advisor, Public Service Commission of South Carolina

Panelists:

Michael McKenna, President, MWR Strategies

Jack Spencer, Heritage Foundation, and VP, Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity

Andy Zach, Professional Staff, House Committee on Energy and Commerce

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Energy Storage: Three Views

Three experts will update us on recent happenings with energy storage:

1. How Energy Storage Will ‘Feed the Duck’ and Keep the Grid Stable 
2. How and Why Massachusetts is Encouraging Distribution Utilities to Build Storage
3. FERC’s Rulemaking Regarding Storage and Aggregation

Moderator:

Hon. Asim Haque, Ohio

Panelists:

Hon. Cheryl LaFleur, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Ned Bartlett, Undersecretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts

Kenneth Collison, Vice President, ICF International

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Subcommittee on Clean Coal and Carbon Management Meeting

The presidential transition has upended many of the previous administration’s energy policy priorities. With new leadership entering the Department of Energy, Joseph Giove will provide an update of where coal stands under the new administration and which programs and technologies may receive a higher or lower level of interest during the next four years. Dr. Carey King and Dr. Josh Rhodes, along with additional University of Texas colleagues, authored a whitepaper titled, “New U.S. Power Costs: By County, with Environmental Externalities,” part of the Full Cost of Electricity comprehensive study. The authors calculate the levelized cost of electricity of new power plants fueled by coal (bituminous and sub-bituminous, with partial and full carbon capture and sequestration) and other generation sources for each U.S. county under a number of economic scenarios. The authors will discuss how these scenarios affect the geography and economics of coal-fired electricity.

Moderator:

Hon. Jeremy Oden, Alabama

Panelists:

Joseph Giove III, Director of Coal Business Operations, U.S. Department of Energy

Carey King, PhD, Assistant Director and Research Scientist, Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin

Josh Rhodes, PhD, Webber Energy Group Postdoctoral Fellow, Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin

Following these two discussions, subcommittee members will hold a brief open forum.

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Joint Meeting with Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Joint Meeting with Subcommittee on Clean Coal and Carbon Management

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Gas CEO Panel—Reflections on the Business of Natural Gas

A dynamic and lively discussion with natural gas company CEOs delving into the important and challenging issues that are facing the natural gas industry and the issues that CEOs are confronted with.

Moderators:
Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York
Hon. Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota

Panelists:
Jeff Bruner, President, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company
Pierce Norton, President and CEO, ONEGAS and AGA Board Chairman
Eddie Johnston, Senior V.P., GTI Research & Technology Development
Dena Wiggins, President and CEO, Natural Gas Supply Association
Producer representative (Invited)

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Natural Gas and the Advanced Persistent Threat of Cyber Attacks—The Awakening of Natural Gas Cyber Analysis and Policy

(Joint Panel with Critical Infrastructure)

Cybersecurity is critical to the infrastructure of the natural gas industry. The energy industry, including natural gas, is ranked as one of the top sectors most likely to be targeted for a cyberattack. This panel of thought leaders and experts will provide an opportunity to candidly discuss challenges, share ongoing initiatives, best practices, and possible solutions. Reasonable and effective cybersecurity policies for the natural gas sector are important to ensure the continued safe and reliable delivery of natural gas.  This panel will help us understand the evolution of the cybersecurity framework for the natural gas sector and what the current analysis and policy mindset is to address advanced persistent cyber-attacks.

Moderator:
Hon. Richard S.  Mroz, New Jersey

Panelists:
Hon. Robert R. Scott, New Hampshire
Kimberly Denbow, Director of Operations, American Gas Association
Representative of Federal Law Enforcement (cybersecurity focus,invited)
Kathy E. Kountze, Senior Vice President and CIO, Information and Technology, Eversource Joe McClelland, Director, Office of Energy Infrastructure Security, FERC

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Federal Tax Plan Landscape Issues—Expert Perspective on Potential Federal Tax Plans

(Joint Panel with Washington Action)

Federal tax plans are being proposed that will impact the United States’ energy future. Sound energy policies that are focused on natural gas infrastructure and development can be dramatically affected by the tax policies that are put into place. Thus, this will be an opportunity for an expert overview of what may be viable plans this legislative session and how they specifically impact the industry, states, and taxpayers.

Moderators:
Hon. Nick Wagner, Iowa
Hon. ToNola D. Brown-Bland, North Carolina

Panelists:
William Davis, Tax Policy Counsel — U.S. House of Representatives
Richard McMahon, Jr., Vice President, Edison Electric Institute
Jennifer Stewart, Senior Vice President Tax and Treasury, Southwestern Energy
Joe Mikrut, Partner, Capitol Tax Partners

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Pipeline Safety—Roundtable Discussion on Pipeline Safety

This interactive roundtable is intended to provide a forum for key stakeholders to update the gas committee on key issues that are pending. We will hear an update on the status of PHMSA’s pending regulations and activities; a discussion of the “mega rule,” and a dialogue of issues affecting state commissions.

Moderators:
Hon. Sherina Edwards, Illinois
Hon. John Coleman, Pennsylvania

Panelists:
Alan K. Mayberry, Associate Administrator, Pipeline Safety, DOT/PHMSA
David Murk, Manager of Pipelines, Midstream and Industry Operations, American Petroleum Institute
Christina Sames, VP Operations, American Gas Association
Randy Knepper, Director, Safety Division, New Hampshire PUC; Chair, Staff Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Community Solar— Stories from the Trenches

Community solar has been discussed favorably in many states, and at many NARUC meetings, but implementation rates remain relatively low, with perhaps a handful of States leading the charge. What is the story nationwide and why is community solar a strategy you want to get behind? How can states go about creating and enabling an environment for community solar and establishing a framework for success? How can these programs be modeled to ensure accessibility for low- and moderate-income consumers? Join policy and regulatory experts as they explore the breadth of the issue and discuss recommendations, hurdles, and best practices for establishing community solar.

Moderator:

Hon. Andrew Place, Pennsylvania

Panelists:

Hon. Jeffrey Ackermann, Colorado

Jeff Cramer, Executive Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access

Jack Hoskins, Graduate Student, Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

Stephen Lassiter, Graduate Student, Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Why Are We Talking About LED Street Lighting?

This panel will explore how we, as regulators, can move forward the adoption of LEDs for street lighting and create a win/win/win for the environment/States-municipalities/utilities. We will look at the challenges to the adoption of LED street lighting in the States. How has street lighting evolved, both technology and regulatory wise? What mechanisms have been employed to date to overcome these challenges (i.e., incentive, tariff changes, and smart grid application)? Where do we go from here?

Moderator:

Hon. Betty Ann Kane, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

Crystal McDonald, Program Manager, US DOE's Outdoor Lighting Accelerator

Peter Curley, Technologist, Climate Group

Robert Kramer, Director of the Energy Efficiency and Utilization Center, Purdue University Calumet

Theodore Sommer, CPA, London Witte Group

Vince Maione, Region President, Atlantic City Electric

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Who Wore it Better—Utility Scale Solar or Rooftop Solar?

The growth in solar installations around the country is not limited to only rooftop or utility scale. As total solar production costs have come down, so have the costs of utility scale and rooftop. However, utility scale and rooftop come with different perspectives on value; utility scale is considered more cost effective due to its scale compared to rooftop, yet the focus on solar remains with rooftop, which provides a different set of values. How do these two technologies compare with each other; contrast; and how do regulators, utilities, developers, and the customer determine the value of each solar type?

Moderator:

Hon. Beth Trombold, Ohio

Panelists:

John Farrell, Director of Democratic Energy, Institute for Local Self Reliance

Brian Potts, Partner, Perkins Coie

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Commissioner Roundtable

Curious if you’re the only State pushing a boulder up a hill?  Come join the ERE Roundtable to hear Commissioners discuss their States’ current issues, share the experiences of your state, and talk through thorny policy issues with your fellow Commissioners. All Commissioners are welcome and encouraged to participate in this important dialogue.

Facilitator:

Hon. Donna Nelson, Texas

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Federal Outlook for 2017

Insights from federal and legislative leaders policymakers for 2017

Cyber Issues

Moderator: Hon. Robert Powelson, Pennsylvania, NARUC President

Participants: Hon. Rick Mroz, New Jersey

Hon. Rick Santorum, Former Senator, Pennsylvania

Jonathon E. Monken , Senior director, System Resiliency and Strategic Coordination in the ITS Division of PJM Interconnection.

One on One with FERC

Hon. Cheryl LaFleur, Acting Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Insight from Capitol Hill

Remarks by Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m

Commissioners’ Roundtable

Moderator:

Hon. Edward Finley, North Carolina

Presenters:

Hon. Doug Little, Arizona

Hon. Richard Mroz, New Jersey

Hon. Kristine Raper, Idaho

Hon. Ann Rendahl, Washington

Hon. John Rosales, Illinois

Hon. Ted Thomas, Arkansas

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Cyber Risks and the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the ever-growing network of physical devices that connect to each other via the Internet. Examples include self-driving cars, security cameras, thermostats, and heart monitors. Gartner forecasts that by 2020, the number of Internet-connected things will exceed 20 billion. Security practitioners warn, however, that the proliferation of Internet-connected devices presents new attack vectors for hackers. Recent attacks launched using compromised IoT devices have highlighted the potential consequences. Panelists will discuss IoT security threats and innovative approaches to assessing and mitigating associated risk.

Moderator:

Hon. Richard Mroz, New Jersey

Presenters:

Hon. Nick Wagner, Iowa

Karen R. Lefkowitz, Vice President, Smart Grid & Technology, Pepco Holdings, Technical Services

Jeff Voas, Computer Scientist, National Institute of Science and Technology

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Business Meeting

Moderator:

Hon. Edward Finley, North Carolina

Speaker:

John Moura, Director of Reliability Assessment and System Analysis, NERC

The reliability implications of accelerated deployment of distributed energy resources on the bulk power system.

Resolutions

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

What Is Next for the EPA’s Carbon Regulations for Existing Power Plants?

(Joint session with ERE)

What options does the new Administration have for evolving the carbon regulations for existing power plants that are pending before the courts?

Moderators:

Hon. Edward Finley, North Carolina

Hon. Nancy Lange, Minnesota

Panelists:

Paul Cicio, President, Industrial Energy Consumers of America

David Doniger, Dir., Climate and Clean Air Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

Roger Martella, Partner, Sidley Austin

Business Meeting

Introduction and Welcome:
Hon. Nancy Lange, Minnesota, Chair
Hon. Donna Nelson, Texas Co-Vice Chair
Hon. Jeannette Mills, Maryland, Co-Vice Chair

Resolutions

Briefings:
Ron Edelstein, Director, Regulatory and Government Relations, GTI
Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher for Energy and Environment, NRRI
Barbara Tyran, Executive Director, Governmental & External Relations, EPRI 

Presentations:
A New Approach to Energy Efficiency in the Retail Sector
Peter Banwell, Director, Energy Star Product Marketing, EPA

Recent Trends and Emerging Developments in Utility-sector Energy-efficiency Programs and Policies
Steve Nadel, Executive Director, ACEEE

2017 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
Ruth McCormick, Director, Federal and State Affairs, BCSE

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Regulatory Reform: Updating the Regulatory Toolkit to Deploy Renewables

Regulatory commissions, as well as electric utilities, must evolve to take on new generation opportunities and challenges such as the need for greater decarbonization, the growth of distributed generation, and more customer choice. This panel will focus on how regulatory commissions can evolve and innovate their regulatory toolkit to facilitate deployment and cost recovery of renewables. We will use an interactive game to get panelists’ insights on whether we should keep, toss, or reform specific regulatory tools currently in use.

Moderator:
Hon. Carla Peterman, California

Panelists:
Ryan Wiser, Senior Scientist and Group Leader, Electricity Markets and Policy, LBNL
Michael Champley, Commissioner Emeritus, Hawaii
Jeanne Fox, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, Commissioner Emeritus, New Jersey
Bob Rowe, President and CEO, Northwestern Energy, Commissioner Emeritus, Montana, Former NARUC President

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Carbon: A Risk or An Opportunity?

The Trump Administration is signaling big changes ahead for federal climate policies.  In this shifting landscape, how do the electric utilities evaluate the risks posed by carbon as it plans for the long term?  What signals are investors, markets, and customers sending the utilities about carbon emissions? This panel will explore how the investment community, customers, and a utility are navigating the choppy waters.

Moderator:
Sue Tierney, Senior Advisor, Analysis Group

Panelists:
Steve Skarda, Global Climate & Energy Leader, Procter and Gamble
Swami Venkataraman, Sr. Vice President, Global Project and Infrastructure Finance, Moody’s Investors Service
Jonathan Weisgall, Vice President, Government Relations, Berkshire Hathaway Energy

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

(Joint Session with Electricity)

What is Next for the EPA’s Carbon Regulations for Existing Power Plants?

How is the Trump Administration likely to change certain policies and rules affecting utilities, including the Clean Power Plan? Which ones are likely to continue to be implemented, and what do states and NGOs do in response?

Moderators:
Hon. Ed Finley, North Carolina
Hon. Nancy Lange, Minnesota

Panelists:
Paul Cicio, President, Industrial Consumers of America
Dave Doniger, Director, Climate and Clean Air Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
Roger Martella, Attorney, Sidley Austin

10:45 a.m. -11:45 a.m.

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Business Meeting

• Hon. Colette D. Honorable, FERC
• Jay Copan, Executive Director World Gas Conference 2018
• Resolutions

2:45 p.m. -3:45 p.m.

Natural Gas Opportunities—Roundtable Discussion Phase One Natural Gas-Fueling the Economic Engine

Recently, natural gas consumption, which is increasing in many sectors of the market including power generation, industrial, residential and even pipeline and LNG exports has bumped up against flattening supply as balance has been introduced in a market that has been supply long for years.  Where does this leave the natural gas industry and its ability to supply growing demand as it enters the winter of 2016/2017?  Is there enough pipe in the ground to get the available production to the areas and markets where it is needed the most?  We will review relevant natural gas studies and assess the economic benefits of natural gas use while taking into account the production and infrastructure needed for the use of natural gas to take place.  (Note: This panel is part of the Natural Gas Power afternoon done in conjunction with the Phase Two Panel held immediately after this)

Moderators:

Hon. Diane X. Burman, NY and Hon. Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota

Panelists:

Paul Geiger, Senior, VP Business Development, Southwestern Energy

Mark Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Eastern Operations, Crestwood LP

Scott Wright, MISO

Erica Bowman, Chief Economist, API

Karen Alderman Harbert, President and CEO, Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Natural Gas Opportunites: Round Table Discussion Phase Two Gas–Electric Interdependencies—Accommodating an Increased Dependence on Natural Gas

The Bulk Power System (BPS) has experienced significant changes in the resource mix with a continuation of growth in natural gas-fired electric generation. With more natural gas-fired generation being added in power markets and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission orders aiding the convergence of the gas and electric power industries, continued coordination among the two industries is vitally important. Generators are reliant on upstream exploration and production, pipeline systems, and storage to fulfill the natural gas requirements for their generation. The Aliso Canyon storage outage in California affected almost 10,000 MW of natural gas fired generation, underscoring the reliance that the BPS has on natural gas infrastructure and the potential ramifications of a single point of disruption. This panel will present several perspectives around critical issues to address with reliance on natural gas, LNG, and the requisite infrastructure for reliable generation. The panel will also discuss fuel assurance issues, mitigating measures and other planning tools that are being employed to address potential single points of disruption. (Note: This panel is part of the Natural Gas Power afternoon, in conjunction with the Phase One Panel held immediately before this panel.)

Moderators:

Hon. Robert M. Pickett, Alaska

Hon. Swain E. Whitfield, South Carolina

Panelists:

Michael Nowak, National Fuel Gas

Peter Brandien, VP System Operations ISO NE

John Maura, Director Reliability Assessment, NERC

Stephan Folga, PhD, Energy Systems Engineer/ Manager, Argonne National Labs

Ryan Colley, Planning Manager, Southern Company Transmission

INGAA Representative (invited)

Wireless Expansion: Distributed Antenna Systems & Small Cell Deployment

Over the past decade, the wireless industry has experienced an astounding 1,000-fold data traffic increase. As telecom providers densify their networks to meet consumer demand, is the answer small cell and distributed antenna systems (DAS) deployment? This panel will explore emerging wireless technologies, potential benefits and the public policy issues telecom providers and communities face.

Moderator:

Hon. Johann Clendenin, Virgin Islands

Panelists:

Hon. Jack Betkoski, Connecticut

Mike Hill, National Director, External Relations — Infrastructure, ExteNet

Angelina Panetteri, Principal Associate, Technology & Communications, Federal Advocacy, NLC

Ken Schifman, Director of Government Affairs, Sprint

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Business Meeting

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Discussion with State Broadband Offices

Panelists representing state broadband offices will educate on the mission and function of their offices leading into a discussion on possible areas of synergy with public utility commission offices.

Moderator:

Hon. Crystal Rhodes, Nebraska

Panelists:

Danna MacKenzie, Executive Director, Minnesota Office of Broadband Development

 Jeffrey R. Sural, Acting General Counsel, Director, Broadband Infrastructure Office, North  Carolina Department of Information Technology

Tony Simental, West Virginia State GIS Coordinator, WV Office of GIS Coordination

NTIA Representative TBA

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Industry Fragmentation and the Effect on Water Infrastructure and Investment

There are more than 53,000 water utilities in the United States, serving over 250 million Americans. However, only 7 percent of water systems serve more than 10,000 customers, and 1 percent serve populations greater than 100,000. Smaller water utilities face a number of challenges, including infrastructure deterioration, sourcing financial support, and compliance issues. Policymakers have long sought to address these issues by, for example, providing financing options for smaller systems and streamlining regulatory processes. Despite these efforts, though, many smaller water utilities still struggle. Recognizing these challenges and their effects on customers, some States are examining a range of potential solutions, including small-system acquisition and related policy reforms. Other stakeholders are exploring the value of forging public-private partnerships as an alternative model to support key infrastructure replacement. This panel will explore these myriad of issues and examine possible paths forward.

Moderator:

Hon. Daniel Hall, Missouri

Panelists:

Rich Anderson, Senior Advisor, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayors Water Council

Charles M. Davidson, Director of the Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute, New York Law School

Peter C. Grevatt, Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

David Stanton, President, SUEZ North America Utility Segment

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Permanent Water Conservation Efforts

Drought conditions across the United States have changed how we think about water shortages and water conservation efforts. Some regions have implemented permanent water conservation efforts to mitigate current water shortages as well as to better handle future water shortages. The panelists will discuss those efforts and innovative ideas borne out of water supply difficulties.

Moderator:

Hon. Kenneth Hill, Tennessee

Panelists:

Jack Hawks, Executive Director, California Water Association

Matthew Klein, President of North Carolina and Tennessee, Utilities Inc.

Marc Lucca, President of Aqua Pennsylvania, Aqua America

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Hydropower

Hydropower is currently the largest U.S. renewable power source, providing nearly half of all U.S. renewable power in 2015. It is essential to the operation and stability of the electric grid providing ancillary services such as frequency response, ramping and voltage support. Its fast-ramping ability allow it to quickly react to grid disturbances and pumped storage can provide peak shaving. Panelists will discuss the U.S. Dept. of Energy report, “Hydrovision,” and how hydropower works, purchase-power contracts are structured and new projects in development.

Moderator:

Hon. Mary-Anna Holden, New Jersey

Panelists:

Hon. Brad Johnson, Montana

Timothy Welch, Hydropower Program Manager, Wind and Water Power Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Maria Zazzera, Aide to Hon. Mary-Anna Holden, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Cost of Compliance for Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations

This presentation by the Water Research Foundation will provide an overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory history, regulatory activity in the horizon, and the capital, operation and maintenance, and monitoring cost impact of complying with these regulations. The lead and copper rule, potential upcoming revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule, and issues surrounding replacement and cost of lead service lines, and compliance with the rule will be discussed. Recent and proposed research on lead by the Water Research Foundation will be referenced.

Speaker:

Beate M. Wright, Executive Director, Washington D.C. Office, Water Research Foundation

A National Focus on Resiliency

This joint session is focused on the Department of Defense’s increasing priority on energy resiliency measures. The DoD wants to ensure that, even if a catastrophic storm hits or adversaries target the power grid, critical DoD installations can still carry out their mission-essential functions. 

Representatives from the Air Force, Army, and Navy will discuss issues related to funding for energy resiliency projects, private-sector partnerships and opportunities, and barriers to success such as the regulatory and/or the DoD contracting process.  Specific relevant case studies, such as the Hawaiian Electric-Army energy resiliency project and the APS-USMC micro grid, will be explained.

Moderator: Hon. Judy Jagdmann, Virginia

Panelists:
Mark Correll, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure, United States Air Force

Michael McGhee, P.E., Executive Director, US Army Office of Energy Initiatives

John Kliem, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations & Environment)

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

What Regulators Need to Know about Stopping Consumer Utility Scams

Over the last several years, the volume and complexity of scams aimed at utility consumers have been growing. Scammers are using technologies such as Caller ID spoofing and fake utility interactive voice response menus. Although it is difficult to quantify total losses, it is estimated that millions of dollars annually are stolen by criminals impersonating utility representatives. These scams also can undermine consumer confidence in a utility, unfairly damage its reputation, and place an added burden on its customer service operations.

What is being done to address this problem and what can State commissions do to educate consumers and help stop these scams? In this session, attendees will learn about an industry collaborative across North America to share data and best practices and implement initiatives to inform and protect customers. Attendees will also learn about emerging technologies to eliminate Caller ID spoofing, as well as State efforts to crack down on these scams and educate consumers on how to identify potential scams and whom to contact to report suspicious activity.

Moderator:
Hon. Jack Betkoski, Connecticut

Panelists:
Hon. Ann Rendahl, Washington

Ellin Katz, Consumer Counsel, Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel

Jared Lawrence, Vice President Revenue Services, Duke Energy Customer Services

Brent Struthers, Senior Policy Advisor, Neustar, Inc.