NJUA conference to feature top speakers, thought leaders on May 29-30 in Long Branch

This week’s New Jersey Utilities Association Conference will feature plenty of panels on key topics with key industry officials, one-on-one conversations with Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy and former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, and plenty of networking opportunities.

The two-day event, to be held May 29-30 at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch, will be loaded with top officials from all of the major utilities in the state, as well as officials from the BPU, PJM and many more organizations, will be part of the event.

The conference, which will be moderated by journalists Tom Bergeron of ROI-NJ and Brian Thompson, recently retired from NBC, figures to once again be a top event in the sector.

For a complete list of panelists — or to attend or sponsor, click here.

A look at the agenda:

May 29

9:15 a.m.: Managing the Fast Pace of Change (a conversation with Christine Guhl-Sadovy)

10: Transforming the State’s Ratemaking Model

  • Stacy Peterson, BPU;

  • Brian Lipman, rate counsel;

  • Heike Doerr, S&P;

  • Jay Ziminsky, Atlantic City Electric;

  • Mark McDonough, New Jersey American Water;

  • Joe Accardo, Public Service Electric & Gas.

11:15: Women in Utilities — Leadership and Workforce Development

  • Marian Abdou, BPU commissioner;

  • Kim Hanemann, PSE&G;

  • Amy Cradic, New Jersey Resources;

  • Melissa Orsen, South Jersey Industries;

  • Amber Perry, Atlantic City Electric;

  • Marilyn Grabowski, Atlantic Infrared.

1 p.m.: Lunch

Presentation of NJUA 2023 Distinguished Service Awards: To the late BPU President Joe Fiordaliso and Dennis Doll, former CEO and president of Middlesex Water and former chairman of NJUA.

Keynote: A conversation with New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson of Rutgers University

2:30: The State of Cyber and Physical Security and AI (a conversation with Michael Chertoff)

3:15: Building a High Reliability Organization

  • Chris Trucillo, New Jersey Transit;

  • Dennis Pavagadhi, Jersey Central Power & Light;

  • Mark McKoy, Aqua NJ;

  • Jason Newman, JFC.

4:15: What to Expect in the New Legislative Session

  • Ben Dworkin, Rowan University;

  • Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Clark);

  • Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge).

5:30:  Chairwoman’s reception

May 30

9:15 a.m.: Establishing the Grid Reliability Plan for New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan

  • Paul Heitman, BPU;

  • Jason Stanek, PJM;

  • Rick Mroz, former president, NJBPU;

  • Michael Demas, JCP&L;

  • Ed Grey, PSE&G;

  • Eric Miller, Governor’s Office of Climate Action.

10: Utility Research and Innovation in Action

  • Michael Bange, BPU commissioner;

  • Pat Migliaccio, New Jersey Natural Gas;

  • Nick DiRocco, South Jersey Industries;

  • Alan Weland, Veolia.

11:15: Lessons Learned from ex-BPU Commissioners

  • Upendra Chivukula;

  • Jeanne Fox;

  • Bob Gordon;

  • Maryanna Holden;

  • Rick Mroz;

  • Diane Soloman;

  • Elizabeth Randall;

  • Nick Asselta.

Noon: Wrap-up

New NJUA board chair: Melissa Orsen, South Jersey Industries

Jose Arce