A plethora of energy and utility experts convened on the big issues at the 2025 NARUC Summer Policy Summit, with a bullseye on demand from AI and data centers, and much more. Included are excerpts from sessions on Unpacking Challenges Facing RTOs and Designing Tariffs for Large Load Customers, as well as a conversation with NARUC President and Georgia Commissioner Tricia Pridemore and Exelon CEO Calvin Butler.

“Last year, the governor pushed for a siting and permitting bill that is one of the first in the nation on getting clean energy sited in the state. That bill is about having predictable timelines that are shorter with less appeals and provide an opportunity for people to participate in these proceedings.”

“Since our work at the DPU is related to people’s everyday lives without them truly knowing it, we make sure we’re communicating effectively through a combination of print media, social media, and our website.”

“My Division is tasked with the transition to a clean energy system. It’s specifically as we transition off natural gas. There are challenges. Safety and reliability are paramount. Massachusetts is leading the way on several issues. We don’t often have somebody we can look to for answers.”

“How can I take some of the tragedies and look systemically across the state and say, ‘Where do we have these issues?’ Also how, from the regulator’s perspective, can we build an oversight that balances proactive approaches, utilizes data, so we’re able to get ahead of incidents that claim a lot of lives every year.”

“The 2024 Climate Act charges the Division of Public Participation with assisting stakeholders to navigate prefiling engagement and outreach requirements for Siting Board proceedings. We are working on regulations and guidance to ensure consistency in prefiling outreach requirements across projects.”

“The Legislature amended the Department’s authorizing statute a few years ago to encompass both equity and greenhouse gas emission reductions, in addition to safety, security, reliability, and affordability.”

“Cost to consumers is top of mind for the Commission and the Department. We understand that the high cost of energy is a burden for a lot of folks in Massachusetts, and that’s something we take seriously and are working on.”

“We are considering whether to limit the percentage of people’s income spent on energy bills. We have an energy burden docket considering tiered discount rates or targeting the largest bill discounts to customers most in need, and changes to utility service disconnection practices.”

“The next five years are going to be significant on the gas side as we continue to guide the transition of the industry, and on the electric side as we implement AMI and roll out time-varying rates. We need to do a lot on rate design, affordability, and heat pump rates.”