This Utility University course is open to any attendee with an all-access or utility all-access badge. These courses are first come, first served onsite in Dallas, however, pre-registration is still required. To pre-register, please visit the registration resource center or reach out to info@distributech.com.

This course will give attendees an in-depth, real-world view of utility regulation, equipping them with knowledge of key regulatory topics that impact every facet of the utility business. 

Many utility practitioners and vendors consider the regulatory world a “black box” and don’t fully understand or appreciate the regulatory dynamics that impact their role within the wider utility ecosystem. This creates gaps in understanding of the utility business model and how to design programs and products that align with utility goals. This course will shed light on the regulatory process so that attendees will have greater familiarity with common public utility commission practices, procedures, and outcomes.

To fully capture the policy and regulatory dynamic, this two-part course will be led by perspectives from both sides of the fence: a former chair of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and a former utility regulatory director from a large investor-owned utility.

The first section of the course will help attendees understand utility regulation basics and the regulatory process, including how utilities earn money, how rate cases work, how certain types of costs are treated, interconnection, and more.

The second section will cover relevant topics in the utility industry and how they are impacted by regulatory considerations. Attendees will soon understand the practical implications of utility regulation on public policy initiatives by exploring real-world examples and topics, including energy efficiency, electrification/decarbonization, grid modernization, equity considerations, siting, and more.

Additional topics planned for discussion in the class are listed below. 

Utility Regulation Basics

• A quick history of utility regulation
• Rate cases
• Utility capital structure
• How utilities make money
• Prudency reviews; what regulators will and won’t allow
• Treatment of Capital vs O&M expenditures
• Performance based ratemaking
• DER interconnection
• FERC Orders and Transmission Integration
• Case studies of public policies
• Innovative rate design
• Cost Recovery

Current Topics

• Electrification
• Future of Gas/Gas system implications
• Grid modernization
• Net Metering and Storage Tariffs
• Equity
• Load Growth / DER Proliferation
• Siting facilities
• Decarbonization
• Distribution and Transmission Upgrades

Prerequisites: 

• None.

Acquired Knowledge: 

• At the end of this class, participants should have an understanding of key terms, processes, and mechanics associated with the public utility commission regulatory process
• Participants should be able to see and understand the linkages between public policy, PUC regulatory directives, and utility actions