Public Utilities Regulation Intensive Course Includes Influential Lineup of Colorado Utilities Sector Leaders

Denver Law's one-week intensive short course, Public Utilities Regulation, which concluded last week, included some of the utilities sector's leading figures including the president of a major investor owned utility and a member of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

The course provided students an exceptional chance to learn about recent innovations in the policy and economics of utility regulation while simultaneously providing the opportunity to listen to the sector's leaders talk about the challenges and opportunities they face.

Taught by Adjunct Professors Dr. Catherine Keske, Professor at Colorado State University, and Matt Futch, Senior Policy Manager and head of the Colorado Governor's Energy Office Utilities Program, Public Utilities Regulation was unique in introducing students to the philosophies and business practices of a wide range of industry leaders. Among the leaders who were part of the course were:

• Ken Anderson, President of Tri-State, a wholesale electric power supplier owned by the 44 electric cooperatives that it serves
• Matt Baker, Member of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission
• David Eves, President of Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy
• Peter Fox-Penner, author of Smart Power and an internationally recognized leader in energy and the relationship of utility policy and economics
• Alice Maddon, Wirth Chair in Sustainable Development, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver
• Allan Schurr, Vice President Strategy and Development, Global Energy and Utilities for IBM
• Max Tyler, State Representative and member of the Colorado General Assembly

Dr. Keske, one of the adjunct professors, said, "We were fortunate to bring together wonderful resources for our students. Our guest speakers shared both perspective and details about the present and future dynamics of the energy industry. Pooling the resources of DU Law, Colorado State University, and the Colorado Governor's Energy Office also proved to be a tremendous success. However, above all else, we were fortunate to have a group of engaged and intelligent students. I had a ball teaching this class!"

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, said, "There are few industries facing as many challenges as well as opportunities as the public utilities sector. These challenges and opportunities must take account of environmental, economic, and public policy factors. No where is this clearer than in the electricity generation and distribution business. This course provided students a unique, and indeed enormously valuable look at all of these factors.

"Hearing the wide range of guest speakers was particularly valuable to the students. In fact, the speakers, when considered together, probably represented the finest gathering of their type in an individual law school course anywhere in the country. This is exactly the type of learning experience that Denver Law is committed to bringing to our students."

Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) Ushers in the "New Energy Economy;" Matt Futch of GEO Speaks to DU Students About Ground Breaking Program

Recent ground breaking legislation positions Colorado as a national leader in energy policy reform.

Colorado House Bills 1365 and 1001 set aggressive goals for expanding renewable energy distribution and reducing greenhouse gases, while prioritizing economic growth linked to the energy sector.

Recently, Matt Futch, Utilities Program Manager at the Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO), delivered a webinar presentation to University of Denver Sturm College of Law students that focused on distributed energy in Colorado, as well as the recent energy legislation. Mr. Futch presented highlights of the recent legislation, including:

• Mandatory retirement of and pollution control systems on coal plants.
• Minimum of 30 percent of total electric sales from eligible renewable resources by 2020.
• Requirement that three percent of total energy must be obtained from distributed generation resources such as solar PV and small hydro systems.

In addition, Mr. Futch described the complexity behind Colorado’s electric power sector.

Mr. Futch’s presentation was arranged through the Law 4701 course, “Energy Policy and Economics,” which I teach. The webinar was open to all students and faculty, and those interested may access his presentation by clicking here.

Mr. Futch and the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office have played an active role with the College of Law. In addition to delivering periodic presentations and energy policy updates, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office also hosts externships that are available through the College of Law Legal Externship Program.

DU is fortunate to host an engaging speaker like Mr. Futch, who is able to discuss these cutting edge energy issues. I highly recommend that those interested in energy policy take the time to review Mr. Futch’s presentation. The eyes of the nation are on Colorado to see how our new energy policy unfolds.

Ensuring stable energy prices is important to economic stability, since energy is used in virtually every production process. Innovative energy production also has the potential to jump start technological innovation and job growth. although these benefits may not be realized for quite some time.

Dr. Catherine Keske
Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Colorado State University
Adjunct Professor
Sturm College of Law

Editor's note: In photo above, Matt Futch is on far left; College of Law Professor K.K. DuVivier is second from left; students are on the far right.