Strategy & Planning

“We expect the energy industry transition over the next ten years will be unlike anything comparable since the inception of the electric grid. This new environment will not be easy for our customers – they will be presented with more options for energy products and services.”

“FPL and NextEra Energy have had a pandemic plan in place for many years, which gave us a nice baseline to approach the numerous challenges of operating as an essential service during this global pandemic, while never sacrificing on the safety front.”

“Our smart grid investments in recent years are providing excellent benefits now. When customers have problems, we can ping the meter to help us troubleshoot rather than dispatch an employee to the customer’s residence.”

“Can we get that highly efficient, good load factor customer located here, and continue to manage operations, and focus on cost reductions? If we can do that, then we can have a bigger customer base that can spread the cost of new investments around.”

“We have partnered with our regulators to help customers since the pandemic with suspension of disconnects, waiving of late fees, and financial assistance to eligible customers who are facing difficulty paying bills. We have also provided support to local charities.”

These organizations are already developing customer-centered strategies that reflect, and meet, their consumers’ growing demand for more electrification, control, and flexibility, and a growing expectation of change.

MACRUC’s incoming President Willie Phillips announced his theme for the upcoming year.

As uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic persists, so does the volatility in the U.S. capital markets. The magnitude of the financial implications was explored for MACRUC utilities and Mid-Atlantic customers. A Wall Street panel of experts gave their perspectives. Moderated by New York Public Service Commission Commissioner Diane Burman, the panel consisted of Lavanya Balakrishnan, executive director, Global Power & Utilities Group, Morgan Stanley, Daniel Cregg, Chief Financial Officer, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), Steve Fleishman, managing director, Wolfe Research, Michael Haggarty, associate managing director, Power/Utilities - Americas, Moody's Investors Service, and Leslie Rich, managing director, U.S. Equity Research, JP Morgan Asset Management.

FERC's Minimum offer Price Rule, or MOPR ruling, directed PJM Interconnection to dramatically expand its MOPR to nearly all state-subsidized capacity resources. The December 19, 2019 ruling has been legally challenged. This session examined how states' policy goals and well-functioning wholesale markets can co-exist in harmony to deliver the economic and sustainable environmental benefits states are seeking. Moderated by Judy Jagdmann of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, with Joseph Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Jason Stanek, Chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission, Asim Haque, Vice President, State Policy and Member Services, PJM Interconnection, and Todd Snitchler, CEO, EPSA.

This session examined the separate functions and processes of regulators in the bankruptcy courts. and was moderated by West Virginia PSC Chair Charlotte Lane. Also taking part were Virginia SCC Chair Mark Christie, Kentucky PSC Commissioner Robert Cicero, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Ronald G. Pearson, and Chair of the Board of PG&E, former FERC and Pennsylvania PUC Commissioner, NARUC President Emeritus, Nora Mead Brownell.