People

Global experts discussed how to achieve electrification. Panels, discussions, chats, and sessions on the transition considered technologies, innovations, systems, and infrastructure, as well as human elements and trends.

“We’re about the only one with robust proprietary research and development. We’re by far the biggest partner with the Department of Energy on joint research. We’ve always viewed research and development as a way to develop the arrows in our quiver to influence the future.”

“Tom has been our industry’s clear leader in understanding the risks and importance of cybersecurity. Our country has benefited greatly because of his work in this area, and I think Tom will continue to lead in this space.”

“Vogtle is an incredible legacy project for Tom. Southern Company persevered when no other company did. Tom Fanning’s realistic optimism in our ability to get through that project has led us to where we are the only utility in the country bringing online over 2,000 nuclear, clean energy megawatts to serve our customers.”

“With all the work he’s led with EEI, on physical security issues as well as storm restoration, the work he’s done on cyber, at the same time pulling the Vogtle project through, and with the technology revolution occurring in our business, he’s continued to stay steady, has been a visionary, and brought us through it all to the other side.”

Conversations with Southern Company CEO Chris Womack, Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene, Southern Company Gas CEO Jim Kerr, and just-retired Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning.

Much like Owen Young a hundred years before him, Tom Fanning has again and again proven to be a patriot of his country and industry. Indeed, perhaps Fanning also personifies a second hero in the history of our industry, Alvin Ward Vogtle.

“I said, ‘Let’s put them all into one mega-notice of proposed rulemaking and do one large integrated package.’ Out of that came Order 636, which unbundled the natural gas industry, restructured it, introduced new straight variable rate design, capacity release, and packages that made our natural gas pipeline industry more efficient than ever.”

“I expected everyone who worked in my department to understand the business. You had to learn the business. The corporate affairs function is respected when you know the business.”

Conversations with former Con Edison Senior Vice President, Frances Resheske; former FERC and Wisconsin PSC Commissioner and utility CEO, Branko Terzic.