The States

“When I became the Chair, I intentionally directed resources toward public communications and engagement with the legislature to help explain the value of our decisions and our agency.”

The PUC opened its doors to PUF, and Commissioners and Staff took time from their busy schedules to discuss priorities, including affordability, electric-gas coordination, transmission, permitting, and more. Enjoy these conversations with Minnesota Chair Katie Sieben, Vice-Chair Joseph Sullivan, Commissioner Audrey Partridge, Commissioner Hwikwon Ham, and Commissioner John Tuma. Plus, the all-important PUC Staff.

“They want to pay their fair share but run into issues when the Independent Market Monitor and PJM attribute a large amount of the increase in capacity market auction costs to data centers, but those costs are not necessarily being allocated to data centers.”

“Today, hydropower isn’t just about producing energy — it’s keeping the system reliable and responsive, and allowing us to use water more strategically as the grid becomes more dynamic. As demand continues to grow, that flexibility becomes even more valuable.”

The PUF series with Commission Chairs continues with conversations with Idaho Chair Edward Lodge and Illinois Chair Doug Scott, with PUF Senior Advisor Paul Kjellander, featuring his original paintings.

“Should utilities have to disclose to utility regulators when they’re making filings with a regulatory agency that they’ve used AI to develop the filing? Why should they do that or why not, and what should they be disclosing?”

“Our goal as regulators is not to pick winners or to chase every new idea. It’s to create the conditions where good ideas can succeed, risks are managed responsibly, and public interest remains at the center of change. In many ways, I see this conference as a kind of catalyst.”

With sessions on information gaps, AI dreams, provincial energy synergies, energy security, and competitive pathways to a resilient energy future, participants exchanged insights, challenged conventions, and bridged the divide for a resilient energy future.

”Being a non-regulatory agency allows us to provide unbiased information. We are not there to tell someone what to do; we are there to help them understand the situation.”

“SEOs are uniquely positioned to look across every power source provider and end-use solution to inform more rapid and forward-looking governor-led policy decisions.”