“To successfully make this transition, we must balance competing priorities, which requires us to continuously explore and innovate – simplifying processes, implementing new technologies and digital tools, and most important, continuing to put customers at the center of all we do.”

Meet PUF’s 2022 Under Forties, the up-and-coming rising stars of the utilities industry and utility regulation hailing from twenty-nine utilities, utility regulatory commissions, and other industry organizations.

Who are the up-and-coming rising stars of the utilities industry and utility regulation? This year eighty Under Forties are featured hailing from twenty-nine utilities, utility regulatory commissions, and other industry organizations. We asked them three questions about their careers and then highlight each one individually.

“The Energy Transition Act is going to change the landscape for the Commission and utilities. We’re going from a firm power supply to alternative energy. That’s going to be a challenge to make sure you keep the lights on without any of the traditional firm power sources.”

“Energy decarbonization, reliability, and cost are the most urgent issues in front of the Commission. The common challenge behind all these issues is rapid change and an explosion of new technologies.”

“When I work with my colleagues, I make them understand how Native American tribes respond to issues we deal with on a daily basis and the living conditions. I also express my voice and vote on all utility matters for the whole State of New Mexico.”

“We recently established a new rule on Community Solar implementation, and other rulemaking dockets we hope to successfully complete include interconnection, grid modernization, and transportation electrification.”

“We’re showing progress by making headway on the backlog of rulemakings, filling key positions, being proactive instead of reactive. We want to make sure at the end of this calendar year, when we’re all termed out of office, we hand over the keys to an agency that is in a much better place than when we found it.”

Conversations with Chair Joseph Maestas, Vice Chair Cynthia Hall, and Commissioners Theresa Becenti-Aguilar, Stephen Fischmann, and Jefferson Byrd.

We expect much more from these Fortnightly Under Forties and look forward to seeing where they go in their careers.