EDITOR'S NOTE: Change is coming to the electric power sector. Some will be policy driven. The most profound changes, however, may be spurred by technology.
The Energy Times recently sat with state regulators from around the country to discuss these issues. They included Lisa Edgar, of Florida and the president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, Philip Jones of Washington, Robert Kenney of Missouri, Robert Powelson of Pennsylvania, Paul Roberti of Rhode Island and Gregg Sayre of New York. Highlights are captured below.
This is the second part of a series of articles sponsored by Burns & McDonnell.ENERGY TIMES: Robust energy sector change is being driven by policy makers in New York and California. Will that drive new economic development in those states by new service providers? What happens in other states? What will change look like in the electric power sector?
Roberti: Energy will follow the path of the telecom revolution. The grid it's going to have amazing reliability. It's going to have sensors. It's going to be modern. It's going to be able to handle two-way power flows. The price of the technology that exists today goes down. One little grain of sand – innovation - will get thrown in and we won't know what's going to happen. Much of the debate we are having may become irrelevant.
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