NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY UTILITY COMMISSIONERS
For Immediate Release: January 25, 2013
Contact: Rob Thormeyer, 202-898-9382

Email: rthormeyer@naruc.org 

WASHINGTON—Federal and State utility regulators are launching a revamped collaborative dialogue that will focus on a wide range of topical issues facing the utility sector. 

Debuting Feb. 3 during the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Committee Meetings in Washington, the new Sunday Morning Collaborative is co-chaired by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, FERC Commissioner John Norris, and State commissioners Travis Kavulla of Montana and Phyllis Reha of Minnesota. 

The new collaborative’s first meeting will address regional transmission organization issues, specifically the pros and cons of utility participation in RTOs, as well as the numerous models for State participation in RTO governance. The meeting is scheduled to take place from 8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. A complete agenda is available on the NARUC Winter Committee Meeting’s Website at: http://winter.narucmeetings.org/program.cfm. 

FERC and NARUC launched their first collaborative program—on demand response--in November 2006. This forum was followed by groups on competitive procurement and smart-grid development. The demand-response and smart-grid collaborative were merged into a single group called Smart Response, while another group was established to discuss “emerging issues.” Each of the collaboratives met during NARUC’s three annual meetings. 

Instead of discussing solely smart-grid and demand response issues, the revamped Sunday Morning Collaborative will focus on one particular topic for each meeting. These subjects will be selected by the Members and Collaborative Co-Chairs prior to each session, with the goal of facilitating a conversation before, during, and after each meeting. 

“The collaboratives provide an opportunity for state and federal energy regulators to discuss and explore in-depth emerging issues and to better understand the range of issues that cut across both wholesale and retail energy markets,” said Chairman Wellinghoff. "Cooperation and collaboration between federal and state governments is a needed strategy to achieve our energy and environmental goals.” 

"The Sunday Morning Collaborative will allow us to explore relevant utility issues in more depth," said Commissioner Norris. "Having participated in NARUC collaboratives both as a state regulator and a federal regulator, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across the country in this important effort that we all hope will lead to more efficient systems for the nation's energy consumers." 

“With this new format, we can build upon our existing platform and discuss topical issues facing the electric utility industry,” said NARUC President Philip Jones of Washington. “These open, transparent kinds of discussions are essential for setting sound energy policy. State and federal regulators have different roles and responsibilities, but we share the same goals of ensuring safe and reliable utility service. I thank my federal colleagues for their commitment to maintaining a strong federal-State dialogue, and I am grateful for Commissioner Kavulla’s and Commissioner Reha’s leadership.” 

“I look forward to engaging with FERC and my State regulatory friends,” said Commissioner Reha. “Our discussion on regional transmission organizations is timely and important. State and federal regulators have key long-term decisions to make on these issues; building more understanding between and amongst regulators is essential.” 

“My thanks to President Jones for this opportunity,” said Commissioner Kavulla. “The challenges we face in the West are quite different from those in the East. This format will let us discuss the most important issues of the day and share best practices, because we can all learn from each other. There will be times when we disagree with our federal partners, but these kinds of discussions facilitate a broader understanding of the issues.” 

Aside from Commissioners Kavulla and Reha, NARUC appointed 24 State commissioners to the collaborative. This list includes Commissioners Lorraine Akiba of Hawaii, Ron Allen of Utah, John Betkowski of Connecticut, Stephen Bloom of Oregon, Michael Champley of Hawaii, Tim Echols of Georgia, Joshua Epel of Colorado, Jeanne Fox of New Jersey, Darrell Hanson of Iowa, Orjiakor Isiogu of Michigan, Betty Ann Kane of the District of Columbia, Phil Montgomery of Wisconsin, Steve Oxley of Wyoming, Christopher Recchia of Vermont, Paul Roberti of Rhode Island, Doug Scott of Illinois, Todd Snitchler of Ohio, Thomas Welch of Maine, Betsy Wergin of Minnesota, Greg White of Michigan, Dallas Winslow of Delaware, and David Wright of South Carolina. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.