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Only One Week Until Utility 2025: Building the Northwest’s Energy Future

So first just let me say that if you are planning to come to the 5th annual CUB Policy Conference on Friday, Oct 23 but have not registered, stop and do it right now. Don’t delay; registration closes at 11:59pm on Tuesday, October 20. Ok, so now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

…Everywhere I look and listen, I find references to climate change, the Clean Power Plan, electric vehicles, sustainable energy options, and especially in the Northwest, recreational marijuana. Clearly, these issues, as well as others involving our energy future, matter enough to drive public discourse. This year’s CUB Policy Conference, Utility 2025: Building the Northwest’s Energy Future will be addressing these issues and more next Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Downtown Portland Hilton.

The day begins with CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks discussing his view of future challenges for the region’s utilities and customers. In his presentation What Does the Future Hold for Utility Customers? Bob will challenge participants to grapple with how new carbon regulation will affect us in the coming decade, whether energy efficiency innovation can continue indefinitely, and how (and if) demand response can live up to its potential.

At noon, Susan Ackerman, chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission will share with audience stakeholders what they might expect from Oregon’s regulators over the next decade. In her midday keynote presentation, Utility 2025: What you can expect from Oregon Regulators, she will discuss how changes in society might impact the electric utility business model and the distribution system. Her discussion will include peeks into innovative programs currently underway in New York, Hawaii, and other states.

The Price is Right: Not an Easy Game for Energy is the topic Dr. Tom Potiowsky will tackle in a day-end wrap-up presentation. Potiowsky is Professor and Chair of Portland State University’s Economics Department, Director of the new Northwest Economic Research Center, and former Oregon State Economist. He brings both the experience and the expertise in macroeconomics to help participants understand seemingly disparate issues, concluding the day with an analysis of “how the price of energy can be used to combine fiscal public policy and environmental goals.”

Previous articles have mentioned that our first panel will be a discussion with CEOs from Avista, BPA, NW Natural, Pacific Power, and Portland General Electric. Other panels include: Let’s Get Loaded with representatives from the marijuana industry, Facebook, and electric vehicle proponents, in addition to industry and environmental experts; Got Gas? with reps from across the natural gas industry including industrial users; and Distribute This, which will include solar, smart grid, home remodeling, renewable energy and utility representatives. The other three panels, They’re Hee’re…111(d)’s New Regulatory Reality, The Customer Side of the Meter: Energy Efficiency and Demand Response and Beyond the RPS all have equally impressive panelists and moderators.

As always, we will end the day with a hosted reception from 4:30 – 6:00 (‘reception-only’ tickets are available for $35.) Attorneys may also receive CLE credit in WA or OR with sign-ups at the conference site. Additionally, we encourage you to check out the mobile -optimized version of our conference website at http://www.cubpolicycenter.org/conference-mobile and you can follow and discuss the event on Twitter at #Utility2025.

So, we hope you will join us for this invigorating, thought provoking and interactive conference as together we explore Utility 2025: Building the Northwest’s Energy Future. See you there!

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