AGA Exchange

ELDP is an exclusive opportunity for rising leaders to gain firsthand insight into how Washington works and affects business enterprise, while learning to navigate the political and regulatory maze through conversations with experts from Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch, key agencies, and more.

The 2026 program will take place in Washington, DC, from June 9–11, 2026. Participants will engage in interactive sessions on developing legislative, regulatory, and media strategies, while hearing directly from experts across government. Designed for rising leaders ready to expand their influence, the program provides rare exposure to federal processes shaping the energy industry. Class size is capped at 30 participants to ensure engagement and peer networking.

• Dates: June 9–11, 2026
• Location: Washington, DC
• Eligibility: Nominations by AGA member company leadership
• Point of Contact: Kara Riba (kriba@aga.org) & Nichole Brown (nbrown@aga.org)
• Registration: Opens early 2026; closes when capacity is reached.

A year-long program designed to unlock potential, accelerate performance, and build industry connections for emerging female leaders in natural gas.

The program includes four exclusive events—two virtual and two in-person—culminating in dynamic programming alongside the AGA Executive Conference in the fall. Participants gain leadership skills, industry knowledge, and a powerful professional network.

• Dates: Various in 2026
• Location: Various
• Eligibility: Nominations by AGA member company leadership
• Point of Contact: WomenLeaders@aga.org

An annual half-day leadership program designed exclusively for alumnae of the NLLWP, held during the AGA Executive Conference. This event provides a chance for alumnae to reconnect with peers, mentor current program participants, and continue developing their leadership skills in a collaborative setting. Participation ensures alumnae remain engaged in the evolving leadership dialogue within the industry.

• Dates: Annual, aligned with the AGA Executive Conference
• Point of Contact: WomenLeaders@aga.org

The Executive Conference is AGA’s premiere invitation-only event for energy utility CEOs and senior executives. Designed exclusively for C-suite leaders, the conference provides a strategic platform for peer-to-peer learning, industry insights, and forward-looking discussions on the future of gas utilities.

• Dates: October 5–6, 2025
• Location: San Antonio, TX
• Eligibility: Open to all AGA members
• Point of Contact: Joy Swain Baker (jsbaker@aga.org) & Carlos Pelham (cpelham@aga.org)

AGA’s two-day Advocacy Workshop equips natural gas professionals with the tools and strategies to address emerging issues, strengthen internal advocacy efforts, and effectively communicate the industry’s value.

As the political, legislative, and regulatory landscapes continue to evolve, internal preparation and communication are key to addressing industry challenges. AGA’s Advocacy Workshop is designed to help natural gas companies build strong internal teams and strategic responses to emerging issues.

This hands-on program equips participants with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to strengthen advocacy efforts and ensure natural gas continues to play a leading role in America’s energy future.

• Dates: 2026 dates TBD
• Location: Washington, DC
• Eligibility: Industry professionals with 5 years or less experience
• Point of Contact: Kara Riba (kriba@aga.org)

The Policy Forum brings together government affairs and regulatory professionals for in-depth discussions on federal, state, and local issues impacting natural gas utilities.

This two-and-a-half-day meeting features sessions with invited government speakers, closed-door committee roundtables, and collaborative discussions on pressing policy and regulatory challenges. Networking opportunities round out the agenda, providing space for members to share strategies and strengthen industrywide advocacy.

• Dates: September 29 – October 1, 2026
• Location: Lexington, KY
• Eligibility: AGA members engaged in government affairs or regulatory matters
• Point of Contact: Frank Canavan (fcanavan@aga.org)

Advanced Rate School is an intensive program focused on complex pricing policy issues and regulatory strategies shaping the natural gas industry.

The program covers advanced rate design, cost recovery, energy efficiency, and alternatives to traditional cost-of-service ratemaking. Participants explore infrastructure planning and rate case management strategies. While AGA’s Basic Rate School is not a prerequisite, attendees should already have a foundational understanding of rate design. Enrollment is limited.

• Dates: Summer 2026
• Location: Washington, DC
• Eligibility: Professionals actively engaged in utility ratemaking
• Point of Contact: John Gunnells (jgunnells@aga.org)

Basic Rate School introduces participants to the fundamentals of natural gas utility ratemaking, covering economic, financial, and policy considerations.

AGA’s Basic Rate School provides participants with a foundational understanding of how rates are designed and regulated. Expert faculty guide attendees through key concepts in utility accounting, cost allocation, and regulatory policy. This program is ideal for professionals who are new to ratemaking or looking to broaden their understanding of the rate process.

• Dates: Summer 2026
• Location: Washington, DC
• Eligibility: Professionals new to or expanding understanding of ratemaking
• Point of Contact: John Gunnells (jgunnells@aga.org)

Fueling Our Workforce is a 120-minute training for natural gas utilities’ frontline workers and contractors—equipping them to confidently answer public and customer questions while becoming advocates for the industry.

Extended Description:
Through interactive exercises, real-world scenarios, and clear messaging, the training empowers participants to feel more prepared, confident, and proud to represent the natural gas industry. The program is offered during AGA’s Spring and Fall Operations Conferences and can also be delivered onsite at member companies’ worksites, ensuring accessibility and impact at scale.

• Dates: Spring & Fall Operations Conferences; available year-round on request
• Point of Contact: Kara Riba (kriba@aga.org)

Building on existing initiatives to enhance field worker safety, AGA is launching a new campaign on the prevention of field worker assaults.

AGA launched this campaign in 2025 to strengthen awareness and industry action around field worker assaults. To kick off the initiative, AGA is hosting a series of webinars to raise awareness of the issue and feature case studies from AGA member companies.

Event details:

• Dates: Various dates in 2025
• Location: Virtual
• Eligibility: Open to all AGA members
• Point of Contact: Amanda Sramek (asramek@aga.org)

NGX is hybrid (virtual and in-person), distributed play exercise for the Natural Gas Pipeline Industry, brought to you by AGA and tailored to the needs of AGA and INGAA member companies. NGX creates an interactive environment to test and validate plans for the response to and recovery from cybersecurity and physical security threats.

This is the first exercise focused solely on the natural gas industry and will be the third iteration of this event. The last biennial exercise held in 2024 hosted approximately 250 participants from 50 organizations.

Event details:

• Date: The next NGX exercise will occur in the Fall of 2026 (tentatively October 8, 2026)
• Registration: Will open Summer 2026
• Location: Virtual and in-person. 2026 location TBD.
• Eligibility: Any pipeline owner/operator, electric subsector partner, government partner, or invited guest. Closed to the press.
• Point of contact: Amanda Sramek (asramek@aga.org)