Hot Topic Hotline

FRI’s Hot Topic Hotline webinar series addresses a variety of timely topics identified by members of the FRI Advisory Board. HTH webinars provide a forum for industry, regulatory and consumer perspectives and interaction around the issues addressed.

“Harmonizing Electricity and Natural Gas Systems”

December 13, Noon-1:00 pm Central

The need to harmonize natural gas and electricity systems in the U.S. is a pressing issue, especially in the wake of winter storms Uri and Elliot. The importance of harmonizing and better coordinating infrastructure development and operations, particularly during extreme events, continues to grow as natural gas-fired generation becomes the dominant form of dispatchable electricity  in a generation mix that increasingly relies on intermittent renewables. A gas system designed with local distribution companies (LDCs) as its primary customers now must serve two masters, which can create conflicting needs and interests in periods of critical supply constraints. In July, the North American Energy Standards Board released a set of recommendations for addressing those concerns. In November, the National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC) announced the formation of its Gas-Electric Alignment for Reliability (GEAR) working group “to develop solutions to better align the gas and electric industries to maintain and improve the reliability of both energy systems on which our nation depends for power”. This topic is a front-burner issue for industry, regulators, and policy makers.

This webinar brings together a panel of experts to share their experience and perspectives in dealing with the harmonization challenge. Join us for this free webinar.

Watch Now!
Harmonizing Electricity and Natural Gas Systems

December 13, Noon – 1PM Central

Moderator
Panelists
Joseph Accardo
Vice President-Regulatory & Deputy General Counsel, PSEG
Pat O’Connell
Commissioner, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
Kristin Munsch
Senior Associate General Counsel, ComEd/Exelon
Matthew Agen
Chief Regulatory Counsel, Energy, American Gas Association
Darryl Lawrence
Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate, Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate

Check out our previous Hot Topic Hotline webinars on the FRI-MIZZOU YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe for updates on future postings.

  • Harmonizing Electricity & Natural Gas Systems,” December 13, 2023
    Moderator: Joseph Accardo, Jr., PSEG
    Panelists: Commissioner Pat O’Connell, New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission; Kristin Munsch, ComEd/Exelon; Darryl Lawrence, Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate; Matthew Agen, American Gas Association
  • Resource Adequacy Planning & Resilience,” October 5, 2023
    Moderator: C. Patrick Woods, ITC Great Plains
    Panelists: Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota PSC; Marie Berninger, ConEdison Transmission; Mile Keogh, National Association of Clean Air Agencies; Matthew Rice, CenterPoint Energy
  • Monetary Policy, Inflation, and Interest Rates: 2023 Update,” July 31, 2023
    Moderator: Dr. Michael Sykuta
    Panelists: Dr. Karlye Dilts Stedman, Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank; Commissioner Kim Drexler, Delaware PSC; Steve Kihm, Wisconsin CUB; Darrin Ives, Evergy
  • Water and Wastewater System Acquisitions: Issues and Challenges for Protecting and Enhancing Service Without Getting Soaked,” June 22, 2023
    Moderator: Dr. Michael Sykuta
    Panelists: David Veleta, Commissioner, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission; Christine Maloni Hoover, PA Office of Consumer Advocate; Gary Prettyman, Veolia North America
  • Inflation, Monetary Policy, and Interest Rates,” December 1, 2022
    Moderator: Dr. Michael Sykuta
    Panelists: Dr. William Emmons, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Dr. Talina Mathews, Big Rivers Electric Corp.; Ted Thomas, Energize Strategies; David Springe, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates
  • Decarbonizing the Natural Gas System,” July 14, 2022
    Moderator: Dr. Michael Sykuta
    Panelists: Daniel Lapato, American Gas Association; Paul Kjellander, KJELL, LLC; Chris Barbacz, Mississippi PUC; Mark LeBel, Regulatory Assistance Project; Chris Peterson, HeschBlackwell
  • “Prudent and Efficient: A Discussion of Optimal Transmission Planning and Development for 2022 and Beyond” – A 2-Part Series