Frontlines

PUF’s annual Fortnightly Top Innovators uniquely recognizes individual innovators and teams of innovators at electric, natural gas, and water utilities.

In that first Special Issue, my editorial was entitled “State of Power by State.” The message there was summed up in this sentence: “When we assess the present state of power, and when we project the future, we know the states are really different.”

Each spring the industry’s leaders convene To talk about maintaining a grid That is reliable, affordable, and clean.

The public now expects stagflation, both increased inflation and increased unemployment. Will demand for electricity continue to surge when the economy weakens?

Its largest conference all-time, summarized here in rhyme.

Societies can sail in calm waters, that suddenly become unforgiving and then come back later but to a different calm. Which is good advice for all those across the utilities industry feeling rather buffeted by the present winds of change. We are all adjusting and tuning strategies to continue to carry out our central mission to serve the public interest.

I’m confident our industry and our regulators are up to the challenge, as has been proven time and time again in our history. Energy will become even more affordable going forward.

SEPA clearly is as passionate about Public Utilities Fortnightly as we are. And is ready to invest aggressively to really ramp up our capacity and expand our service to you and the entire utility regulatory and policy community.

Have you made your resolutions yet for the new year? I have. Here they are, for all of you to see, hoping you’ll help me hold to them.

Eminem I’m not. But if you were at the “How Can We Afford All This?” Luncheon, hosted by the Public Utilities Fortnightly team at NARUC’s Annual Meeting, you’ll long remember the compelling verses of my Affordability Rap.