On May 5, 2026, DWGP attorneys Peter Scanlon and Andrea Sarmentero Garzon spoke at the American Public Gas Association Spring Conference in Colorado Springs, where they presented “Challenges Facing Municipal Governments in 2026.” Topics covered included fiscal challenges, state and federal policy limitations, and actionable strategies for local governments navigating an evolving regulatory and economic landscape.
In recent years, wholesale and retail electricity prices have surged dramatically, far exceeding household income gains and economic growth. This has resulted in an energy affordability crisis, where energy customers struggle to manage rising costs, jeopardizing their financial stability. Surging energy pricing is responding to unprecedented energy demand that outpacing supply investments. The increasing energy demand is largely due to data centers, electrification of sectors like transportation and heating, and increased domestic manufacturing. This surge in demand coincides with an unprecedented need for energy infrastructure investments to replace aging infrastructure, expand capacity, and mitigate damages from severe weather linked to climate change. At the same time, local governments are seeing their tools to address the energy affordability crisis constrained by state and federal legislation preempting municipal action, workforce challenges, and reduced federal funding as trillions in pandemic-era relief and infrastructure funding programs have expired or been cancelled, and major clean-energy tax incentives have been rolled back.
Peter Scanlon and Andrea Sarmentero Garzon voiced actionable strategies to address ongoing fiscal and operational challenges. Topics included budgeting that stress-tests for revenue volatility, intergovernmental partnerships to streamline disaster recovery and avoid unfunded mandates, digital-first operations that automate routine tasks, and deliberate succession planning to close looming workforce gaps. For municipal leaders willing to adapt, the path forward demands agility, collaboration, and a willingness to modernize from the inside out.
For more information, please contact Peter Scanlon or Andrea Sarmentero Garzon.