NARUC, state energy officials create task force for electricity planning

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) have established a joint task force to help states develop new strategies to improve electricity distribution and planning.

The Task Force for Comprehensive Electricity Planning will have representatives from 16 U.S. states who will develop new tools and strategies to meet the utility needs of states. NARUC and NASEO will ultimately publish the strategies that the task force comes up with for use for by state utilities. It is a two-year initiative. Twenty-one states sought to join the task force, but just 16 were invited to join based on several factors, including geographies, market models, planning approaches, and state policy goals.

“This is an historic partnership, which is necessitated by the ever-changing power system, at a time when leadership is needed,” NARUC President Nick Wagner of the Iowa Utilities Board said. “The utility regulatory community looks forward to working together with our state energy office colleagues to provide the tools and roadmap for a positive future.”

The 16 states selected to sit on the task force include Arizona, Arkansas, California (co-vice chair), Colorado (co-chair), Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio (co-vice chair), Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Utah (co-chair), and Virginia.

“This process will help us stay ahead of rapidly accelerating technological advancements and extract the most value from them, rather than playing catch up and missing opportunities,” task force Co-Vice Chair Andrew McAllister of the California Energy Commission said. “We look forward to working with our colleagues and stakeholders to improve the outcomes for everyone.”
The task force will hold its first working meeting this spring.

“Modernizing the grid also means modernizing how we plan for it. And that means challenging our approaches and assumptions to make way for innovation,” task force Co-Vice Chair Beth Trombold of the Public Utility Commission of Ohio said.