Partner, Pierce Atwood LLP, USA

Track D, Session 6

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Julia Weller is a lawyer with the firm of Pierce Atwood LLC in Washington, D.C. and has worked in the field of energy regulation for 25 years. Ms. Weller’s experience encompasses both the U.S. and countries in transition from state-ownership to private participation. In the energy sectors of South East Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and elsewhere, Ms. Weller has advised energy regulators on strengthening the role of the regulator, restructuring of the energy sector, design of electricity markets, privatization and the reform of regulatory frameworks to attract private investment.
 

ABSTRACT SUMMARY

"Benchmarking Energy Regulators Performance in an Evolving Environment"

Regulators play a key role in ensuring successful transitions in energy policy - from centralized control of state-owned entities to competitive energy markets, from cost-based regulation to incentive and price cap regulation. Past benchmarking studies of regulatory competence have focused on key criteria such as independence, tariff making authority, minimum set of functions, accountability, and transparency. These criteria will be reviewed in the context of current developments, including the paradigm shift from fossil fuel to carbon-neutral energy generation and other regulatory challenges.