Public Utilities Law Update 2026

Wisconsin Public Utility Institute logo bearing the UW System gold, red, and white crest and the Institute and University names in white font.

March 10

In-Person Program
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Central


Registration

Early Bird: $275
Regular: $325

Registration is closed.

2026 Sponsors:

Boardman Clark law firm blue logo

logo for the Fredrikson and Byron law firm with black lettering and a red triangle.

logo for the Godfrey Kahn law firm with dark blue lettering.

stafford rosenbaum attorneys law firm blue and gold logo

logo for the law firm Taft Stettinius and Hollister with a black background and white lettering.

Agenda

0.5 CEUs
CLEs will be applied for post-program.

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).

In-Person venue:

Pyle Center
702 Langdon St.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus
Madison WI 53706

Pyle Center on the university of wisconsin-Madison campus showing trees, shrubs, and people walking on the sidewalk on a sunny day.

Upcoming Programs

3-Part Series
Grid Under Pressure: Understanding the Data Center Surge
April 13-17
Regional Transmission Organization Fundamentals and RTO Advanced - Hybrid 
May 11-13
OMS Resource Adequacy Summit - Hybrid 
June TBD
Members-only Opportunity: Nuclear Update - Online 
October 5-9
Energy Utility Basics 2026 - Hybrid 
November TBD
Members-only Opportunity: Monitoring for Wastewater Contaminants  - Online 

Completed Programs

February 18
Members-only Opportunity: Short-Term Energy Outlook for 2026 - Online 
March 10
Public Utilities Law Update 2026 - In Person 

Registration information for the 03.10.2026 Public Utilities Law Update program

Substitutions are allowed within the same organization only and must be made by COB 03.02.2026.
Cancellations made before COB 02.17.2026 will be refunded all but $75. Cancellations made  02.18.2026 through 02.24.2026 will receive a 50% refund.
No refunds will be given or substitutions will be allowed 02.25.2026 or after.
Registration fee payments must be received before the program begins.

See the Registration Information page for additional details.