The STAR Group Utility Search Conference® is useful for bringing together public utilities and affected stakeholders to produce a result (typically a large-scale infrastructure project or other major initiative) on which all stakeholders can agree. Click here to read about some of the results we have helped our utility clients and their communities achieve.

The STAR Group Utility Search Conference® has tremendous power when several solutions to the problem are still possible, such as new generation, transmission infrastructure, conservation, alternative energy, strategies for improved efficiencies, or some combination of the foregoing. Significantly, all stakeholders – including the utility – are represented equally in the process. This maximizes the exchange of meaningful information from all perspectives and generates shared understanding of the various issues and possible solutions that all stakeholders are willing to support.

STAR Group Utility Search Conference® Outcomes:

The STAR Group Utility Search Conference® produces the following important results:

1. A series of recommendations for the utility to consider for solving the problem in question that all stakeholders are willing to support.
2. A group of community leaders who:

• Are willing to assist in implementing their recommendations
• Have shared their information and positions while learning about those of others
• Can fine-tune their recommendations and support the utility in public hearings
• Are eager, able and ready to share their learning with other community members
• Are willing to speak to regulators and permitting agencies about the community dialogue that led to the group’s recommendations
• Help facilitate conversations among the utility and interested parties such as environmental groups and neighborhood leaders

The following chart identifies the key components of the STAR Group Utility Search Conference®: