This panel will discuss barriers to procurement opportunities for diverse and emerging law firms within the investor-owned utilities; and how to recognize diverse opportunities for women, minority and disabled veteran attorneys (partners) within majority law firms.  The utility general counsel will discuss transparency and opportunities for diverse and emerging law firms.

Discussion and Approval of "Call for Nominations" for Pilot Year of the Annual Award for Promoting International Cooperation between Energy Regulators

Regional Association Collaboration & Activities
* ABAR (Brazil, Landfill Gas to Energy Project)
* ACERCA (Central America)
* AFUR (Africa)
* CEER (European Union)
* ERRA (Central/Eastern Europe & Eurasia)
* RERA (Southern Africa)

Status Report on the activities of the International Confederation of Energy Regulators (ICER)’s Working Groups
1. Reliability and Security of Supply (Chaired by MEDREG)
2. Regulatory Role in Climate Change (Chaired by CEER)
3. Competitiveness & Affordability (Chaired by CAMPUT)
4. Training, Education & Best Practices (Chaired by NARUC)

During this session, an examination will be undertaken to explore some of the many recent successes occurring in the field of cybersecurity for utility operations.  Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from several panelists of procedures, tools, and techniques that are available and being deployed.

During this session, the issue of contact voltage (sometimes referred to as stray voltage) will be examined and include a discussion on what it is, what causes it, and what is being done to address it, including recent state actions.

Critical infrastructure often is identified as the equipment in place to bring vital utility services to end users. In this session, the human element will be explored, including newer technologies being employed in the field to provide personnel and plant safety, and enhancing reliability for system operations.

Utilities must evaluate risk associated with every decision they make. Merchant developers need to evaluate market, financial and regulatory risks when pursuing a project. With upcoming U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulemakings and requirements, there are difficult decisions and potential consequences of coal plant retirements, retrofits and re-powerings. Regulatory commissions will need to review decisions made and the resulting cost and reliability consequences from earlier than anticipated closures and other capital investment decisions. Merchant decisions on risk can lead to reliability issues that regulators may need to address, Let's take a look at what goes into the critical decision making path.

Resolutions

Roundtable Discussion
* ACEEE state rankings
* ERE future focus
* Possible mentoring program

• Current Issues in Natural Gas Production- Tom Price, Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Governmental Relations
•  Long Term Outlook for Gas- Paul Corby, Planalytics
• Chris McGill, AGA

* National Anthem: The St. Louis Children's Choirs
* Welcome Remarks: Hon. Tony Clark of North Dakota, NARUC President
* Election of NARUC 2011- 2012 Officers and Confirmation of NARUC Board of Directors
 -- For 2nd Vice President
Nomination by: Hon. Kevin Gunn of Missouri
Second by: Hon. Lula Ford of Illinois
 -- For 1st Vice President
Nomination by: Hon. Erin O'Connell Diaz of Illinois
Second by: Hon. Timothy Alan Simon of California
 -- For President
Nomination by: Hon. O'Neal Hamilton of South Carolina
Second by: Hon. Lori Murphy Lee of District of Columbia

* Presentations by:

•  -- Dan Hesse, CEO, Sprint
•  
•  -- Nancy Sutley, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality, The White House
•  
•  -- Thomas Voss, Chairman, President & CEO, Ameren Corporation
•  
• -- Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, US Department of Agriculture

State commissioners are in the business of making tough decisions. These decisions impact the pocketbooks of every citizen in their State, and on many occasions, consumers are unhappy with the outcome. With the economy in a downturn, State government budget constraints, and massive investments predicted in the utility sector, State commissions will likely face more legislative inquires and consumer backlash. Can this be avoided? Can commissions better communicate their decisions with the general public and legislators? This session examines the role that commissions play in educating the public about these decisions. How can commissioners make complex topics easier to understand? In the current financial and political climate, how can commissions best convey difficult decisions and avoid being "the easy target?"

Today we suffer through a weak recovery from a global economic recession. Electricity demand is flat. In response to our massive national debt, federal investments are being scaled back or eliminated. Climate legislation has no near-term chance of success. Natural gas appears abundant and cheap at least in the near-term. The tsunami induced nuclear accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi has shaken public confidence in nuclear power and heightened concerns over nuclear waste.

In the current environment, how do we achieve the diversified, clean energy portfolio we desire? How do we finance high capital cost projects in this environment even if their lifecycle costs are low? How will the Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations change our nuclear waste management? This panel will address these questions and explore how one Missouri utility is evaluating their options today and how two regulated States developed the tools they needed to move forward.
 

The Hon.  Michael Copps of the Federal Communications Commission.
Introduction by The Hon. John Burke, Vermont PSB, Chair of NARUC Committee on Telecommunications.

Realizing the Potential of North America’s Abundant Natural Gas and Oil Resource.  
Extraordinary events have affected energy markets in the years since the National Petroleum Council reported on the "Hard Truths" about energy in 2007. That study concluded that the world would need increased energy efficiency and all economic forms of energy supply. That is still true today, but since then, significant technology advances have unlocked abundant natural gas and oil resources. These greatly expanded resources have already benefited our country economically. Increased supplies of natural gas have resulted in lower prices and helped revitalize many U.S. industries. Further, increased use of North America natural gas can reduce emissions and improve America’s energy security.     Natural Gas will play a critical role in the US Energy mix.  It’s attributes make it an ideal fuel to meet energy needs with a relatively low emissions profile.  New supplies and extraction techniques improve the economics of utilizing Gas for power generation and offer an alternative in the transportation sphere.  The National Petroleum Council "Prudent Development: Realizing the Potential of North America’s Abundant Natural Gas and Oil Resources"  report makes recommendations for the market potential and sustainable development of this resource.  Environmental, upstream and down-stream production interests as well as leading energy policy experts developed the report and will present the findings and recommendations viewed through economic, environmental and national security lenses.  
Moderator: Hon. Timothy Alan Simon, California PUC
DOE Study: Christopher A. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas, DOE and NPC Government CoChair

NPC Study: Scott Moore, VP of Marketing, Anadarko  and NPC Assistant CoChair

Participants: Susan Tierney, Managing Principal, Analysis Group, Inc.
Ken Yeasting, Sr. Director Global Gas and N.A. Gas, IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates

Fiji George, Director, Carbon Strategies, EL Paso Corporation
 

We don't need an economist to tell us that the economy is struggling. We already know the economy can either go up, down, or stay flat. As regulators, we must be armed with the best available information about the financial situation so we can make decisions in the public interest. This session will explore investment risk in the electricity sector and use an interactive setting to engage participants. Bringing together stakeholders from the investment and consumer protection communities, this session will use a discussion format to explore large investments (such as baseload coal, nuclear, and transmission investments), medium-sized investments (such as smaller plants and transmission or large distribution investments) and address mechanisms for deciding when to delay, when to hedge those risks, and when to take the plunge.

State pipeline inspectors are the boots on the ground, inspecting companies, auditing reports, and doing all they can to ensure pipeline safety. How are these programs evolving? Hear from State pipeline safety specialists as they discuss with their federal counterparts about the status of State and federal safety programs. Learn from a panel of experts about how States are ensuring pipeline safety through State- and regional-specific programs. How are safety programs going to meet the needs of growing gas demand and aging infrastructure in the coming decades? Find out by attending this discussion.

After years of endless deliberations and a string of abandoned proposals, the Federal Communications Commission appears to be finally poised to enact fundamental change of the universal service and intercarrier compensation regimes. The plan seeks to update these programs to cover vital broadband services which are quickly becoming the new norm. What is on the table? Are their winners and losers? Participants will learn what impact the FCC’s plan could have on the 23 States with their own USF programs. Experts will debate whether the federal proposal leaves a role for States to play.

There are a series of environmental and health regulations coming from EPA that will impact the utility sector. These have resulted in a variety of reactions, from law suits to collaborative efforts. Concerns about reliability, cost, health and the economy drive reactions to the proposals.  This panel will provide a overview of the rules (proposed and finalized)and then some regulator’s perspectives and approaches.

Report of the Board of Directors on Resolutions and Convention Action on Resolutions.