It’s the 119th Congress, and you’re the energy staffer (or a staffer who cares about energy) –congratulations! One of your key issues will be electricity.

Here’s the thing: electricity is a complex space filled with dense and often confusing terms.

• What’s a load-serving entity?

• What’s a virtual power plant?

• What exactly is a microgrid, and how does it work?

• Regulated utility? Transmitting utility? RTO? ISO? IPP? Non-jurisdictional? Integrated resource plan?

What are all those things and why should you care?

It’s easier to write good policy when we’re on the same page about what we’re talking about.

Join SEEC Institute for a practical briefing that will lay a strong foundation for energy and electricity work in the 119th Congress. We’ll define key terms, unpack key concepts, answer essential questions, and build a shared vocabulary to strengthen policy discussions.

Here’s an example ChatGPT came up with: "A municipal utility operating under a balancing authority may use microgrids and virtual power plants to enhance grid reliability while complying with FERC Order 1000, managing interconnection requests, navigating rate cases, and ensuring additionality through demand response and firm resources in collaboration with investor-owned utilities and load-serving entities within an RTO/ISO region."

If that sentence made your head spin and you’re not quite sure why it’s not entirely correct, this briefing is for you!

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About SEEC Institute’s Policy Toolkit Series: Throughout the year, SEEC Institute will offer briefings on a variety of energy, environment, and staff development topics designed to keep you ahead of the curve in navigating Capitol Hill. Whether you’re looking to expand your expertise or develop stronger legislative skills, these sessions are designed to help you succeed.