Keynote Panel

Views from the Nation's Electric Power Leaders — What Options to Modernize the Electric Power Delivery System Will Keep the US Competitive? What Can be Expected in the Next Five Years?

The Keynote panel will set the stage for the discussion that will follow over the succeeding two days. The panel will discuss how to transform the electricity power delivery system infrastructure to remain competitive in a global economy and how the economic stimulus package will impact electricity delivery. Each panelist will be asked to discuss the challenges and solutions they recommend for implementing a transformed, modern grid.

The Keynote Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• What critical steps are needed today to ensure that the Nation will continue to provide a robust electric power delivery system that deploys innovative technologies while remaining affordable and clean?
• What are the costs of not modernizing the Nation's electric power delivery system? Will the status quo position the US as an underdog in the global economy?
• What is the role of government, both at the federal and state level, to ensure the transformed electric power delivery system is built and has the workforce, which has the skills to maintain it?
• How has the recent financial market meltdown affected efforts to modernize the grid? What options face industry at a time of needed investment, with an uncertain future?
• How should the nation's future electricity delivery system be organized to ensure that consumers receive reliable service at reasonable cost while meeting more stringent environmental regulations?

Speakers:

• Honorable Frederick Butler, Commissioner, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, NARUC President
• Jason Grumet, Executive Director, National Commission on Energy Policy
• Honorable Phillip Moeller, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Ernest Moniz, Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, Cecil and Ida Green; Director of the Energy Initiative and Director of the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• David Ratcliffe, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Southern Company and Chairman, Edison Electric Institute Board of Directors
• Dan Reicher, Director, Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Google.org

Moderator: Bruce Upbin, Managing Editor, Forbes Magazine

Grand Ballroom South/Central
10:45 am - 12:30 pm

Electricity Policies in the New Administration

Electricity Policies in the Obama Administration – What Policies Should the New Administration Embrace? How Should States and Industry Coordinate with the Administration?

The panel will discuss what appropriate electricity policies should be implemented in the current economy. The panel will also discuss what role the US Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will play to implement new electricity policies to achieve a transformed, modern grid.

The Administration Policies Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• How does the US move beyond campaign rhetoric to developing effective long-term governmental policies on electricity issues?
• What can the Obama Administration do to alleviate regulatory uncertainty or governmental paralysis when it comes to divisive energy issues?
• With the credit crisis moving the federal government into a more active role in the financial markets, will regulatory oversight increase in other sectors such as the energy markets?
• Should FERC reassess its regulations of the electric and gas energy markets?
• Should the federal government expand its role and nationalize the electric transmission grid?
• Should national carbon reduction strategies be enacted?
• Many industry experts believe the electric industry needs massive investments to cope with an aging infrastructure and climate issues but with the financial downturn and large governmental obligations elsewhere. How will the Obama Administration promote investment in the energy sector? Should the Obama Administration create a new energy version of the Manhattan Project?
• While coal currently provides about 50% of our Nation's electricity needs and the US is blessed with substantial coal reserves, how will the Obama Administration develop policies that ensure both the Nation's energy independence while seeking to reduce its carbon footprint?

Speakers:

• Denise Bode, Chief Executive Officer, American Wind Energy Association
• Mark Cooper, Director of Research, Consumer Federation of America
• Bruce Levy, President, International Power America, Inc., and Chair, Electric Power Supply Association
• Linda Stuntz, Chair, DOE Electricity Advisory Committee and Founding Partner, Stuntz, Davis & Staffier, P.C.

Moderator: Honorable Erin O'Connell-Diaz, Commissioner, Illinois Commerce Commission and Co-Vice Chair NARUC Committee on Electricity

Financing Electricity Infrastructure

Attracting Investment Financing in the Electric Power Delivery System in an Uncertain Energy World

Over the next few decades, the electricity delivery system will need considerable capital investment to meet growing load, incorporate non-traditional power sources, and take advantage of technological advances to modernize the existing grid. Such needs are unlikely to be met via internal cash flow of existing asset owners, and there may be significant new participants in these markets, as well. This raises the question of how all of the new infrastructure will be financed. Panel members will discuss the challenges facing the industry as it invests to meet the energy infrastructure needs of the 21st Century.

The Financial Investment Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• What will be the sources of capital?
• What sorts of financing structures will be used?
• Will changes in taxes or regulation be required?
• How will the recent "credit crunch" on Wall Street impact the sector?
• How should tax structures be changed to attract investment?
• What will be the absolute and relative costs of capital for energy infrastructure projects?

Speakers:

• Honorable John Bohn, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
• Honorable Robert Curry, Commissioner, New York Public Service Commission
• Michael Ware, Managing Director, Good Energies
• Charles Wortman, Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Moderator: Ellen Lapson, Managing Director, Fitch Ratings

Skilled Workforce Issues

Preparing the Next Skilled and Innovative Workforce for the Electric Power Industry

NERC has identified aging of the US workforce as a long-term reliability issue. Besides the number of employees, the innovativeness and breadth of knowledge of the trade skill and engineering workforces are also concerns as the US strives to maintain its global competitive position while addressing challenges such as assuring resource adequacy, modernizing grid infrastructure, integrating renewable technologies, and enabling demand resources. This panel discussion will focus on the nature and extent of future workforce adequacy concerns, and whether any policy changes are needed at the state and federal levels to reach those targets.

The Workforce Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• Why are utilities listing workforce issues in their list of top strategic issues?
• Is reliability really at risk due to the aging workforce?
• What is the outlook for jobs in the electric power and energy industry, including those arising for green jobs and a nuclear renaissance?
• What actions are occurring in industry, government and education to address future workforce adequacy?
• Should regulators be concerned about workforce adequacy if employment issues are a managerial responsibility?
• Should regulators encourage utilities to expand their workforce development activities and support of education?
• How should regulators apply the prudency and "customer benefit" criteria in judging the just and reasonableness of workforce development expenditures, such as direct support of education at community colleges and research at universities?

Speakers:

• Honorable John Betkoski, Vice Chairman, Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control; Chair, NARUC Subcommittee on Education and Research
• Anjan Bose, Regents Professor, Distinguished Professor of Power Engineering, and former Dean, College of Engineering & Architecture, Washington State University
• Earnie Lehman, President and General Manager, Midwest Energy Inc.
• Margaret (Peggy) Pego, Vice President of Human Resources, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
• Jennifer Troke, Team Leader, Industry Engagement, Employment and Training Administration, US Department of Labor

Moderator: Wanda Reder, President, IEEE Power & Energy Society and Vice President, Power Systems Services, S&C Electric Company

Deploying Innovative Technologies

Is the US Falling Behind in the Transmission and Distribution Technology Landscape? What Innovative Technologies will Transform the US Electric Power Marketplace to Compete Globally?

This panel will discuss the efforts currently being undertaken today by US industry to deploy technologies that will transform the US electric power delivery system to those efforts being undertaken in other countries. Technologies to be considered include: implementation of the fully digital grid, electric vehicles, building automation/energy management technologies, technologies to enable a significant increase in distributed generation, software and data management tools, systemic adoption of renewable and low-carbon technologies, and demographic (population and population movement) forecasts for the US.

The panel will consider the complexities of technology deployment by comparing what is known about the world's existing and developing energy systems with those in the US Technologies to be considered include: implementation of the fully digital grid, electric vehicles, building automation/energy management technologies, technologies to enable a significant increase in distributed generation, software and data management tools, systemic adoption of renewable and low-carbon technologies, and demographic (population and population movement) forecasts for the US

The Innovative Technologies Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• How do you see technology development affecting our energy systems (including a digital grid, electric vehicles, greater adoption of renewable and low-carbon technologies, and fully integrated demand-side resources)?
• What are the greatest pressures on our energy systems and what are the technologies that will be needed to ease these pressures? Do these technologies exist and if they do not, how far away are they from deployment?
• What technologies exist today that will be the most transformative for our industry?
• Is the United States falling behind in developing and deploying these innovative technologies?
• What type of investment is needed for technology innovation? Is this investment occurring in the United States? Is the investment occurring in other countries?
• What critical steps are needed today to ensure that the Nation will continue to provide a robust electric power delivery system that deploys innovative technologies while remaining affordable and clean?

Speakers:

• Mike Howard, Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Electric Power Research Institute
• Jill Lyon, Vice President and General Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
• Bradford Roberts, Chairman, Electricity Storage Association; Chair, Energy Storage Technologies Subcommittee, Electricity Advisory Committee; Power Quality Systems Director, S & C Electric Company
• Edmund Schweitzer, Chief Executive Officer, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
• Bruce Walker, Vice President of Asset Strategy and Policy, National Grid

Moderator: Honorable Katrina McMurrian, Commissioner, Florida Public Service Commission

System Operations

Electric Power System Operations in an Uncertain World. What Do Grid Operators Need to Meet Growing Demands and Manage the System Efficiently and Meet Reliability Challenges?

Too often, policies are established without sufficient consultation with those charged with implementing those policies. Operation of the grid is already complex–requiring a minute by minute balance that accommodates thousands of transactions, keeping generation and load in balance and ensuring compliance with reliability criteria. This panel will explore the future operational challenges (and opportunities) associated with various policy and technological developments including significantly increased dependence on renewable resources, the advent of plug-in hybrids and the impact of climate change on power flows and generator availability.

The System Operations Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• Plug-in hybrids may be a blessing or a curse to system operations. What are the operational solutions to address the specter of hundreds of thousands of vehicles all charging at the same time during a peak hour? What are some of the opportunities to improve system operations through use of PHEVs?
• The intermittent nature of wind can cause significant operational challenges. What are the "lessons learned" so far from wind integration and what modifications to system operations are needed to accommodate wind and other renewable resources?
• What are the "lessons learned" from the European experience with renewable integration? Which of those are relevant to conditions in the US?
• Today's reliability standards were written with a much more traditional generation mix in mind. What changes are needed to the standards and their enforcement in a world increasingly dependent on renewable resources?

Speakers:

• Terry Boston, President and Chief Executive Officer, PJM Interconnection
• John Dumas, Manager, Operations Planning, Electricity Reliability Council of Texas
• R. Scott Henry, Vice President of Electric Systems Operations, Duke Energy Corporation; Chairman NERC Standards Committee
• Nicholas Miller, Director, Energy Applications and Systems Engineering, GE Energy

Moderator: Anne George, Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Communications, New England Independent System Operator

Transmission Planning

Transmission Planning for the Integrated Electric Power System of Tomorrow – Regional Solutions to Modernize the Electric Power Delivery System.

The panel will discuss innovative regional transmission planning processes adopted recently under FERC's Order No. 890. Panelists will also discuss how planning accommodates state and regional requirements for integrating into the grid remotely located generating resources that are low carbon emitters, such as wind power and other renewable resources, as well as how demand response and distributed generation are taken into account in planning. The panel will consider the advantages and any difficulties for joint ownership of new transmission facilities.

The Transmission Planning Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• What new approaches to regional planning have recently been implemented?
• How does transmission planning today meet the new requirements of FERC's transmission tariff reform and state mandates and initiatives for renewable energy, climate control, and integrated resource planning?
• How are demand response, energy efficiency, and distributed generation taken into account in assessing the need for new transmission?
• What challenges or opportunities do new technologies create for regional transmission planning?
• What are the advantages and obstacles to joint ownership of new transmission facilities?

Speakers:

• Nicholas Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Power Pool, Inc.
• Mark Crisson, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Public Power Association
• Clair Moeller, Vice President of Transmission Asset Management, Midwest Independent System Operator
• Paul Murphy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Independent Electric System Operator of Ontario
• Vickie VanZandt, Senior Vice President, Transmission Services, Bonneville Power Administration

Moderator: Honorable Dian Grueneich, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission

Integrating Generation Resources

Deployment and Integration of Resources in an Uncertain World – How Can We Choose the Best Resource Mix and How Can We Build It?

Integrated resource planning principles called for comparative analysis of various generation, transmission, and demand-side options. That kind of analysis may be relevant for planning conducted at a regional level. Yet planning for these power system components is fragmented, and our decisional mechanisms for investment allocation and approval are not matched to the level and scope of planning. At the same time, a number of restructured states may not be able to wait for the market to provide needed generation and have either re-regulated or are mandating new construction or long term contracts. The panel will discuss the selection criteria for fuel types, project size, location, and related facilities, and the corporate and regulatory processes for approving major capital commitments.

The Resource Integration Panelists may be asked to address the following questions:

• How should we make investment and construction decisions on the desired mix of resources while giving recognition to their interrelated effects? How can we align political and investment requirements?
• How can decisions on generation mix be integrated with necessary transmission investment and demand-side requirements?
• When should government and regulators force decisions the market is not ready to make?
• How can the federal – state model be improved to accommodate regional decisions?
• What regions should be considered in generation and transmission decisions?

Speakers:

• Gregory Abel, President and Chief Executive Officer, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company
• Masheed Saidi, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, US Transmission, National Grid
• Honorable Marsha Smith, Commissioner, Idaho Public Service Commission
• Honorable Barry Smitherman, Chairman, Texas Public Utilities Commission
• Lloyd Yates, President and Chief Executive Officer, Progress Energy Carolinas

Moderator: Ashley Brown, Executive Director, Harvard Electricity Policy Group, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University