II ARIAE-RELOP International Conference

The Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulators (ARIAE) and the Association of Energy Regulators of Portuguese-speaking Countries (RELOP) held the II Joint ARIAE–RELOP International Conference on 12 May 2026 in Madrid, Spain, under the theme “Regulatory independence as a pillar of the energy transition”.

Organised by Spain’s National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC), the Conference formed part of a week of events promoted by ARIAE between 11 and 14 May, with the active participation of RELOP.

The event followed on from the I Joint Conference held in 2024 at the Itaipu Binacional Hydroelectric Power Station in Foz do Iguaçu, reinforcing the two associations’ commitment to the institutional strengthening of energy regulation.

Throughout the conference, key issues for the future of the energy sector were discussed, notably the promotion of a regulatory culture within society, the strengthening of the independence of regulatory bodies, and raising awareness of gender equality in the energy sector, all within the context of the energy transition and decarbonisation.

Against a backdrop of growing challenges relating to energy security, the affordability of energy prices and the need to accelerate decarbonisation, the importance of independent regulators, technically competent and adequately resourced, was highlighted as essential to ensuring objective, transparent regulation geared towards consumer protection.

The Conference also emphasised the need to promote robust institutional frameworks capable of supporting continued investment in technical training, digitalisation, cybersecurity and the modernisation of regulatory processes, thereby enabling the sector to keep pace with technological developments and the integration of sustainable energy solutions.