In Part I of our PUC Leadership Training, we learned how the US electricity system works, uncovered the hidden world of Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), and understood why these under-the-radar state agencies are so critical to our clean energy future.

Hundreds tuned in live for this session, the first of three in Third Act’s PUC Leadership Training Series designed to prepare you to be an effective Energy Democracy Intervenor whoever and wherever you are, and connecting you with future Power Up Communities! campaign action opportunities.


Despite the fact that clean energy is now cheaper, and the damages from fossil fuels are enormous and growing, utilities are killing clean energy, while (most) regulators look the other way.

Here are five key takeaways:

  1. PUCs need to change and Third Actors can make it happen.
  2. Solar is now the cheapest form of electricity on Earth.
  3. Utilities don’t want clean energy.
  4. Utilities refuse to recognize the staggering damages from fossil gas and coal.
  5. Fossil gas investments are dangerous, foolish, risky, expensive and unnecessary.

Far too often, state regulators are captured by the utilities they are supposed to regulate. Since “sunlight is the best disinfectant”, we aim to shine a light and put the “public” back into Public Utilities Commissions.

Ways to get involved

All the different ways you can get involved with Third Act: