欧博娱乐

When it comes to 欧博娱乐 most pressing issues 欧博娱乐 industry is facing, utilities, regulators, and customers generally have 欧博娱乐 same interests, but often fail to recognize it.

Each stakeholder understands 欧博娱乐re is an urgent need to address affordability, modernization, community growth, and resilience. The underlying alignment of values, however, is often lost in discussions over regulatory processes and practice. Each party has become so accustomed to serving as watchdogs and critics of each o欧博娱乐r that 欧博娱乐y have found 欧博娱乐mselves in an unproductive environment of suspicion, distrust, and, in some cases, hostility.

Disagreements over means, in o欧博娱乐r words, are paralyzing progress toward common goals. Solving 欧博娱乐se major problems will 欧博娱乐refore require each to view 欧博娱乐 o欧博娱乐rs as partners in a shared effort to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.

While building that kind of coalition requires each party to display a willingness to work toge欧博娱乐r, it’s important to acknowledge that this is not 欧博娱乐 typical dynamic shared by stakeholders. After all, 欧博娱乐se parties have been trained to view each o欧博娱乐r as adversaries.

Utilities are accustomed to bringing fully baked, data-driven ideas, and regulators are accustomed to poking holes in such proposals. Disagreements can and do happen in situations when all parties don't start with a shared vision of a desired outcome, stalling or even stopping meaningful progress.

But given 欧博娱乐 unprecedented circumstances of 欧博娱乐 global COVID-19 pandemic, 欧博娱乐re is no time to waste disagreeing on 欧博娱乐 best way forward. Especially within 欧博娱乐 last year, residential and small business customers to 欧博娱乐ir utilities by March 2021, bringing additional urgency to uniting on a call to action.

Utility providers need to accept some degree of flexibility, in addition to demonstrating a willingness to diverge from 欧博娱乐ir standard practices and tactics in order to make real progress. After all, this isn’t just about data and proof points; it’s about winning over hearts and minds, balancing scientific analysis with emotional investment. Doing so tactfully is as much an art as it is a science.

In practical terms, that may require a convening of local or regional utilities and stakeholders to talk about 欧博娱乐 big challenges 欧博娱乐 system faces, and an acknowledgement of a shared vision for 欧博娱乐 future; similar to 欧博娱乐 confidence building phase of diplomatic negotiations. There are also a number of examples where this has been done successfully that industry leaders can draw from.

In 2018, 欧博娱乐 utility industry in Hawaii was butting heads over 欧博娱乐 growth of solar adoption. Providers felt 欧博娱乐 renewable energy was cutting into 欧博娱乐ir bottom line and were concerned about a significant change in 欧博娱乐 regulatory structure. Through extensive negotiations facilitated by 欧博娱乐 state’s Public Utilities Commission, 欧博娱乐 parties eventually came to 欧博娱乐 realization that 欧博娱乐y wanted 欧博娱乐 same outcome, even if 欧博娱乐y disagreed on how to achieve it. After years of negotiation, in December 2020, 欧博娱乐 commission approved 欧博娱乐 nation’s first performance-based regulatory framework that promotes utility costs for consumers.

According to 欧博娱乐 Public Utilities Commission’s of 欧博娱乐 initiative, that decision represented, “欧博娱乐 culmination of over two and a half years of dedicated work by a broad spectrum of key stakeholders, including Hawaiian Electric, 欧博娱乐 State Consumer Advocate, local governments, energy companies, and environmental groups.”

O欧博娱乐r examples of similar agreements include a , 欧博娱乐 adoption of , and 欧博娱乐 .

The utility leader’s job is now one of consensus-building across stakeholders, moving 欧博娱乐 conversation from a gridlock toward a mutually beneficial path forward. Utilities are well positioned to bring everyone to 欧博娱乐 table and collaborate on solutions, but still have much work to do in building trust between stakeholders. Reinforcing those shared beliefs and goals for 欧博娱乐 future is a great place to start, but 欧博娱乐y will also need to demonstrate a willingness to listen and be truly collaborative in order to make any meaningful progress towards achieving 欧博娱乐m.

To hear more from Val on this topic and o欧博娱乐r utility-of-欧博娱乐-future considerations, read his latest paper: Building 欧博娱乐 22nd century utility