Reg Lab

A community to catalyze energy solutions.

RMI's Regulatory Collaborative ('Reg Lab') is a cohort-style initiative that builds regulatory staff capacity and develops cutting-edge solutions to today’s pressing issues. RMI is convening a peer network of Public Utility Commission (PUC) staff to test ideas, advance thought leadership, and tackle emerging issues.

Peer-to-Peer

RMI facilitates connections and trust between experts at PUCs across the country to foster shared learning and problem solving.

Practical Support

Our cohorts acquire new skills and resources to help them navigate the hot-topic energy issues they face in their day-to-day work.

Best Practices

With the support of RMI and expert faculty, the cohorts will develop actionable guidance on how to achieve outcomes like fully leveraging state and federal energy policy, improved grid reliability and resilience, and greater equity and affordability for customers.

Reg Lab’s First Cohort: The IRA and Resource Planning

This first cohort, which launched in June, focused on exploring the opportunities the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) brings to integrated resource planning (IRP) and how to take advantage of these opportunities in regulators’ specific jurisdictions.

The cohort:

Strengthened staff understanding of the implications of the IRA’s new and updated tax credits and loan programs on resource costs, load forecasts, fossil retirement, incentives for customer-facing technologies, and more.
Offered a collaborative space for staff to co-develop best practices and identify IRA tax and financial mechanisms that affect IRP rules, procurement practices, equity, and more.
Developed comprehensive guidance for PUC staff to assess the impacts of the IRA on utility IRPs based on state needs and acknowledgement requirements.

To receive early notice about Reg Lab Cohort 2, email Katerina Stephan (KStephan@rmi.org).

The Collaborative is free.

About six months, meeting every three to four weeks.

The meetings will be virtual.

Once you participate in a cohort, you’ll be a part of the alumni network with access to in-person networking, insights on emerging energy topics, and Collaborative tools and resources.

We’re inviting one staff member per commission. However, we do understand that staff may not be able to attend all sessions or may work with a small team on a specific topic. In those cases, we welcome additional attendees.

Prospective Schedule for Cohort 2 Coming Soon

And this is only the beginning. Once you join Reg Lab, the benefits keep building.

Growing a Thriving Alumni Network

The increasingly complex work of regulators won’t be slowing down in the coming years — and neither will Reg Lab.

Our alumni network has access to the collected resources of each cohort topic area, ongoing guidance and technical support, and a trusted space to work through the implications of their work. You’ll find a wealth of knowledge that you can contribute to and pass on, for regulatory cohorts to come.

Related Resources

What Utility Regulators Need to Know about the IRA

The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment to date to modernize the US energy system, and regulators have a role to play in its implementation.

Unlocking the IRA: Six Key Opportunities for State Policymakers

How states can capitalize on historic climate and clean energy funds.

Regulatory Resources Dashboard

This page provides relevant research and tools for state public utilities commissions as they pursue an equitable transition to a decarbonized grid. Issues covered here include utility planning, regulatory process and strategy design, utility business models, equity, and procurement.