The Defense Energy Resilience Engagement Framework for Utility Regulators (“Framework”) was prepared for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) by Converge Strategies, LLC (CSL). The Framework is a flexible guide for the electricity industry and national security enterprise to collect, examine, and document regulatory considerations for defense energy resilience. 

Electricity Industry. The Framework provides public utility commissions with best practices to facilitate engagement with in-state military stakeholders and support consideration of defense-related utility applications. 

National Security Enterprise. The Framework equips U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) stakeholders with questions to consider as they prepare for future engagements and regulatory proceedings with commissions and utilities.

The Big Picture 

In recognition of the grid’s role in national defense, DoD issued guidance in 2024 for engagement with regulated utilities around energy resilience. This guidance builds on DoD’s extensive energy resilience policies, as well as on Congress’s focus on defense critical electric infrastructure (DCEI). Congress defined DCEI in 2015 to include civilian electric infrastructure that provides power to critical defense facilities.

The emerging focus on defense energy resilience sheds light on the evolving relationship between the DoD and its utility partners, which in turn has implications for state utility regulatory commissions.