I Mean, It was Quite a Scene
Steve Mitnick has authored five books on the economics, history, and people of the utilities industries. While in the consulting practice leadership of McKinsey & Co. and Marsh & McLennan, he advised utility leaders. He led a transmission development company and was a New York Governor’s chief energy advisor. Mitnick was an expert witness appearing before utility regulatory commissions of six states, D.C., FERC, and in Canada, and taught microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics at Georgetown University.
On May twelve to fourteen
PUF and AEIC
Like a well-oiled machine.
Held in Washington D.C.
The third annual Edison Congress.
Each spring the industry’s leaders convene
To talk about maintaining a grid
That is reliable, affordable, and clean.
But compared with last year
And the year before that
There were even more leaders with us
At this year’s caucus.
Now that PUF is part of
The Smart Electric Power Alliance
It’s hardly a coincidence
In 2025, makes sense
This was our biggest Congress.
I mean, it was quite a scene
With engineering and operating leaders
From as many as thirty-five electric utilities
We did convene.
More than foreseen
What a success!
There were thirteen panels, three keynotes
And networking in between.
Lessons learned
And best practices
Were expressed.
As well as the need
For ever more progress.
There have been so many changes
Since last year’s gathering
As we all have seen.
To an energy transition
That goes well beyond green.
Data centers, wildfires, new nuclear
AI, capacity shortfalls
And supply chain bottlenecks.
And to keep electric service affordable
Redoubled initiatives to make operations lean.
But I mean
I digress
And must confess.
There is much promise
Though also much stress.
Unless there’s greater grid access
And fewer roadblocks of due process
And an easing of LMI bill distress.
It’s too much to just finesse
Some of the imperatives are no regrets
Others we must seriously address.
Nonetheless, at this Edison Congress
There was a broad desire to coalesce
On at least some approaches, yes.
We can take some solace
Though it may sometimes be like
Playing three-dimensional chess
In the U.S.
After hearing everyone at the conference
Not a point of view was suppressed
We can attest, I guess.
To say the situation is a mess, a humongous one no less
As is often the take of the press, is simply preposterous.
Transmission access, yes, we must address
The solutions at the conference we did assess.
As usual Edison Congress’
Breakfasts, lunches,
Receptions and breaks
Were a largesse of fine cuisine.
I even found enough for my workout diet
That requires an excess of protein.
So, across from the White House
At Hotel Washington
Each spring.
Just follow your GPS
To that address
Come to Edison Congress
See you next year, let’s.
