Electric Grid Bootcamp: Policymaker primer on reliability and emerging system risks
What to expect
This policymakers’ forum at ReliabilityFirst is designed to provide a practical, technical foundation in electric grid reliability and oversight. Participants will gain an overview of the respective roles of NERC, ReliabilityFirst, utilities, and regional transmission organizations, and how reliability standards are developed, monitored, and enforced. Through discussions on engineering assessments, system monitoring, major disturbance events, and emerging reliability risks such as: large load growth, system complexity, and resource transitions. The agenda equips policymakers and staff with a clearer understanding of how decisions made at the state and federal level intersect with real-world grid operations. The day concludes with an interactive exercise that highlights the tradeoffs inherent in energy policy choices and their implications for reliability and security.
Who should attend
This event is intended for state policymakers and leaders engaged in energy oversight and decision-making, including public utility commissioners, state legislators, trade organizations, state energy office leadership, governors’ offices, and their senior staff. The event provides a practical forum to strengthen understanding of reliability, resilience, and emerging grid challenges affecting state policy and regulatory priorities.
Registration
Click here to register.
For any questions, please email [email protected].
Agenda
Monday, Aug. 17
| Time | Agenda item | Location |
| 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Optional: Tour FirstEnergy Center for Advanced Energy Technology | 871 Mull Ave, Akron, OH 44313 |
Tuesday, Aug. 18
| Time | Agenda item | Speaker |
| 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast and Networking | |
| 9:00 – 9:15 AM | Welcome | Diane Holder, VP, Engineering and Strategic Engagement, RF |
| 9:15 – 9:35 AM | NERC & RF 101 | Michelle Cross, Manager, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, RF |
| 9:35 – 10:00 AM | Compliance and Enforcement of NERC Standards | Kristen Senk, Deputy General Counsel and Director, Legal and Enforcement, RF |
| 10:00 – 10:15 AM | Break | |
| 10:15 – 11:30 AM | Monitoring the System and Events OPS-X Demonstration |
Brian Thiry, Director, Strategic Engagement, RF |
| 11:30 – 12:15 PM | Lunch | |
| 12:15 – 1:00 PM | Engineering Assessments, Modeling, Data Analysis and Energy Assessments | Johnny Gest, Manager, Engineering and System Performance, RF |
| 1:00 – 2:15 PM | RTO Overview | Joan Soller, Vice President, Pareto Advisors |
| 2:15 – 3:00 PM | Break | |
| 2:30 – 3:40 PM | EPA Generate: The Game of Energy Choices | Courtney Fasca, Senior Reliability Consultant, External Affairs, RF |
| 3:40 – 3:45 PM | Closing |