FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CCIF Releases New Report on Navigating Today’s Regulatory Landscape
AUSTIN, TX (July 19, 2023) – The Critical Consumer Issues Forum (CCIF) today released a new report, Navigating the Challenges & Opportunities of Today’s Regulatory Landscape, during an event collocated with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) 2023 Summer Policy Summit and the 2023 National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) Mid Year Meeting in Austin, Texas. Now in its thirteenth year, CCIF is a collaborative that includes members of NARUC, NASUCA, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
Culminating in the report’s seven consensus principles, this latest CCIF undertaking explored today’s most pressing electric sector challenges (including, but not limited to, compounding economic pressures; high natural gas prices; extreme weather, reliability, and resilience; the clean energy transition; customer education and assistance; and pricing and affordability) and related opportunities for addressing these challenges. Developed by participants from the state commission, consumer advocate, and electric company communities in a series of collaborative dialogues this spring, the seven principles represent the group’s consensus in the following six areas:
- Short- and Long-Term Impacts of Policy & Regulatory Decisions on Customers & Others;
- Mitigating Upward Pressure on Customer Bills;
- Enhancing the Regulatory Model with Added Flexibility & Modernization;
- Capitalizing on Federal Opportunities & Customer Assistance;
- Creating More Robust Customer Education & Assistance Strategies; and
- Ensuring Resources, Staff & Training for State Commissions, Consumer Advocates & Key State/Community Partners Engaged in Customer Assistance.
The report is intended to serve as a foundation for additional dialogue and collaboration among the three core groups, as well as with other relevant stakeholders in their states and communities and with federal counterparts as warranted. Leaders from each of the major participating organizations commented on the significance of the latest CCIF initiative.
“The CCIF process captured what it often feels like for state commissioners, who are trying to navigate a regulatory landscape fraught with challenges that can pop up at any moment in the midst of focusing on other—and typically longstanding—challenges,” said NARUC President and Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Commissioner Michael Caron. “NARUC members appreciate the opportunity to candidly explore these challenges and share ideas to constructively address them with consumer advocates and electric company representatives.”
“On behalf of customers who are facing a host of economic uncertainties in addition to pressure on their electric bills, consumer advocates share concerns about the ways in which we are navigating today’s increasingly complex regulatory landscape,” said NASUCA President and North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff Executive Director Chris Ayers. “The facilitated dialogue with state commission and electric company counterparts that the CCIF process provides is invaluable for NASUCA members and encourages more open lines of communication and more informed regulatory decisions.”
“The regulatory compact that enables our member companies to make investments on behalf of all customers continues to demonstrate clear benefits for all stakeholders,” said Phil Moeller, EEI Executive Vice President, Business Operations Group and Regulatory Affairs. “The CCIF report released today reiterates the importance of stakeholder participation and our shared focus on customers, as well as the need for greater flexibility and efficiency in regulatory processes to balance risks in today’s regulatory environment.”
The principles developed during the CCIF dialogues are not intended to represent or override any individual or collective policies or positions of NARUC, NASUCA, EEI, or other participating organizations.
For more information and to download a copy of the new CCIF report, please visit www.CCIForum.com.
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Contact:
Katrina McMurrian, Executive Director
Critical Consumer Issues Forum (CCIF)
Phone: 615.905.1375
— CCIF —