Fortnightly Magazine - August 2020

Virtual MACRUC 25th Educational Conference.

Panelists wrestled with how to ensure a balance of customer assistance and company stability in order to avoid disaster. Moderated by incoming MACRUC President and D.C. PSC Chair Willie Phillips, panelists included Tony Clark, Mignon Clyburn, Philip Moeller, Robert Powelson, and Jackie Roberts.

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.

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.