Whether it’s your first regulatory hearing or your fiftieth, one thing remains true: the stakes are high and the details matter. Utility hearings can be intense, formal, and full of tough questions. Regulators want clear, defensible answers, and you’ll want to be ready with more than just your spreadsheets.
So, how can analysts and executives prepare to show up confident and credible at a regulatory hearing?
Here are five tried-and-true tips to help you walk in ready and walk out respected.
1. Know the Numbers and the Story Behind Them
You don’t just need to know what your cost study or rate proposal says. You need to understand why it says that.
Be ready to explain the logic behind your assumptions, the purpose behind your allocations, and the “why” behind your recommended rates. If a regulator challenges a figure or asks, “What would happen if we did it differently?”, don’t freeze. Think of the hearing less as a numbers quiz and more as a story you need to narrate, one that’s clear, consistent, and backed by data.
2. Translate Complexity into Clarity
Regulatory hearings often bring together people from different backgrounds, some technical, some legal, some policy-oriented. Your job is to bridge the gap.
Avoid jargon when you don’t need it. Be able to explain cost allocation or capital structure the same way you’d explain it to a well-informed neighbor. You’re not dumbing it down, you’re making it accessible, which is exactly what good testimony should do.
3. Anticipate Questions Especially the Hard Ones
Don’t just rehearse your presentation. Rehearse the cross-examination.
Put yourself in the shoes of a skeptical regulator or opposing expert. What might they challenge? Where are the gray areas in your analysis? Are there past decisions or external events that could make your numbers look out of place?
Anticipating pushback not only helps you prepare answers, it shows you’re thoughtful and transparent, not defensive or dismissive.
4. Be Honest About Limitations
It’s tempting to make your numbers bulletproof. But in reality, every model has assumptions and limitations.
Acknowledging uncertainty doesn’t make your case weaker, it actually makes you more credible. If you’re clear about what your analysis can and cannot do, regulators are more likely to trust the parts that matter most.
5. Align with Your Team Before You Testify
If you’re one of several people representing your organization, stay on message. Make sure the executive team, legal counsel, and technical experts are aligned on key positions and terminology.
Conflicting statements, no matter how unintentional, can damage your case and confuse the record. A short pre-hearing strategy session can go a long way in keeping everyone on the same page.
Final Thought
Regulatory hearings aren’t just about defending numbers, they’re about demonstrating thoughtfulness, transparency, and public accountability. If you prepare the right way, you won’t just make it through the hearing, you’ll stand out as a trusted, credible voice in the process.
And if you ever feel like you’re in too deep? That’s where experts like CDK Consulting come in. We help you prepare testimony, stress-test your analysis, and walk into the hearing room ready to lead.
