A Panel Discussion on the Increasing Price of Electricity
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About this event
Join us this February for a comprehensive panel discussion focused on the evolving landscape of electricity costs throughout Colorado. Our speakers will tackle complex drivers of pricing, including the financial impact of aging infrastructure and the incentives behind long-term utility projects. The conversation will provide critical insights into rate-setting mechanisms and how negotiated pricing for large-scale users, such as data centers, compares to standard commercial and residential rates. We will conclude by examining how surging industrial demand is reshaping the market and influencing the future of energy expenses for all consumers.
Our panelists include Kate Strickland (Smart Electric Power Alliance), Dr. Steven Dahlke (Colorado Public Utilities Commission), and Andrew Holder (Xcel Energy).
Kate Strickland serves as Director, Strategic Projects, Research & Industry Strategy for the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA). Kate works across SEPA's research portfolio and with members and industry to identify key strategies and opportunities to advance a clean, affordable, and resilient energy system for all. In 2024, Kate was on detail to the Biden-Harris White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer (OCSO), serving as Deputy Director, Clean Energy, and working to advance federal clean energy policy and procurement. She has a master’s degree from John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in International Relations & Economics, with a concentration in Energy, Resources & Environment, and graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.
Dr. Steven Dahlke is a Senior Economist at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, where he serves as an expert witness on proceedings covering electric resource planning, electricity markets, prudence reviews, rate cases, and other investigations before the Commission. Previously, Steven worked for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) where he led research teams and managed the Integrated Energy System Planning Methods applied research program on behalf of more than 20 member energy companies globally. He was previously employed by the Great Plains Institute in Minnesota, and has completed research projects for the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. His research has been published in Energy Policy, The Energy Journal, The Electricity Journal, Energy, and more. Steven holds a Ph.D. in Mineral and Energy Economics from the Colorado School of Mines and a BA in Environmental Studies from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Andrew Holder joined Xcel Energy in 2018 and became the Director of Community Relations and Local Government Affairs in 2023. He also oversees Wildfire Mitigation efforts between the company and emergency managers statewide. He has served as the Northern Colorado Area Manager for Xcel and in various project management positions, from advanced grid infrastructure to new project development. Prior to coming to Xcel, Andrew worked as a Project and Entitlements Manager for new housing and commercial developments. As Director, Andrew leads a team of Community Relations Area Managers and wildfire mitigation professionals that cover all Xcel service territories in Colorado. The Community Relations team acts as the primary liaison between Xcel and the communities we serve. They work with residents, businesses, organizations and other civic or political groups to ensure the best interests of those individuals or group are put forth. His team of (wildfire) Resilience Managers continually engage with emergency managers statewide to provide access to company resources and information, and to provide support during Public Safety Power Shutoffs.
A copy of the PowerPoint presentation for this event is available here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1N8yctBdHkm6253cazZ5iI2NORRPQaxDo/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108933046513092185061&rtpof=true&sd=true
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