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National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys 2024

Key Discussions in the Keystone State

NCRA Logo 2024

 

 

The National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys (NCRA 2024) will held in Harrisburg, PA, from May 5-8, 2024.

What is NCRA?

The National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys (NCRA) is an annual conference organized by the NARUC Subcommittee on Law. It was created in 1977 by the Subcommittee on Law and was adopted at the 89th Annual NARUC Convention. This conference provides educational and networking opportunities specifically tailored to government utility regulatory attorneys.

Who Should Attend?

The NCRA annual conference is open to all utility regulatory attorneys having statutory responsibility for working with or appearing before State or Federal regulatory agencies.

For more information, contact Louise Fink Smith or Betsy Barnes (Phone: 717-787-5000) or visit the NARUC website.

Online Registration is now closed.  All registration requests may be emailed directly to Betsy Barnes at ebarnes@pa.gov and will be accommodated where possible

Conference Details

Registration

2024 Registration

Fees

$400 - Government or Public Interest Employees or Retirees

$500 - NCRA Alumni Engaged in Private Practice or Industry

 

Online 2024 Registration - Online Registration is now closed.  All registration requests may be emailed directly to Betsy Barnes at ebarnes@pa.gov and will be accommodated where possible.

After you register for the conference, you will receive a confirmation email. Please print the email invoice and mail it along with your check payable to National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys to:

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
c/o Nick Walstra
180 East Broad Street, 12th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215 

NCRA Final Agenda

NCRA Speakers 

Attendees Registration List 

Hotel Location

Hilton Harrisburg

Fifty (50) Hilton Harrisburg rooms are reserved at the conference rate of $159 per night (Sunday, May 5 to Tuesday May 7, 2024).  The cut-off date for discounted hotel reservations is 4:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 14, 2024, so please reserve your room early.  Guests are responsible for payment of their hotel accommodations. 

Hilton Harrisburg
One North Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1601

Reservations Phone: (717) 233-6000 
Reservation Discount Code: Group 960
Reservations: National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys 2024 Reservation Link

Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.

Parking

Overnight Parking is $12 per day

Day Parking is $7 (validate your parking ticket at the Hilton Gift Shop or front desk)

Hotel Amenities:

NCRA guests will have complimentary 24-hour Fitness Center access, 24-hour Business Center access, standard internet access in guestrooms, and wireless internet access.  There is an indoor pool and restaurant in the hotel.

Conference Location

Conference Sessions Location

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Hearing Room No. 1
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, 2nd floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Transportation

Airport, Train & Bus Station

The Harrisburg Hilton is a 16 minute drive from the Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) and is within a 6 minute walk from the Harrisburg Bus Terminal and Amtrak train station. 

Walking Distance from Hotel to Conference

The Harrisburg Hilton is also within a 13 minute walking distance from the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Downtown Harrisburg. 

Harrisburg Public Transportation

Downtown Harrisburg is easily accessible by car, taxi, ride-sharing vehicles, and public transportation.  Within the city, there is also bus service.  See link: Capital Area Transit (CAT) | Public Transit | Harrisburg PA (cattransit.com)

CLE Information & Course Materials

CLE Credits

Total Available CLE Credit Hours: 12
Includes 10 general credit hours, and 2 Ethics credit hours. You are responsible for filing for credit in your respective state.  We can provide you with certification to assist you in obtaining credits in your state.

Course Materials

All attendees will receive the course materials as a digital download. A link will be emailed to all registrants prior to the meeting for downloading, viewing and printing of CLE materials.  Speakers may bring supplemental handouts in hard copy to the conference.

The Honorable Scott Hempling’s book entitled Regulating Mergers and Acquisitions of U.S. Electric Utilities: Industry Concentration and Corporate Complication is available for download at this link: Books – Scott Hempling, Attorney at Law (scotthemplinglaw.com).

Meals

Included Meals

Reception

Included in the Registration Fee is a reception on Sunday, May 5 at the Harrisburg Hilton from 5  to 7 p.m.  Guests are permitted at the reception for an additional registration fee of $30 per guest. 

Monday, May 6
Lunch* - Forest Room of the Commonwealth Keystone Building (plaza level).

Dinner* - Harrisburg Hilton.  Guests are also welcome to attend the sit down dinner at an additional registration fee of $50 per guest. 

Tuesday, May 7
Lunch* - Boxed lunch will be provided on Tuesday prior to the breakaway sessions. 

Additionally, there will be light refreshments including coffee, water and tea available throughout the conference. 

* Vegan and gluten free meals are available, but must be requested in advance. 
Please make sure you indicate that on your registration form and also email Elizabeth Barnes at ebarnes@pa.gov by May 1, 2024 with special dietary requirements.

Suggested Attire

Please plan to dress casually for the conference. Please bring extra layers for unpredictable Harrisburg Spring weather. Meeting rooms have a tendency to be cool; we recommend you bring a light sweater or jacket.

Breakaway Sessions

Tuesday afternoon there are three FREE breakaway sessions to choose from:

  1. Pennsylvania State Museum
  2. Tour of Pennsylvania Emergency Command Center
  3. Poverty Simulation Program

Alternatively, you may wish to explore Harrisburg, Hershey, Gettysburg, Lancaster or Carlisle your own.  

Conference Presentations

NCRA 2024 Agenda

NCRA Faculty 

Sunday, May 5

Optional/Introductory Session - Tour Through Public Utility Law

Monday, May 6

Session 1
Regulating Mergers and Acquisitions of U.S. Electric Utilities: Industry Concentration and Corporate Complication

Industry Consolidation and Corporate Complication: Forty Years of Regulatory Deference - The Honorable Scott Hempling, FERC

Session 2
Transitioning from State Regulator to Private Practitioner
Session 3
IIJA and IRA Federal Funding GRIP and TSED Programs
Session 4
The Washington Report: Chevron and Field Preemption 
Session 5
Pipeline Safety

PHMSA: Your Safety is Our Mission - Alanna Herron, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 

Session 6
Electric - Gas Coordination
Session 7
Mindfulness for Lawyers

Tuesday, May 7

Session 1
Legal Writing
Session 2
Trial Practice

Trial Practice - Kristen Edwards, South Dakota PUC

Session 3
Bankruptcy Matters

Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Primer - Christopher L. Perkins, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC

Session 4
Artificial Intelligence/Breach of Personal Information 

Cybersecurity Incident Response Handling - Michael Holko, Pennsylvania PUC

Breach of Personal Information Notifications Laws - Robert Gramola, Pennsylvania PUC

Ethical Issues in the Use of Artificial Intelligence - Thomas G. Wilkinson and Deborah A. Winokur, Cozen O'Connor - Materials

Session 5
Breakaways - Bridges Out of Poverty

Contextualizing Poverty in Communities - Jennifer L. Koppel, MHA - Bridges Out of Poverty

Data Sharing Between Agencies and Public Utilities - Joe Magee, Pennsylvania PUC

Agency/Utility Data Sharing: Low Income Programs - Elizabeth Marx, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project

Wednesday, May 8

Session 1
Regulation 101: Mentoring/Learning the Basics

Practice Tips for Agency Regulatory Counsel -James Cawley, SkarlatosZonarich LLC - Materials

Session 2
Forever Chemicals: PFAS

Forever Chemicals: PFAS - James Kennedy, Pennsylvania PUC

Need More Help?

If you can't find what you're looking for here, please contact the PA Public Utility Commission. Call us at 1-800-692-7380 or contact us online.

Document Search

Public utility documents available electronically include case dockets, public meeting orders and more.

Filing & Resources

Find utility-related reports, laws and regulations, federal filings, tariffs, procedures and more.

eFILING

Consumers, utilities and attorneys can save time by submitting documents to the PUC electronically.