PG&E

An EV charging infrastructure network only provides value and reduces range anxiety to the degree it is well maintained.

PJM appointed Andrew L. Ott president and CEO; Mississippi Power named Anthony L. Wilson president; PG&E appointed Jason P. Wells as senior v.p. and CFO; Chesapeake Energy appointed R. Brad Martin as non-executive chairman of the company’s board of directors; Rafael Flores was elected to the Ameren board of directors. And others ...

Clearly, one of the most significant issues we face today is aging infrastructure. It’s akin to a marathon – a race we absolutely have to finish. Since 1990 we’ve replaced more than 65,000 miles of cast iron and bare steel pipe, but we still have a long way to go.

Being in the “energy” business as a commissioner, staff, lobbyist or industry leader is hard enough without social media, right? When you add Twitter and Facebook to the mix, it is enough to drive one crazy. Who needs it? Well, we all do, really.

Seventy-three percent of our generation is carbon-free, yet the EPA’s 111(d) rules require a 48 percent reduction in our CO2 emission rate. That steep reduction will be very difficult to achieve and will be costly for our electric customers. The commission’s chief concern is keeping a lid on consumer prices, especially given the pressure exerted by EPA.

States that have coal-dependent economies will likely have more difficulty complying with the Clean Power Plan than states like Oregon. There will be rate impacts to be sure. The trick will be compliance at the most reasonable cost that that can be assured.

Susan Ackerman, chair, Oregon PUC; Chris Nelson, vice-chairman, South Dakota PUC; Tim G. Echols, Georgia PSC; Paul J. Roberti, Rhode Island PUC

Xcel Energy named George E. Tyson II as senior v.p. for corporate development. Southern Company hired Michael Britt as v.p. for the company’s Energy Innovation Center. Southern Company Services named Martin B. Davis as executive v.p. and CIO. Pacific Gas and Electric promoted Geisha Williams to president, electric operations, Nick Stavropoulos to president, gas operations and John Simon to executive v.p. of corporate services and human resources. And others...

It’s a new era for utilities and their consumers. Today’s leaders are atop those economic, political and technological happenings.

While the underlying questions in each state regarding net energy metering are much the same, the two PUC's will approach the issue from different perspectives.