Contact. Jeanette Walter at jeawalte@nmsu.edu if you have questions, registration inquiries, or require additional information.
Quick links: Speaker Presentations • See who’s attending • Registration • Eldorado Hotel

Photo courtesy of TOURISM Santa Fe
Current Issues: Aug 29-Sept 1, 2021
Industry leaders and commissioners discuss issues facing the electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications industries.
COVID-19 UPDATE: We have postponed the Current Issues conference at the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe to Aug 29-Sept 1, 2021. As our first priority is the health and safety of our attendees, we are monitoring the virus status through various state and federal agencies including CDC and will update the webpage with any changes to our plans. Thank you.
Brochure:
CLICK HERE: TBA
Updated: Speakers and topics are subject to change.
Location:
Contact
Jeanette Walter: jeawalte@nmsu.edu or 575.649.4812.
REGISTER NOW
- Early registration discounts if made by August 9, 2021
- Registration is limited
Registration and Payment Options:
- Online: Payment options are credit card, check/money order, or we can invoice your organization.
- Fax, phone or email: Fill out the enrollment form on the last page of the program brochure. Follow the instructions on the form for a preferred payment option.
Registration instructions for Guest Speakers/Responders:
- Click the “Register Now” link above.
- Chose the registration category: Current Issues 2021 Guest Speaker/Responder ($0.00).
- Press “Proceed to Payment” button.
- Guest speakers/responders will be sent a formal confirmation from the CPU staff.
CANCELLATIONS: Current and new registration cancellation requests received via email prior to August 9, 2021 will be fully refunded. After March 19th all registration cancellation requests will be refunded less a $200 processing fee. Substitutions can be made at any time. Send the appropriate attendee contact information to Jeanette Walter at jeawalte@nmsu.edu.
Eldorado Hotel Reservations
To reserve your room at the special conference rate of $196 per night, single or double:
- Online: CLICK HERE
- Call: 1-800-955-4455 and mention the NMSU Public Utilities conference, Group Code: 200922NMSU.
- Deadline: Reserve by August 9, 2021 for special conference room rate.
Should you have any problems reserving a hotel room, please call Jeanette Walter at 575-649-4812.2021 Current Issues Attendees
Updated: March 20, 2020
Last First Title Commission/Company City State Albrecht Shari Feist Commissioner Kansas Corporation Commission Topeka KS Allen Chad Regional Director MISO Little Rock AR Amer Judith Associate General Counsel New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Arminio Daniel Regulatory Affairs Rep Mississippi Power Company Gulfport MS Bailey Brent Commissioner Mississippi Pubic Service Commission Jackson MS Balasbas Jay Commissioner Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Lacey WA Barksdale Abbey ESG Manager American Water Camden NJ Barnes Conitsha Regulatory Affairs Manager Duke Energy Charlotte NC Becenti-Aguilar Theresa Commissioner New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Benshoff Adam Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs Edison Electric Institute Washington DC Bezecny Stephen VP - Rates/RPM CenterPoint Energy Houston TX Binswanger Lewis Vice President, Internal Affairs Nicor Gas Naperville IL Black Noel Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs Southern Company Washington DC Bonrud Pamela Director Gov & Reg Affairs NorthWestern Energy Sioux Falls SD Bowen Brandon Senior Utility Analyst Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Indianapolis IN Brown Daryl Executive Director MISO Little Rock AR Brown-Bland ToNola Commissioner North Carolina Utilities Commission Raleigh NC Browning Christopher Principal Regulatory Affairs Analyst NextEra Energy Resources Juno Beach FL Burrow Michael CEO NineStar Connect Greenfield IN Burrows Lori VP/General Counsel Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Little Rock AR Byrd Sandra Vice President, Public Affairs & Member Services Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Little Rock AR Cadore Zoe Policy Advisor American Petroleum Institute Washington DC Charles Peterson Karen Commissioner MA Dept. of Telecommunications & Cable Boston MA Cimernam Rick VP - External & State Affairs NCTA - The Internet & Television Association Washington DC Colussy Peter Regional Affairs Manager CAISO Folsom CA Conley Jeffrey VP of Engineering & Operations NineStar Connect Greenfield IN Cooper Theresa Technical Advisor Oklahoma Corporation Commission Oklahoma City OK Danner David Chair Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission Olympia WA Davidson Charles Program Director New York Law School New York NY Desselle Michael VP & CCAO Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Little Rock AR Dion Philip VP Customer Solutions & Policy American Electric Power Columbus OH Duffy Susan Commissioner Kansas Corporation Commission Topeka KS Dutrieuille Gladys Chairman Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Harrisburg PA Elliott Lee Analyst Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Little Rock AR Espinoza Valerie Commissioner New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Fenton Mark Executive Director Regulatory Policy & Case Management PNM Albuquerque NM Fischmann Stephen Commissioner New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Fisk Russell Associate General Counsel New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Foreman Linda Administrative Law Judge Oklahoma Corporation Commission Oklahoma City OK Freeman Bryce Administrator Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate Cheyenne WY Gee Robert President Gee Strategies Group, LLC Falls Church VA Gillan Joseph Economist Gillan Associates Merritt Island FL Graham Art Commissioner Florida Public Service Commission Tallahassee FL Gunn Kevin Principal Paladin Energy Strategies Ladue MO Hall Cynthia Commissioner New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Hall Daniel Central Region Director, Electricity & Transmission Policy American Wind Energy Association Washington DC Hamilton Brooks Regulatory Analyst Texas-New Mexico Power Lewisville TX Hanchey William VP Government Affairs CenturyLink Wake Forest NC Hanson Gary Chairman South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Pierre SD Hardwick Susan Executive VP & CFO American Water Camden NJ Harper Mark Senior Director Public Policy CenturyLink Monroe LA Hayes Phillip Director, Chairman NineStar Connect Greenfield IN Hofmann Sarah Commissioner Vermont Public Utility Commission Montpelier VT Holt David President Consumer Energy Alliance Houston TX Howard Chris Staff Attorney WV Public Service Commission Charleston WV Huebsch Michael President Huebsch Consulting Group WEST SALEM WI Jacobs Libby President The Jacobs Group LLC West Des Moines IA Janson Julie EVP, External Affairs and President, Carolinas Region Duke Energy Charlotte NC Johnson Brad Chairman Montana Public Service Commission Helena MT Katz Elin Managing Director, Utilities & Assoc. General Counsel Tilson Technology Management West Hartford CT Keen Dwight Commissioner Kansas Corporation Commission Topeka KS Kelly Suedeen Partner Jenner & Block LLP Washington DC Kentner Tessie Managing Attorney Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Little Rock AR Kjellander Paul Commissioner Idaho Public Utilities Commission Boise ID Kolbeck Steve Principal Manager -South Dakota Xcel Energy Sioux Falls SD Lapato Daniel Senior Director, State Affairs American Gas Association Washington DC LeFevers Dan Director, State & Consumer Programs GTI Energy Des Plaines IL Leopold Brett President ITC Great Plains Topeka KS Leopold Diane Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer Dominion Energy Richmond VA LeVar Thad Chair Public Service Commission of Utah Salt Lake City UT Loudenslager Sam Director, Regulatory Policy Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Little Rock AR Lucarelli Patricia Chief Legal Administrator RIPUC Warwick RI Martin Chasta Vice President Regulatory Relations & Policy CenterPoint Energy Houston TX McCaffree Matthew Director, Regulatory Relations Itron Denver CO McKaig Paul Retired Oncor Electric Delivery Austin TX McNamara Joseph Policy Analyst Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM Merrifield Jeffrey Partner Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Washington DC Moeller Clair President & Chief Operating Officer MISO Eagan MN Mora-Schrader Suzanna Director, Utility Initiatives Exelon Utilities Washington DC Mroz Richard Managing Director Resolute Strategies Haddonfield NJ Muller Carl Hans Associate General Counsel New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Murphy Dana Commissioner Oklahoma Corporation Commission Oklahoma City OK Nelson Chris Vice Chairman South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Pierre SD Nelson Robert A. Consumer Counsel Montana Consumer Counsel Helena USA Nessing Sandy Managing Director American Electric Power Columbus OH Nowak Ellen Commissioner Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Madison WI O'Connell-Diaz Erin President FutureFWD, Inc. Bull Valley IL O'Guinn Kimberly Commissioner Arkansas Public Service Commission Little Rock AR Pfeiffer Dan ITRON Liberty Lake WA Pierce Shannon VP, Operations Nicor Gas Naperville IL Powell Regis Sr. Policy Analyst Arkansas Public Service Commission Little Rock AR Presley Brandon Commissioner Mississippi Public Service Commission Nettleton MS Reinhart Patrick Vice President El Paso Electric Co. Austin TX Rendahl Ann Commissioner Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission Lacey WA Revel Alexandra Member Relations Public Utilities Fortnightly Arlington VA Rich Leslie Managing Director JP Morgan Asset Mgmt New York NY Rippie Glenn Partner Jenner & Block LLP Chicago IL Robinson Michael Commissioner Wyoming Public Service Commission Cheyenne WY Rodriguez Deanna Vice President Entergy Texas Austin TX Rogers Kyle Vice President, External Affairs Spire Birmingham AL Rudd Ryder President RSR Strategies Tallahassee FL Satterwhite Matthew Vice President American Electric Power Columbus OH Sherwood Pamela Assistant General Counsel CenturyLink Indianapolis IN Shurden Shawn Regulatory Affairs Mississippi Power Company Gulfport MS Smith Michael Acting General Counsel New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Santa Fe NM Snitchler Todd President & CEO EPSA Washington DC Spitzer Marc Partner Steptoe & Johnson LLP Washington DC Steele Bill President Bill Steele and Associates LLC Highlands Ranch CO Stephenson Jason VP Assoc. Gen. Counsel CenterPoint Energy Evansville IN Stipnieks Elizabeth President E. Stipnieks Strategies Alexandria VA Stump Robert Executive Director Arizona Energy Policy Group Peoria AZ Suskie Paul Exec VP & General Counsel Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Little Rock AR Taylor Holly Attorney / Policy Analyst Western Interstate Energy Board Denver CO Thadani Mishal Director of Market Development and Policy Urbint New York NY Trammell Brooke RVP, Rates & Regulatory Affairs Xcel Energy Denver CO Trinchero Mark Partner Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Portland OR Tulloh Brian Executive Director, External Affairs North Region MISO Eagan MN Tuma John Commissioner Minnesota Public Utilities Commission St. Paul MN Vail Steve Director NineStar Connect Greenfield IN Wagner Nick Board Member Iowa Utilities Board Marion IA Wagner Nicole Manager Regulatory Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Little Rock AR Walker DeAnn Chairman Public Utility Commission of Texas Austin TX Walker-Ratliff Joan Director Regulatory Affairs Phillips 66 Ponca City OK Watkins Susan Director of Operations Mississippi Pubic Service Commission Jackson MS Weaver David VP, External Affairs Southern Company Gas Atlanta GA Wiggins Dena President & CEO Natural Gas Supply Association Washington DC Willette Lynnae Manager Regulatory & Legislative Affairs EDF Renewables Houston TX Woolf Malcolm CEO National Hydropower Association Washington DC
Presentations will be posted after the conference subject to speaker approval.