We often talk about grid reliability in terms of infrastructure, technology, and planning. But what happens when the biggest vulnerability isn't physical infrastructure but trust?
In this episode of The Switch, Julieta Giraldez speaks with Carrie Zalewski, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Government Affairs and Policy at Constellation and former Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission, about the decisions, institutions, and relationships shaping the future of the power system.
Having worked across government, regulation, clean energy advocacy, and the power industry, Carrie brings a unique perspective on what it takes to turn energy policy into infrastructure that actually gets built. The conversation explores why predictable rules and trust are essential to investment, how growing electricity demand could create opportunities for reliability and affordability, and why flexibility and competition may help us get more from the existing grid.
Carrie also reflects on the human consequences of grid failures, the responsibility of making decisions that affect millions of customers, and why bringing engineers, policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders together is essential to solving the challenges ahead. While policies and markets shape our choices, the physics of the grid ultimately determines what is possible.
The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host/guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or company.
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