Day 2: SESSION FOUR

Ray Beavers
General Manager/CEO
United Cooperative Services

As electric utilities toil with the need to sustain their business in an era challenged by supply side hurdles, energy conservation and efficiency obligations, a suffering economy and a sometimes apathetic consumer base, it's essential that we lead the paradigm shift away from the solutions of yesteryear and focus on the paradigm of today. As that paradigm shifts to one focused on the demand side, utilities must embrace their obligation to educate consumers on the need to "waste less energy." And with today's economic climate, conservation and efficiency actually can ensure a revenue stream. Ignoring the need to educate consumers on these issues is fiscally and morally irresponsible.

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Michael Chesser
Chairman and CEO
Great Plains Energy;
Chairman
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI )

We are in a market where technology advances are no longer the constraint. The real issues are around finding a regulatory and legislative model that works and rebuilding an economic model where utilities and customers can both invest in efficiency – and therefore in communities, jobs, a cleaner environment and energy independence. We believe that the winners over the next decade will be defined by how we respond and adapt to the outcomes of extensive collaboration with consumers and regional constituents regarding our energy future. Failure to achieve a collaborative strategy will increase the threat of disintermediation and successful market substitutes. Vehicles are the big wildcard in terms of load, but close behind is the role of distributed resources, and getting more out of existing infrastructure. To unlock the “virtual resources” imbedded in our utilities requires a culture that embraces inspired leadership of innovation and disciplined performance management! Leveraging our position of a trusted energy provider today with effective collaboration to redefine the supply and demand sides of the power equation for tomorrow, establishes our right to succeed in the long term market.

Marc Gerken
Chief Executive Officer
Amp-Ohio

You feel it where ever utility industry leaders now gather. Complex problems are dead ahead, but never has the industry been so ready to define a new future and embrace change. Will they be replacing oil companies as the main providers of energy for transportation in America? Will they empower consumers like never before to intelligently govern their energy appetites? Here is what is happening at ground zero.

• Wholesale power prices will continue to increase due to a number of factors
• Utilities, especially transmission dependent utilities, will have to be increasingly creative and strategic in terms of power supply
• There has been little incentive to build new generation
• Increasing demand for renewable generation and RPS legislation passed in many states puts additional pressure on utilities
• Need to balance portfolio while controlling costs
• New leadership in Washington presents an uncertainty at this time
• Interconnection issues related to renewable generation projects need to be addressed
• Energy efficiency programs take on larger importance – megawatts saved are megawatts that don’t have to be generated
• Impact of current economy
• Industrial and commercial customers even more concerned about utility costs
• How is it impacting ability to finance projects
• How is it impacting the ability to build projects

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Richard Kelly
President, CEO and Chairman
Xcel Energy

Dick Kelly describes Xcel’s environmental initiatives.  Among its accomplishments, the company is the No. 1 provider of wind energy in the nation and is nearing the completion of a major emission-reduction effort.  In addition, Xcel Energy is making major investments in new transmission to deliver renewable energy, has a significant and long-standing conservation effort and is exploring new technology to take its environmental commitments even further.