Head of Regulatory

Overview

PowerLines is a national nonprofit organization that aims to modernize the utility regulatory system for American energy consumers to lower utility bills and grow the economy. It focuses on state public utilities commissions (PUCs), which play a critical role in determining how much people pay for utility bills, how utilities invest in different types of energy, and where new energy projects are built. These 200 commissioners oversee more than $200 billion in utility spending each year and have significant influence over the future of our energy system.

Utility affordability is quickly becoming one of the most pressing economic challenges facing American consumers. In 2025, utilities requested a record-setting $31 billion in rate increases, double the previous record, while 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills. Meanwhile, the U.S. grid is experiencing the fastest rise in electricity demand in decades with the growth of AI data centers and manufacturing, and utilities plan to spend $1.4 trillion by 2030. Policymakers across the political spectrum are increasingly focused on how regulatory systems can respond to these pressures while protecting consumers and supporting economic growth.

Recognized on the 2025 “TIME100 Next” list, PowerLines is rapidly becoming a go-to source and leader in informing the national discussion of this issue and has already shaped the conversation in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Politico, Bloomberg, CBS News, NPR, Marketplace, Financial Times, TIME, Vox, The Daily Mail, and MIT Technology Review. PowerLines is quickly establishing credibility as a nonpartisan expert on utility regulatory and energy affordability issues while reaching a bipartisan set of policymakers, including initial partnerships with the National Governors Association, Western Governors Association, and National Conference of State Legislatures.

PowerLines is in a period of significant organizational growth and seeks a full-time Head of Regulatory to build and lead the organization’s new Regulatory Team. This is a senior, hands-on role. The Head of Regulatory will lead development and execution of PowerLines’ regulatory strategy, including engagement with state public utilities commissions and on regulatory dockets such as rate cases and rulemakings. The Head of Regulatory will wear many different hats, from leading a growing team of full-time and part-time regulatory experts and building partnerships and coalitions to advising stakeholders on technical regulatory issues and serving as an external spokesperson for PowerLines. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced utility regulatory leader to shape how the utility regulatory system responds to rising bills and surging electricity demand, at an organization with the visibility and relationships to influence outcomes nationally.

The Head of Regulatory will be one of PowerLines’ senior programmatic leaders and serve on the PowerLines executive leadership team. The Regulatory Team leads the organization’s work before utility regulatory bodies and works alongside the Policy Team and Communications Team to drive impact in regulatory venues and proceedings.

PowerLines is headquartered in Washington, DC. The Head of Regulatory is a remote position, with travel of approximately 10 to 20 percent expected. The Head of Regulatory will report directly to the Founder and Executive Director.

(Note: PowerLines is currently also recruiting for a Head of Policy role. The Head of Regulatory role is intended to be more technical on utility regulatory issues, whereas the Head of Policy role is intended to be more policy generalist in nature.)

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership
• Oversee a regulatory team currently consisting of a full-time Program Manager, a full-time Analyst, and part-time Senior Advisors
• Lead Regulatory Team meetings on a weekly basis
• Serve on PowerLines’ executive leadership team and provide counsel on regulatory issues, opportunities, developments, and strategy
• Provide mentorship to junior team members on programmatic and organizational issues
• Lead talent recruitment and hiring, in partnership with the Chief of Staff and Executive Director, as the Regulatory Team grows in the long term 
• Define scopes for and direct the work of Senior Advisors and regulatory consultants
• Regulatory Strategy and Execution
• Develop PowerLines’ annual regulatory strategy to be updated on a regular basis, including identification of team goals, OKRs, and internal calendar with key dates and timelines, with the Executive Director
• Execute regulatory engagement strategy for major utility regulatory proceedings, including rate cases, integrated resource plan proceedings, and rulemaking dockets, based on identification of priority dockets, including partnership and coalition building, technical assistance and strategy advising, and media and communications engagement
• Set and direct strategy for engagement in priority proceedings, including media and public engagement, and oversee compliance with applicable procedural and ex parte rules
• Make final decisions on docket prioritization, engagement strategy, and the substance of filings and testimony within the approved strategy
• Develop strategy for and oversee execution of engagement on key utility regulatory rulemaking opportunities, including implementation of legislative and policy priorities in partnership with the Policy Team
• Assess opportunities for intervention at federal utility regulatory proceedings (e.g., FERC dockets and technical conferences) and in regional transmission organization (RTO) governance and stakeholder processes
• Support development of an “expert bench” of regulatory, technical, and legal experts who can provide substantive expertise on key topics
• Coalition Building
• Oversee grant-funded projects to support the intervention and engagement of partners in utility regulatory proceedings
• Conduct landscape assessment of current and target coalition partners to engage on utility regulatory issues
• Build partnerships with coalition partners reflecting PowerLines’ commitment to bipartisan, multi-sectoral, and cross-customer class engagement
• Lead development of multi-state consumer advocacy engagement, including development of regulatory playbook, engagement strategy, and case studies database
• Provide direct technical assistance and strategy advising to partners including consumer advocates to strengthen PUC advocacy
• Conduct “utility regulation 101” briefings for partners less familiar with utility regulatory issues as needed
• Research, Analysis, and Writing
• Oversee the tracking and monitoring of key regulatory developments and proceedings happening across the country
• Oversee the tracking and analysis of utility rate increase requests, annual capital spending plans, and utility earnings calls that feed into PowerLines’ flagship communications products
• Oversee the development and updating of PowerLines’ key regulatory products, including its docket and utility bill dashboard
• Lead drafting and preparation of written communications, testimony, and thought leadership as needed
• Cross-Team Coordination
• Participate in select meetings with policymakers and provide direct advising in support of PowerLines’ Policy Team as needed
• Coordinate with Communications Team to equip reporters and other media partners with key 101-level materials relevant to regulatory work
• Coordinate with Communications Team on regulatory content in communications products
• Partner with the Chief of Staff on cross-team prioritization and capacity planning, including Communications Team and Policy Team support for regulatory priorities
• External Representation and Fundraising
• Serve as PowerLines' primary voice on regulatory issues with commissioners and commission staff, intervenors, consumer advocates, and other regulatory stakeholders, coordinating with the Executive Director on the highest-stakes relationships
• Serve as a regulatory spokesperson for PowerLines with reporters and media 
• Support development and reporting of fundraising proposals
• Regularly update and maintain an internal tracker of major regulatory accomplishments and successes to inform PowerLines’ regulatory impact
• Attend relevant events and conferences (e.g., NARUC, NASUCA)

Requirements

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in utility regulation, preferably from a public utilities commission, state consumer advocate office, attorney general office, or issue advocacy background
• Proven record of developing and executing multi-state policy or regulatory campaigns that delivered tangible outcomes aligned with the public interest
• Deep familiarity with utility regulatory processes across multiple state jurisdictions, including working knowledge of procedural rules such as intervention eligibility, ex parte restrictions, and confidentiality
• Established relationships with consumer advocates, public utilities commissions, and regulatory networks
• Deep knowledge of energy and utility policy, including how utility legislation and regulation interact
• Fluency in utility ratemaking and resource planning, including revenue requirements, cost allocation and rate design, integrated resource plans, and utility financial filings 
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing staff
• Experience working across the political spectrum and keeping positions nonpartisan in a politically sensitive issue area
• Excellent writer and communicator who can turn complex policy into clear products for policymakers and represent an organization in a diverse range of settings
• Comfort operating as both a senior strategic leader and a hands-on individual contributor on a small team in a rapidly growing organization
• Ability to travel approximately 10 to 20 percent of the time
• Comfort building systems and processes in a startup environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• JD, or experience serving as an expert witness in utility regulatory proceedings
• Familiarity with FERC and RTO governance and stakeholder processes
• Experience with state siting and permitting, or with regulatory implementation of grid technology policies
• Experience supporting grant proposals and funder reporting
• Experience building and managing coalitions with diverse partners
• Experience scoping and managing consultants, lobbyists, and budgets

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

• The expected salary range for this role is $175,000-$225,000. Compensation may be based on skills, qualifications, experience, location, and other factors. 
• The benefits package includes unlimited PTO, paid holidays, health insurance, a 401k employer match, sick leave, and health and wellness benefits.