Regulator Dialogues are interactive, virtual sessions designed for energy regulators who want to explore real-world challenges with regulators from other jurisdictions.
Each Dialogue focuses on a specific regulatory challenge through a series of facilitated discussions. Short presentations and expert input provide a starting point for participants to compare experiences, examine different approaches, and identify potential solutions.
These are participatory discussions rather than webinars. Sessions are held under the Chatham House Rule to support open and constructive exchange.
Who should join?
Regulator Dialogues are designed primarily for energy regulators and staff working within regulatory authorities.
The sessions provide space for participants to:
- Explore practical regulatory approaches
- Hear how peers in other jurisdictions are approaching emerging challenges
- Compare decisions and trade-offs across different regulatory contexts
- Identify areas for further peer learning or guidance
UPCOMING DIALOGUES
1. Topic: Data Centres and Large Loads
How can regulators enable timely connections while managing system impacts, allocating costs fairly and protecting consumers?
Data centres and other large electricity users can bring significant new demand onto the grid, often faster and with greater uncertainty than traditional planning processes anticipate. This creates complex questions about network investment, connection requirements, system reliability and who should bear the resulting costs.
This three-part Dialogue will bring regulators together to compare experiences, examine regulatory trade-offs and explore emerging approaches across different electricity systems.
| Session 1: Understanding the Challenge (Completed) | Session 2: Cost allocation, Tariffs and Flexibility | Session 3: Integrating data centres and large loads |
| Establishing a shared understanding of the challenges and the decisions within regulators’ control. | Exploring how costs and risks can be allocated fairly while protecting other electricity consumers. | Considering key planning, connection and technical issues associated with integrating large loads into electricity systems. |
Next: Session 2 – Cost allocation, Tariffs and Flexibility
This discussion will focus on how regulators are approaching questions such as: who pays for new infrastructure, how consumers can be protected from undue costs, what tariff approaches are being considered for data centres and other large users, and whether large loads can provide flexibility to the system.
We will run the session twice to support participation across time zones. Please register for the session that works best for you:
- Americas and Caribbean session, 22 October 2026
08:00–09:30 PDT | 10:00–11:30 CDT | 11:00–12:30 EDT / AST | 17:00–18:30 CEST
This session will include an opening input from Angela Navarro (former US state utility regulator) on developments among US regulators, followed by RAP/Agora input and peer discussion.
Register here: https://raponline-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/v8vfa2kDT5GIuyPYzDNxWw
- Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia session, 3 November 2026
08:00–09:30 CET | 09:00–10:30 SAST | 15:00–16:30 SGT | 18:00–19:30 AEDT
This session will include reflections from AEMC on recent data centre-related work in the Australian context, followed by RAP/Agora input and peer discussion.
Register here: https://raponline-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xf9dbi_XR2ejH4HNFLd6fQFormat and schedule
We will also invite brief first-hand reflections from regulators during the session. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to share what questions, challenges, or approaches are emerging in their own jurisdiction.
As with the first session, this is intended to be an interactive peer exchange rather than a webinar. Your questions and practical experiences will help shape the discussion and make it more useful for others in the room.