
Public Utilities Law Update 2026
March 10
In-Person Program
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Central
Agenda
0.5 CEUs
5.5 CLEs
This annual program of the Public Utilities Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin highlights the regulatory and legislative changes over the past year.
9:00-9:10 Welcome
Orrie Walsvik, Associate Attorney, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
9:10-9:30 Opening Remarks
Summer Strand, Chair, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
9:30-10:45 Annual Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Update
Cara Coburn Faris, Chief Legal Counsel, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Evan Weitz, Deputy General Counsel, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
10:45-10:55 Break
10:55-11:45 Affordability Investigation Dockets
Introduction:
Kristy Nieto, Commissioner, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Panel:
Stacy Schumacher, Policy Advisor, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Todd Stuart, Executive Director, Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group
Carrie Templeton, Senior Manager – Regulatory Affairs, Alliant Energy
Christa Westerberg, Attorney, Pines Bach LLP
11:45-12:45 Lunch
12:45-1:45 Transmission Planning Panel
Moderator:
Elizabeth Wheeler, Senior Counsel, Director of Regulatory Advocacy, Clean Grid Alliance
Panel:
Tom Dagenais, Vice President, System Planning, American Transmission Company
Jarred Miland, Regional Director of External Affairs, Midcontinent Independent System Operator
1:45-2:00 Break
2:00-2:50 Ethics for Public Utilities Attorneys
Sarah Peterson, Ethics Counsel, State Bar of Wisconsin
2:50-3:10 Break
3:10-4:00 Energy Communications for Lawyers
Mikhaila Calice, Executive Assistant to Commissioner Marcus Hawkins, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
4:00 Adjourn
This program is hosted by the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute. WPUI is not responsible for the content of this program. Each presentation is the intellectual property of the listed author(s).
Upcoming Programs
November 18, 2026
Members-only Event: Wastewater Surveillance: Monitoring Community Health Through Utility Infrastructure – Hybrid
March 16, 2027
Public Utilities Law Update – In Person
April 12-16, 2027
Regional Transmission Organization Fundamentals and RTO Advanced 2027 – Hybrid
October 18-22, 2027
Energy Utility Basics 2027– Hybrid
April 3-7, 2028
Regional Transmission Organization Fundamentals and RTO Advanced 2028 – Hybrid
September 25-29, 2028
Energy Utility Basics 2028 – Hybrid
Completed Programs
February 18
WPUI Members-only Opportunity: Short-Term Energy Outlook for 2026 – Online
Grid Under Pressure Series: Understanding the Data Center Surge
- March 3
Strategic Load Integration – Managing Data Center Load Growth and Coordination – Online - September 22
Deep Dive – Affordability, Nuclear and Environmental Nexus – Online - November 4, 2026
Forward Look – Cybersecurity, Resilience, Infrastructure Cost-sharing and Regulatory Innovation – Online
March 10
Public Utilities Law Update – In Person
April 13-17
Regional Transmission Organization Fundamentals and RTO Advanced – Hybrid
May 11-13
OMS Resource Adequacy Summit – Hybrid
October 5-9
Energy Utility Basics 2026 – Hybrid
October 8
Members-only Event: Energy, Housing and Health – Hybrid
October 26, 2026
Members-only Event: Future of the Nuclear Industry – Online





