Energy Central The real cost of outdated utility regulation, according to PowerLines CEO Charles Hua
Jan 13, 2026
Charles Hua, the founder and executive director of PowerLines, dives into the pressing need for modern utility regulations. He reveals how outdated systems are burdening consumers and hindering clean energy progress. Topics include the role of AI in optimizing the grid, the importance of equity in regulation, and strategies to enhance customer engagement. Charles shares insights on how proactive public utility commissioners can drive innovative changes, ensuring affordability and transparency in energy costs for all.
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Early Solar Project Sparked A Career
- Charles Hua started engaging with energy in high school by trying to get solar panels on his school roof and learning about project finance and regulators.
- That early experience led him to work with utilities and eventually pursue a decade-long career in energy policy and grid modernization.
Regulation Is The Root Of Many Grid Challenges
- Powerlines is a consumer education nonprofit focused on helping customers understand rising utility bills and make their voices heard.
- Charles argues regulatory barriers like siting, interconnection, and planning are central to current grid challenges and must be modernized.
Commissioners Hold Gigantic Financial Power
- Public utility commissioners oversee roughly a billion dollars each and hold outsized influence over investments, siting, and rate outcomes.
- Charles calls them the 'U.S. Supreme Court Justices of Energy' because their decisions shape affordability and who benefits from the transition.
