Snapshots of Team Green at the 2025 NARUC Summer Policy Summit

The NARUC Summer Policy Summit is a forum for discussing the topics, ideas and concerns prioritized by state utility regulators. This particular meeting integrates some of the findings from regional policy meetings in the first half of the year, blended with timely updates on rapidly evolving federal energy imperatives. 

The summit agenda for this Boston-based meeting reflected a clear theme: rising demand for electricity, challenged by capacity constraints and infrastructure inadequacy, will dominate the priority list for some time. While resource adequacy concerns echoed in all sessions, demand-side solutions to support the grid remained relevant, including conversations on DERMS, innovative rate design enabled by AMI, gas energy efficiency, the importance of customer engagement, interactive discussions on the “Demand Roundtable” series, and more.  

Still, policy experts pointed to an “all of the above” need for distribution upgrades, edge intelligence, expanded transmission, and – with emphasis – capacity additions. As James Danly, Deputy Director of the US Department of Energy and former FERC Commissioner, put it, “The rapidly rising need for power makes ultra rapid (grid) build out necessary.”  

Peter Lake, Senior Director of Power on the National Energy Dominance Council, echoed those remarks, saying the government is committed to powering enough data centers to win the AI race, though progress must now be measured in months, not years or decades.  

Some of the strategies outlined to improve investment and shorten project timelines include:

1. Innovating electric/gas planning procedures to reflect new demand growth and market challenges
2. Utilization of AMI data to modernize electric rates, consumer engagement, and demand-side programs
3. Streamlining permitting process, beginning with recently announced changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures
4. Restructuring the power markets to allow the full benefit of price signals to impact investment in energy
5. Approaching infrastructure needs like the country did during World War II, including rapidly addressing supply chain

Landis+Gyr’s regulatory approach integrates an understanding of “rapid, near-term needs” with solutions that deliver long-term customer and utility benefits. As the country faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities posed by technological advancements, flexible demand management is more relevant than ever to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable energy.  

We are already preparing for the next convening of the NARUC Annual Meeting in Seattle this November, where we expect to hear continued calls for urgent cooperation.

With contributions from Marguerite Behringer, Director of Regulatory Policy and Industry Relations at Landis+Gyr, whose expertise in navigating the intersections of regulation, technology, policy, and markets brings valuable perspective to the conversation.