Transmission and Federal Perspectives Highlight NARUC Summer Policy Summit
At the 2025 NARUC Summer Policy Summit, transmission policy took center stage with regulators, utilities, and industry leaders exploring strategies to modernize and expand the grid. Sessions such as “Making Sense of the Surge: Regulatory Tools for Smarter Transmission Spending” addressed the challenge of balancing billions in new investment with cost control, featuring perspectives from state commissions, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office, and transmission planners.
The “Power Struggles: Unpacking the Challenges Facing Regional Transmission Organizations” panel examined how RTOs are managing high demand, rising costs, and reliability risks, with executives from ISO New England, Avangrid, and other key stakeholders sharing solutions for a resilient transmission network.
On the federal side, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin joined the general session for a candid discussion about national energy policy priorities, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure readiness, regulatory efficiency, and cross-sector coordination to meet future transmission needs.
With record load growth, aging infrastructure, and evolving policy goals, the Summit made clear that smart, forward-looking transmission planning remains a top priority for regulators nationwide.
FERC Chair Mark Christie with NARUC President Tricia Pridemore