“Speed to Power.” That was the defining phrase at last week’s NARUC Winter Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. With more than 2,200 registered attendees and a packed lobby buzzing with impromptu meetings, the message was clear—regulators, utilities, and industry leaders are urgently seeking ways to deliver power to growing loads faster than traditional transmission planning timeframes allow. Throughout panel discussions, policy briefings, and one-on-one conversations with utilities and large energy customers, the primary focus was on accelerating the energy transition while maintaining grid reliability and resilience.
A particularly compelling moment came from Chris Womack, CEO of Southern Company, who emphasized the need for new energy resources by stating, “When I think about energy dominance, I think about energy abundance.” With electricity demand surging, the traditional 7-10 year timelines for planning and building transmission infrastructure are no longer viable. During a lunch discussion sponsored by Edison Electric Institute, Melody Birmingham of NiSource stressed the urgency of this challenge: “The challenge we face is the need for speed. … We are trying to address a new problem with traditional approaches.” Similarly, Camilo Serna of NERC identified rapid load growth, shifting seasonal peak demand, and evolving transmission value propositions as critical concerns. Chuck Marshall of ITC Holdings Corp. pointed to composite core conductor technology as a breakthrough solution, explaining how it enables a doubling of transmission capacity in existing rights-of-way without the long delays associated with land acquisition. Birmingham reinforced this sentiment, stating that technology is an enabler and questioning whether alternative solutions could achieve the same results as new line builds at a lower cost.
Beyond transmission expansion, grid resilience amid wildfires and extreme weather events was another major point of discussion. Maria Pope of Portland General Electric highlighted that Oregon has seen more acres burned in recent years than other parts of the U.S. and Canada, reinforcing the importance of wildfire mitigation plans. She echoed a broader conversation gaining momentum among utilities, regulators, and even the insurance industry—the need for consistent wildfire response standards to mitigate economic hardship. Throughout the summit, CTC Global team members, including Theodore Paradise, Anne McDowell, Alfie Wilkes, Peter Brehm, David Townley, and Jaunice Terrel, actively engaged in discussions about how CTC Global’s ACCC® technology is revolutionizing “Speed to Power.” This solution allows for 24/7/365 capacity additions in weeks to months rather than years, making it the go-to option for rapid, cost-effective grid expansion. With over 120,000 miles installed in 65+ countries and more than 30 U.S. states, ACCC® is moving beyond a niche solution for constrained rights-of-way and emerging as the primary tool for accelerating grid modernization. Its ability to double capacity, reduce operating temperatures, and mitigate wildfire risks positions it at the forefront of meeting the growing energy demands of the modern grid. As this summit underscored, the time for incremental solutions is over—speed, efficiency, and innovation must drive the future of transmission expansion.
