The Mid-America Regulatory Conference, better known as MARC, is coming up in June and several members of RAP will be attendance. If you’re coming to Indianapolis for the annual conference, say hello to the following RAP colleagues in attendance: Alex Antal, Camille Kadoch, Carl Linvill, Destiny Nash, Ronny Sandoval, and Andew Valainis.
The MARC25 conference will take place at the Indianapolis Westin in Indianapolis, IN from June 22-25.
Pre-conference workshop
RAP will be hosting a pre-conference workshop and lunch called From Flat to Fast: Regulatory Tools for Unexpected Infrastructure Investment. This event is for commissioners and commission staff only.
- Date: Sunday, June 22
- Time: Noon – 4 p.m.
- Location: Indianapolis Westin, Capitol 2
Description:
After decades of flat customer demand, we are now in an era of booming load growth. As a result, regulators are currently evaluating the need for large investments in new infrastructure, often from multiple utilities at the same time. Large new data center and manufacturing loads present a novel challenge as they require fast approval for investments that will impact the electric system for decades to come.
To meet the needs of this new era, regulators need to expand and sharpen their tool kit for managing this growth. This is especially true in the context of local and regional transmission projects whose costs show up in rate cases despite the fact that they may not have received any regulatory review. This session will focus on gathering much needed input from fellow MARC regulators and will document the tools and strategies that they can use as they review utility requests.
Attendees will also:
- Examine the framework distinguishing local vs. regional projects and assess if adequate regulatory scrutiny exists today to ensures local projects can address regional needs.
- Identify current regulatory tools for considering large loads and transmission projects in planning.
- Explore regulatory tools needing further development or future action to enhance the regulatory toolbox.
- Discuss gaps between current and needed tools and pathways to facilitate development.
Panels
Several RAP colleagues will also be featured on panels throughout the week.
Andrew Valainis will be a panelist for “Public Engagement and Regulatory Culture.”
- Date: Monday, June 23
- Time: 2-3 p.m.
- Location: Indianapolis Westin, Capitol 1
Description:
From fully litigated docketed proceedings to public field hearings to technical conferences and workshops, there are diverse opportunities for members of the public to engage with the utilities that serve them and the public servants who regulate those utilities. But are these opportunities meeting the needs of their intended audiences? How can public service commissions make their processes more transparent and understandable and become more effective partners with the communities and individuals they serve? Regulators, consumer advocates, and stakeholders will share real-life challenges and strategies for success.
Alex Antal will be a panelist for “Building Trust Across Competing Interests.”
- Date: Tuesday, June 24
- Time: 2:15-3:15 p.m.
- Location: Indianapolis Westin, Capitol 2
Description:
This important discussion will look at the competing and complementary interests across the industry – i.e. businesses, utilities, and regulators not only trying to build trust with one another to get projects approved, built, and operational, but also working on ways to ensure each sector strives to earn and retain the trust of the public they serve. Hear from industry representatives and members of the public on ways they have worked cooperatively and achieved a level of success in overcoming mistrust to ultimately deliver economic development triumphs as well as the critical services on which their customers depend at just and reasonable rates.
Ronny Sandoval will be a panelist for “Yes, We’re Still Talking About Gas-Electric Coordination.”
- Date: Tuesday, June 24
- Time: 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
- Location: Indianapolis Westin, Capitol 2
Description:
The interactions between, and interdependencies of, gas pipeline and electric grid systems are the talk of the town as states and their utilities face mounting pressures related to affordability, extreme weather, load growth, building efficiency and decarbonization, and ever-changing local, state, and federal policy landscapes. One potential solution is to evolve our state-level energy system planning frameworks to better capture those dynamics across systems. Several states and industry experts are in the early and middle stages of developing this new paradigm – come learn about their experiences and challenges as they chart this new path forward.
For more info, visit the event website.
