Nearly 9.5 million residents rely on the 13 member companies of the New Jersey Utilities Association (NJUA), which will be addressing the most pressing issues facing the industry during the 110th Annual conference, to be held May 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency Morristown Hotel in Morristown.
New Jersey’s utilities remain a leading topic in Trenton and throughout the state, as government, business and consumers work together to identify long-term, affordable solutions to the growing residential and business demand for electric, gas, water and broadband services.
“We cannot recall a time when our annual conference was more relevant to all New Jerseyans,” said NJUA President & CEO Richard Henning. “We are taking a deep dive into the most important issues of the day, with the most influential decision-makers in the state bringing clarity to it all. Our conference will highlight customer concerns regarding cost, capacity, service quality, investment and long-range planning.”
Some of the scheduled presenters include: former Gov. Chris Christie; Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy; PJM Executive Vice Frederick “Stu” Bressler; Principal Analyst of S&P Global Commodity Insights Heike Doerr; Deloitte Consulting Principal Kevin Simmons; Fiber Broadband Association Chair for Supply Chain Ashley Travers; Google Director, Design and Engineering John DaCosta; Northeast Gas Association Vice President Alana Daly; American Gas Association Vice President Daniel Lapato; and Rutgers Economist James W. Hughes.
The annual conference arrives as capacity charges on the PJM grid are causing electric rates to rise next month, which has prompted many headlines and legislative hearings this spring.
The conference includes a panel focusing on how all stakeholders can work together to prepare for these rate increases and other challenges as the summer quickly approaches.
Other key conference topics:
• An examination of Superstorm Sandy’s effect on the utility infrastructure and a candid discussion of how to prepare for the next climate disaster.
• The high cost of delivering modern, reliable service to customers and how utilities can remain affordable.
• New state and federal regulations focused on PFAS, microplastics, Legionella and disinfectant byproducts, requiring new levels of water purification.
• Growing collaboration in broadband as the ongoing digital transformation requires more bandwidth and secure private functionality.
• Artificial intelligence (AI), with the potential to be the economic disruptor of a generation, hinges on expanded utility capacity. Panelists will discuss how New Jersey’s utilities are preparing for the AI wave and how the result can benefit the customer.
• A deep dive into the 2025 legislative session in Trenton and how government action is affecting utilities and their customers.
NJUA will also present its annual awards at Wednesday’s conference luncheon. This year, Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to Jim Fakult, former president of JCP&L, and Dave Daly, former president of PSE&G. Both were former chairs of the NJUA.
The NJUA will also present its inaugural Legislative Common Sense Award to Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-14th District) at the Wednesday evening’s Chairwoman’s Reception, while special recognition awards will be presented to utility employees, an annual tradition.
The panels will be moderated by three veteran journalists who have covered New Jersey for decades: Steve Adubato, Ph.D., Anchor, “State of Affairs” on PBS, Tom Bergeron, editor & founder of Binje.com and Brian Thompson, recently retired from WNBC-NY.
The conference also includes a scholarship golf outing at Spring Brook Country Club in Morristown on May 29, following the morning panel presentations on Thursday, May 29, at the Hyatt Regency.
