Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins How to Talk to Your Friendly Neighborhood Public Utility Regulator
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Feb 19, 2025 
Charles Hua, founder of PowerLines, and Scott Bolton, EVP at Hydrostor, dive into the pivotal role local public utility commissions play in regulating energy. They discuss how these often-overlooked entities manage 1% of U.S. GDP while facing challenges from lobbyists. Charles emphasizes the need for ordinary citizens to engage with PUCs to advocate for affordable and sustainable energy solutions. Scott highlights groundbreaking advancements in long-duration energy storage, essential for a resilient energy future in the wake of climate change.
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PUC Importance
- State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) oversee vast utility spending, influencing energy rates and investments.
- They are crucial for decarbonization, yet often underappreciated and overlooked.
PUC Influence
- PUCs face influence primarily from utilities, consumer advocates, and increasingly, environmental groups and large commercial customers.
- Broader stakeholder engagement, including residential consumers and municipalities, is needed.
PUC Challenges
- PUCs face increasing challenges with rising demand, policy priorities, distributed energy resources, and a changing generation mix.
- They often regulate multiple sectors, making their job complex.