On the season opener of GridPulse, Virginia Commissioner Jehmal Hudson joins the podcast to discuss the national and local drivers behind rising energy demand and what they mean for grid planning and regulation. He explores the need for smarter transmission utilization, meeting the demand for accelerating data center facilities, thoughtful rate design for large loads, and updated regulatory processes that take innovation into account without sacrificing public accountability. As the energy landscape evolves, Judge Hudson emphasizes that affordability must remain a core outcome, and not a restraint, as decision-makers work to modernize the grid for the demands of today as well as the future.