Get Updates Let's promote innovation and protect consumers through an improved regulatory process. The world is innovating by leaps and bounds but regulatory processes, developed over the last 100 years, are challenged to keep up. That slows innovation and makes it harder for customers – and society at large – to leverage and benefit from the latest technological advances and operating practices. Our task force and partners are gearing up to tackle this issue and change regulatory processes, practice and structures to foster innovation to build a modern grid and promote a modern society. Renovate Mission The Renovate mission is to spur the evolution of state regulatory processes and practices to enable innovation, with a focus on scalable deployment of new technologies and operating models, to meet customer needs and increasing expectations while continuing to provide all with clean, affordable, safe, and reliable electric service. Problem Statements People & Knowledge The steep learning curve for policy makers, commissioners, commission staff, industry, and other stakeholders in acquiring knowledge and understanding of new technologies, and their benefits and costs for customers can complicate and lengthen the decision making process. Managing Risk & Uncertainty Current regulations and structures favor tried and true technologies, operations and approaches, in the name of prudence, strictly applying the “used and useful” principle. For new technologies and operating practices, there is uncertainty about the processes to identify and quantify benefits and costs, outline the full range of investment and operating options, and communicate and align incentives with agreed goals for the benefit of all customers. Managing Increased Rate of Change Regulatory proceedings on grid investments and customer programs often take so long that relevant technology providing customer benefit has advanced before a commission assessment can be completed or decision can be reached. Complexity of Objectives / Cross-Coordination Commissions have a mandate to serve the public interest, but increasingly, numerous priorities must be considered and balanced under an expanding definition of “public interest,” including: reasonable rates, customer choice, customer protection, environmental protection, current system structure, evolving system structure, with both short-term and long-term perspectives. (This fourth problem statement may be treated differently given its broader focus.) Reports Developing a Comprehensive Benefit-Cost Analysis Framework: the Rhode Island Experience Posted June 9, 2020 Download Now Reports Innovating Regulatory Education for a Clean & Modern Energy Future Posted May 20, 2020 Download Now Case Studies Renovate Best Regulatory Practice “Toolkit” Series: Performance-Based Regulation – Part 1... Posted March 18, 2020 Download Now Case Studies Renovate Best Regulatory Practice “Toolkit” Series: Performance-Based Regulation – Part 2... Posted March 18, 2020 Download Now Case Studies Renovate Best Regulatory Practice “Toolkit” Series: Performance-Based Regulation – Part 3... Posted March 25, 2020 Download Now Reports Renovate Solution Set Posted February 10, 2020 Download Now Renovate Is Working Toward Innovation-friendly regulatory processes and practices Proposed and adopted changes by legislators and regulators Solutions roadmaps that move us to a modern, reliable grid Meet the Renovate Task Force Regulators Marion Gold | Commissioner, Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission M. Beth Trombold | Interim Chair, Public Utility Commission of Ohio Ellen Nowak | Commissioner, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Letha Tawney | Commissioner, Oregon Public Utility Commission David Danner | Chairman, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (former) Mark Schuling | Iowa Consumer Advocate (former) Brien Sheahan | Chairman and CEO, Illinois Commerce Commission Utilities Philip Dion | Vice President, Customer Solutions and Policy, American Electric Power Pat Reiten | Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Berkshire Hathaway Energy Noel Black | Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Southern Company Sheri Givens | Vice President, US Regulatory & Customer Strategy National Grid Christopher Budzynski | Director, Strategy & Business Development, Exelon Utilities (replaced Val Jensen) (former) Val Jensen | Senior Vice President, Strategy and Policy, Exelon Utilities Consumer Advocates Christopher Ayers | Executive Director, North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff David Kolata | Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board of Illinois D. Maurice Kreis | Consumer Advocate, New Hampshire Office of the Consumer Advocate Legislators Chris Brooks | Assembly Member, Nevada Solution Providers Marisa Uchin | Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Oracle Vicki Trees | VP, Segment Marketing, Landis+Gyr (former) Julie Blunden | EVP, Business Development, EVgo State Energy Offices Ryan Opsal | Energy Policy Manager, Maryland Energy Administration Investors Samuel D. Brothwell | Director of Research, Energy Income Partners LLC Partnering Organizations The Renovate Initiative is launched in partnership with these leading electric industry groups. Renovate in the News In the News Why Did SEPA Launch Renovate To Tackle State Regulation? A Conversation With Julia Hamm Posted March 20, 2019 Read Article In the News Modernizing regulation for the fourth Industrial Revolution Posted March 19, 2019 Read Article In the News A utility regulatory process for the 21st century gets a test run in Hawaii Posted March 20, 2019 Read Article Are you ready to change the regulatory process? Get Updates