Internship Location: Madison
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Energy policy
This summer, I interned at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in the Division of Energy Regulation and Analysis, where I supported the review of a proposed tariff for the state’s first hyperscale data center. I researched how other states regulate large energy users, especially in Virginia and Ohio, and helped draft data request questions to evaluate grid impacts, cost allocation, and fairness across rate classes. I also reviewed PSC staff testimony and contributed recommendations that helped shape the regulatory narrative. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that working in the energy sector is far more complex than it appears. Policy, economics, engineering, and law all interact behind the scenes, often with competing stakeholder interests. Being part of a highly experienced team made it easier to understand these dynamics and see how real decisions are made. The internship deepened my understanding of rate design, cost allocation, and regulatory decision-making. It also allowed me to apply tools from the EAP Certificate and courses like PA 809 and PA 873 in a real-world setting. I came away with a stronger sense of how equity, economics, and infrastructure planning come together in energy policy and a clearer vision for my future career in the field.