Regulators have been thinking for decades about how competition can support an energy resource mix that best aligns with the public interest. Now, the landscape for competitive utility procurement is changing in many ways. Lower-cost renewables, increased electrification, decarbonization targets, and equity and affordability goals all present new opportunities — and challenges — for regulators and utilities.

In an interactive webinar, panelists discussed a “next-generation” approach to utility procurement and evolving best practices, based in part on recent work done by RAP and RMI. The webinar offered recommendations on how to design clear rules for procurement processes that consider all available resources, are aligned with both utility and public-policy objectives, and result in outcomes that offer the “least regrets.”