NARUC Annual Meeting
Moderator Jehmal Hudson is Chair of the Virginia State Corporation Commission and incoming Second VP of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Jeff Hughes is a Commissioner for the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Matthew Baker is a Commissioner for the California Public Utilities Commission. John Mitchell is a Commissioner for the Missouri Public Service Commission. Alice Reynolds is a Commissioner for the California Public Utilities Commission. Naomi Kuwaye is a Commissioner for the Public Utilities Commission, State of Hawaii.
At the business meeting of the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment, members of the Committee on Water joined to discuss how to use each other's policies, planning, and lessons learned from regulating their commodity to better operate the other during the 2024 NARUC Annual Meeting and Education Conference. They focused on how electric and water utilities can learn from each other's experiences, leverage best practices and work together to serve communities more effectively.
The discussion was led by incoming NARUC Second VP and Virginia Chair Jehmal Hudson and North Carolina Commissioner Jeff Hughes, with lively audience participation by California Commissioner Matthew Baker, Missouri Commissioner John Mitchell, California Chair Alice Reynolds, and Hawaii Commissioner Naomi Kuwaye.
Virginia Chair and Moderator Jehmal Hudson: Both sectors have similar challenges, in terms of building resiliency, improving efficiency, and in the face of climate impacts. Also, we have a unique opportunity to examine where our work intersects and supports these shared goals.
Today's session is especially valuable because it brings together Commissioners from both the Water Committee and the ERE Committee. Your combined perspectives on those regulatory strategies, possible innovations, and operational best practices can help spark new ideas and practical solutions that bridge our sectors.