The Energy Infrastructure Imperative
Giant Leaps Call for Giant Courage and Confidence
Like the space program, the drive to decarbonize is encountering many unsolved problems. Each has the potential to prevent a smooth landing.
Fortnightly Magazine - June 18 2024
Ten Commissioners Talk Infrastructure
Unique conversations
Ten Commissioners from varied parts of the nation answered these questions: What are the most important needs for electric power infrastructure? What are your greatest concerns about infrastructure? How should utility regulation adjust to these needs and concerns, if at all? How different will electric power infrastructure be in the year 2040?
Power infrastructure: Arizona CC
State Commissioners
“Whether explaining to elected officials or the public, we need to describe what encompasses flicking that light switch on the wall, all the components to ensuring energy reliability, and how Arizona is faring."
Power infrastructure: Georgia PSC
State Commissioners
“For me to say capacity shortages, it’s breathtaking. But we are learning every day that as artificial intelligence is being used across the corporate business spectrum, its processing needs are so much greater than anything we’ve seen.”
Power infrastructure: Indiana URC
State Commissioners
“We’re going to need wide-ranging types of support, perhaps looking at creative partnerships among utilities and other stakeholders for assignment of costs to the cost causers and beneficiaries of service, because sometimes those may not be the direct customers of a regulated utility.”
Power infrastructure: Louisiana PSC
State Commissioners
“I hope we don’t fail to maintain infrastructure; whether it’s distribution, transmission, generation, and adequate reinvestment to keep up these resources. We have to balance the interests as those are important, but we don’t want to over-engage and overspend needlessly.”
Power infrastructure: New Mexico PRC
State Commissioners
“Items like transformers are hard to get. That can slow down the change, including the need to address resource adequacy. It also slows down economic development because new loads need transformers too. That’s the immediate need, it’s equipment.”
Power infrastructure: North Carolina PSC
State Commissioners
“I think about the potential for increased reserve margins for utilities due to extreme weather, the impact of economic development decisions, as well as potential load growth from electrification of the motor vehicle fleet. With all that demand coming onto the grid in the near and long term, it gives me concerns. The grid is going to be challenged.”
Power infrastructure: Pennsylvania PUC
State Commissioners
“Pennsylvania passed legislation allowing for alternative ratemaking, which allows utilities the option to utilize time-of-use, incentive, multi-year, decoupled, and other distribution rate designs. We haven’t had significant applications of these designs yet, but the tools are in the toolbox.”
Power infrastructure: Virginia SCC
State Commissioners
“The most important concern is how we can address present risks, as well as tackle electrification requirements of the future.”