UMS Group: Evolution of the CFO’s Role in the Utility Sector

Jack Shearman, a Solution Provider at the marcus evans Energy CFO Summit 2012, on improving day-to-day activities in the energy sector. Interview with: Jack Shearman, Chief Executive Officer, UMS Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Energy Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) face a sustained negative business environment with growing pressure and risk for the business. Regulatory scrutiny, aging assets and unfunded customer expectations for reliability improvements and “smart” investments are creating the perfect storm for utility earnings and financial health. 

CFOs must lead the way through these intractable challenges, developing strategies to achieve significant and simultaneous improvement in operating costs, capital investment focus and returns and performance accountability and control, says Jack Shearman, Chief Executive Officer, UMS Group. Otherwise, it may be time to chart an exit course and court the most attractive acquisition offer. 

Shearman will be discussing the shifting priorities and role of CFOs and the importance of finding new ways to drive growth, lower costs and improve margins at the upcoming marcus evans Energy CFO Summit 2012, taking place in San Antonio, Texas, February 5-7.

What are the current opportunities in the energy sector?

Jack Shearman: Getting “lean” right now is a critically important strategy. Many energy companies have again tried the typical cost reduction programs of the past, but with very limited success. Aggressive companies are outsourcing additional activities, taking large inventory reductions, mounting labor productivity initiatives and adopting new maintenance and asset strategies.

Other markets around the world have driven dramatic improvements in efficiency, reliability and system risk over the past 20 years, and now lead the US in virtually all these measures. Studying reform processes as applied in Australia, Europe and South America, and sorting myth from fact on how much efficiency gain is possible can empower stronger leadership of change.

How can energy CFOs prepare for upcoming changes and regulations?

Jack Shearman: It is time for most CFOs to undertake a function-by-function evaluation of the business to jettison non-core operations, tighten spending controls and ruthlessly eliminate unnecessary/low value activities. Leading by example and first trimming corporate overhead staff and costs will be a key driver of credibility and success here.

The approaching conflict between asset replacement needs, current operating costs, revenue and regulatory realities must be communicated in a way that the operations team clearly gets the message and opens up to dramatic changes in approach.

CFOs also need to change the scorecards they use to track the performance of the business, emphasizing leading indicators that provide early warning of risks and impending problems.

How has the energy CFO’s role within the organization changed in the past few years?

Jack Shearman: CFOs can no longer only concern themselves with the financial requirements of the business. They must be seen as strategic business partners of the utility’s Operating Officers and Chief Risk Officers of their Enterprise. They must provide thought leadership and ensure earnings sustainability by managing risks and uncertainty. To do that, they need to drive greater transparency, operating flexibility and performance accountability into the organization.

What long-term corporate strategies would you recommend?

Jack Shearman: Utilities must find creative ways to replace aging assets, while securing regulatory commitments for future cost recovery. They need to shift their earnings growth strategy from load growth and making investments in new transmission assets, to new areas such as services, renewables and green power.

The world is pushing innovation, “smart” technologies and customer choice, and expecting, but not funding “grid modernization”. These changes will erode the concept of utility regulated franchises and place relentless pressure on incumbents.

Do you have one piece of advice for those in the energy sector? 

Jack Shearman: Leverage the lessons from other global markets, where survivors are those who became aggressive about evaluating new options and then sharpened their tools to become effective leaders of change. This requires driving realignment of corporate priorities and embracing tougher standards of performance and accountability.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Energy CFO Summit 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio, Texas, February 5-7, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on fast-changing regulations, ensuring financial stability and growth, and the battle against internal and external challenges.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group - finance/insurance sector portal

Complementing our summit format, the Finance Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About UMS Group

UMS is a leading global consultancy and thought leader in the areas of utility asset management, performance assessment and improvement and sustainability of change. UMS proprietary databases, analytical tools and methodologies have been utilized by over 300 gas, water and electric utilities on six continents to build world-class operations.

www.umsgroup.com

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Standardizing Preventive Maintenance in the Energy Sector

Andy Hill from Oniqua, a solution provider at the marcus evans Energy CFO Summit 2012, on the importance of adopting a proactive maintenance strategy. Interview with: Andy Hill, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Oniqua

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Without a strong preventive maintenance approach in place, energy utilities will continue to over-spend across their entire MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) and supply chains,” says, Andy Hill, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Oniqua.

From an asset performance management company attending the upcoming marcus evans Energy CFO Summit 2012, in San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, Hill discusses why utilities must first identify the criticality of assets and equipment before beginning safety and maintenance programs.

How can utilities make an impact on their bottom line and reduce inventory costs?

Reducing inventory costs is a key way for Energy Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) to impact the bottom line. Utilities, however, must maintain and improve service levels while reducing inventory levels. Pursuing potential reductions in inventory costs must be balanced with the potential risks of doing or not doing so. To ensure this balance is properly struck, it is important that utilities have the proper tools and processes in place.

Why is it important for utilities to standardize preventive maintenance?

To keep costs low and service levels high, adopting a proactive maintenance strategy is extremely important. Without a strong preventative maintenance approach in place, energy utilities will continue to overspend across their entire MRO and supply chains, as they will inevitably hold unnecessarily high levels of safety stock, and underperform in service levels, which is the ultimate success metric for utilities. Part of any maintenance and equipment performance strategy should include preventative maintenance planning and rigorous analysis in the areas of lifecycle costing, component failure, equipment criticality, budgeting and bills of materials.

How can utilities increase reliability and safety?

They can do so with strong preventative maintenance strategies in place, and a finely-tuned and highly efficient MRO supply chain to support those strategies. Utilities must also understand the cost of stock-outs. A big part of employing effective reliability, safety and maintenance programs begins with identifying the criticality of assets and equipment.

Without criticality codes, all items are treated the same, which is extremely ineffective and inefficient. Maintenance and operations must define criticality at the equipment level, then analyze work management histories and bills of material and apply it at the material level. It is critical that utilities properly align safety stock with business risk.

Any final comments?

Utilities should take a long-term, holistic view to optimizing their MRO equipment and assets. This means integrating their efforts across all in-bound supply chain and maintenance activities, including equipment performance, maintenance effectiveness, inventory optimization, supplier performance, procurement effectiveness and supply chain effectiveness. Such a holistic approach is clearly not an overnight endeavor, but one that will require discipline and strong senior leadership within an organization.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Energy CFO Summit 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on fast-changing regulations, ensuring financial stability and growth, and the battle against internal and external challenges.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – finance/insurance sector portal
 
Complementing our Summit format, the Finance Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Oniqua

Oniqua is the leading provider of analytics software for MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations). We help asset-intensive companies optimize MRO efficiencies by eliminating waste, and deliver significant value and ROI within three to six months of deployment. Our asset performance management offering combines our flagship Oniqua Analytics Solution (OAS) with master data cleansing, cataloging and professional services to ensure maximum value delivery.

www.oniqua.com

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced. Kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Innovation in the Water & Wastewater Management Business

Paul Gagliardo, a speaker at the marcus evans Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012, about innovating in the typically conservative water utility business. Interview with: Paul Gagliardo, Manager – Innovation Development, American Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Water and wastewater utilities must look to innovation as a process for driving operational efficiencies within their organizations, Paul Gagliardo, Manager – Innovation Development, American Water says. Production and delivery costs continue to increase and much of the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure is past its useful life. If utilities wish to maintain quality and service, they will have to be more innovative in how they manage their assets, he adds.

A speaker at the upcoming marcus evans Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3-4, Gagliardo discusses his approach to water and wastewater management.

Why are water utilities conservative when it comes to change and innovation? Does that still serve them well?

Water utilities are inherently conservative because of their primary function, which is to provide a regulatory mandated quality of water to every household, and to treat and dispose of wastewater in the appropriate manner. There is a significant health and safety aspect to this, so they tend to stick to doing what they know will work.

However, power costs are increasing, climate change via green house gas emissions is being exacerbated, new regulations are impacting treatment systems, buried pipelines are subject to leaking and new technology is being developed at a rapid rate. As these drivers continue to change, utilities will have to be more innovative in how they design, upgrade, operate and manage their assets, in order to reduce their costs and maintain quality and service.
 
Does success always come down to innovation? Do you have a set path for thinking more creatively?

Innovation plays a big role in success. Steve Jobs said, “Think Different”. Many times one has to think in a different manner to see alternative solutions for reducing operating or capital costs, or increasing safety. It can be a sensor to identify a particular contaminant in real-time or a filter that can remove it at a lower cost. These are innovations that need to be tested and validated to determine the value proposition. The first step is seeking out companies and ideas, then testing and validating them to see if the value proposition of a particular technology makes a valid business case. There should be a multi-step approach, from uncovering the idea to analyzing it and finding deployment opportunities.

What is critical for safeguarding public health and safety?

There are federal and local water quality regulations, but we also look downstream to predict where regulations might go. A few years ago the arsenic maximum contaminant level was lowered. People are more concerned about pharmaceutically active compounds. Analyzing the causes and effects of compounds is a long process, but we try to have potential solutions in place for when and if new regulations do occur.

Any final words of wisdom?

Chaos is your friend. If you do not change, you will not grow. If you look at an issue from a different perspective, you will notice patterns in the randomness and chaos that can lead you to new solutions.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012

This unique forum will take place at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3-4, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on improving reliability and cost effectiveness in water and wastewater utilities.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit: www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced. Kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Protecting Utilities through Business Continuity 
 

Scott Roe from Corporate Risk Solutions, a solution provider at the marcus evans Generation Summit 2012, on protecting utilities from internal and external attacks.� Interview with: Scott Roe, President, Corporate Risk Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“It is crucial for power utilities to be prepared for malicious attacks and internal actions that could potentially bring down their organization,” says Scott Roe, President, Corporate Risk Solutions. Organizations must consider how the utility is being accessed and maximize security, he adds.

From a solution provider company attending the marcus evans Generation Summit 2012, in San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, Roe discusses the three primary phases organizations must go through when responding to an attack on a utility.    

Why must there be more focus on the protection of utilities?

The reliability of the electricity sector is paramount. Most of the nation’s critical infrastructures, such as telecommunications, banking and finance, and transportation are dependent upon reliable power to operate. Every process and operation in the energy industry requires dynamic information flow which can put systems at risk. This could be a customers’ personal information or information that the system relies on to manage electricity. Simply stated, utilities must protect their customers’ information and the systems in place.

Managers should identify how the utility is being accessed both physically and logically. Does the public have any access? How is the information being stored? While typically a private network, does it use or allow public interface? What is the remote-access capability of the system? There must be a focus on the access points where information has the potential to be leaked and how that is being protected from within.

What benefits does Business Continuity bring? 

Security solutions and Business Continuity are risk management tools that can assist the organization in defending against and responding to malicious attacks. While utilities are used to handling impacts and risks related to severe weather, outages, etc., they are not as adept at handling the recovery processes surrounding malicious events, such as cyber attacks or internal actions that could potentially bring down the organization.

What are the three primary phases for responding to an attack on a utility?

The first is incident response. This typically includes containing or isolating the event to reduce total impact and to limit continual collateral impact.

The second phase is disaster recovery. This involves returning to a state of operations, through the use of redundant systems, spare parts and temporary processes.

The third is business resumption, when operations return to a normal state. Another key goal of this phase is to complete an After Action Review to identify what occurred and what can be done in the future to prevent it from happening again.

Any final comments?

Utilities have a reputation for engineering just about everything, yet with Security, they often treat this as an “add-on”. To ensure effective regulatory compliance and, more importantly, to enhance their risk management program, Security and Business Continuity should be “engineered” into their processes. They must consider how security can be maximized more efficiently, including whether it can be built into the operations and structures themselves.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Generation Summit 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on meeting future energy demands whilst advancing clean air objectives, revolutionizing the energy mix and preparing for regulations which lie ahead. 

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

The Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Corporate Risk Solutions

Corporate Risk Solutions, Inc. (CRSI) is a wholly owned subsidiary security consulting firm of Corporate Enterprise Security, Inc. that specializes in NERC operational and CIP Compliance (693 and 706) as well as cyber and physical security solutions to the energy and government sectors. CRSI has provided consulting services to more than 100 electric utilities across all eight (8) NERC regions and is also under contract by multiple NERC Regional Entities for Audit Support.

www.corprisk.net

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced. Kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Minimizing the Effects of Underinvestment in Water Utilities

Nilaksh Kothari, a speaker at marcus evans Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012, on overcoming the challenges being faced at water utilities. Interview with: Nilaksh Kothari, General Manager, Manitowoc Public Utilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Water and wastewater utilities in North America have come to be silent, reliable service providers in North America, but serious underfunding and budget cuts could soon take a toll on aging infrastructure. Nilaksh Kothari, General Manager at Manitowoc Public Utilities, and a speaker at the marcus evans Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3-4, sheds some light on the challenges impacting utilities today and how they can be minimized.

What are the top five challenges facing water and wastewater management utilities today?

The aging water and wastewater infrastructure is a major problem for the industry. A recent study has found a funding gap of USD 9 billion annually in water infrastructure in the US. This is a tremendous amount of underinvestment.

On top of that, the uncertain economic situation has brought about financial instability and a decrease in demand, as consumers try to conserve water to save on their bills.

Thirdly, as a large percentage of the workforce prepares to retire in the next five to ten years, replacing employees is proving to be an issue for this sector.

I also cannot underemphasize the increasing and expanding regulations coming from the EPA.

And lastly, changing customer needs and dynamics, in terms of the water quality requirements and how the media influences public opinion.

How can utilities overcome budget cuts?

Water utilities need to do more with less. They should try to be more resourceful in how they manage available resources. It boils down to prioritization of projects and issues, and utilizing technology to the greatest extent possible.

There is a need for utilities to understand and communicate risk.  After all, doing more with less is just another way to operate at a higher risk level, because the level of investment is not adequate. 

What opportunities could they take advantage of?

The key is planning and looking at solutions holistically, more so than operating in silos, which is what many organizations do. They need to collaborate more so than they have done in the past. There are many opportunities to reduce costs, such as by outsourcing to third parties what can be handled more efficiently.

Utilities in North America have been the silent servers, providing services without communicating with their customers what they do or how they do it. They must raise the level of awareness, to ensure that people still believe that drinking water is safe and of the highest quality.

What is critical for safeguarding public health and safety?

Maintaining and optimizing the existing infrastructure, utilizing technology and assuring that the workforce is adaptive and trained to deal with challenges, would be the top three priorities to assure water is always safe, reliable and delivered at the taps 24/7.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012

This unique forum will take place at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3-4, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on improving reliability and cost effectiveness in water and wastewater utilities.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit: www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced. Kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

The Smart Grid Journey: Embarking on Utility Transformation 

Tom Hulsebosch from West Monroe Partners, a solution provider at the marcus evans Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit Spring 2012, on the business transformations utilities will go through when adapting to new processes.  � Interview with: Tom Hulsebosch, Managing Director of Energy and Utilities, West Monroe Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“As utilities take on the Smart Grid journey, they are embarking on a transformation that will change the entire way they do business,” says Tom Hulsebosch, Managing Director of Energy and Utilities, West Monroe Partners. Adapting to new processes and tools will have an immense impact on employee responsibilities and organizational culture.

From a leading business and technology consulting firm attending the upcoming marcus evans Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit Spring 2012, in Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, Hulsebosch shares his views on how utilities can successfully manage this transformation. 

What challenges are utilities facing today?

Utilities must be able to operate devices and meet their needs in a steady state position, as well as in the worst conditions, such as storms, natural disasters or reconfigurations of the networks. They are also faced with the diversity of terrain and the population that must be covered.

Above and beyond getting the system to work, managing and maintaining it will always be a challenge. The number of intelligent devices that investor-owned utilities are putting in place is exceeding the number of devices on landlines. Significant two-way telecommunications are being built. There are many technologies being offered from carriers, varying from cellular to Advanced Metering Infrastructure to private systems.  

The industry is evolving rapidly and many companies are upgrading or replacing their systems. This is not a series of projects; it is a business transformation that requires change and workforce management on an unprecedented scale. Employees will need to learn new technologies and take on new responsibilities. Beyond the economic benefits, the societal and environmental benefits will make these transformations worthwhile.

How can utilities successfully achieve this business transformation? 

As utilities take on the Smart Grid journey, they are embarking on a transformation that will change the entire way they do business. Change management will come into place when adapting to new processes and tools that will have an impact on jobs and culture. Continual feedback is crucial; surveys and call centers can help identify key performance indicators such as deployment metrics and the number of devices being installed, as well as track performance benefits. This will not happen overnight. 

Utilities must capture what customers want on a real time basis, and use reports to show the benefits achieved versus those planned. This will provide an insight to what is working and what is not.  

How should utilities plan for the future?

Having a solid plan upfront is critical as new technologies for the Smart Grid are deployed, creating technical and customer adoption challenges. Utilities must be ready to face questions from the public and interest groups. It is advisable to collect the best in class business practices and get stakeholders, senior management, regulators and customers on board.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit Spring 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on resolving vulnerabilities of the North American power grid, modernizing the system with innovative Smart Grid technologies and advances for a sustainable energy future.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group environment/utilities/ energy

The Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About West Monroe Partners

West Monroe Partners’ Energy & Utilities practice is comprised of a diverse team of industry professionals and experienced consultants. Applying deep industry knowledge to deliver holistic solutions to the specific needs of public, private, and cooperative utilities, our professionals serve as trusted partners for many international clients. With strong credentials in utility operation, telecommunications, security assessment and design, program management offices, systems integration, and measurement systems, West Monroe Partners is your full-service consultancy of choice. 

For additional information about our Energy & Utilities Practice visit: www.westmonroepartners.com/Industries/Energy-and-Utilities.aspx

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced – kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Exelon Power: Formulating a Sustainable Energy Supply
 

Sonny Garg, a speaker at the marcus evans Energy CFO Summit 2012 and Generation Summit 2012, shares his views on creating a sustainable and more reliable energy supply. Interview with: Sonny Garg, President, Exelon Power

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“There are several key actions that we can take to cost-effectively reduce harmful air pollutants and help build a truly sustainable energy supply,” says Sonny Garg, President, Exelon Power. A speaker at the marcus evans Energy CFO Summit 2012 and Generation Summit 2012, Garg discusses cleaner power generation, carbon emission reduction and being prepared for the changes that lie ahead in the energy sector. 

What strategies would work best at formulating a sustainable and reliable energy supply?

There are several key actions that we can take to cost-effectively reduce harmful air pollutants and help build a truly sustainable energy supply.

Toxic emissions are raising healthcare and economic costs, making it imperative for the energy industry to move to cleaner generation. First, federal and state governments should avoid mandates and subsidies for favoured energy technologies. Many of these technologies are not economical to construct in today’s marketplace, because of energy prices, an excess of generating capacity and very low load growth. The cost of these mandates and subsidies are passed on to consumers, creating an uneven playing field for different types of generation.

Second, with abundant natural gas supplies promising low prices for the foreseeable future and unused generation capacity, it is now time to implement the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) long overdue Cross-State Air Pollution and Toxics Rules.

And finally, we must let the competitive electricity market work. The marketplace and competition will not support older, inefficient, coal-fired units, but will support the most cost-efficient choices for a clean and reliable electricity supply.

Exelon 2020 is our company’s business and environmental strategy to reduce, offset or displace our entire carbon footprint by 2020. We have already made significant progress and expect to meet our goal ahead of schedule. We have reduced our own carbon emissions by 6.3 million metric tons, 56 per cent of our goal.

How should energy professionals prepare for upcoming changes in the industry?

As an industry, we should look ahead and not be frightened of change when it is best for our nation, industry and customers. The EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution and Toxics Rules can help us cost effectively clean up the air we breathe and lower healthcare costs. We have access to abundant supplies of natural gas and there is unused generation capacity out there.

What does the future hold for the energy sector?

The industry is already in a transition. We expect natural gas prices and demand growth to remain low. We are headed towards a much cleaner direction and natural gas is the fuel that will get us there, as it is domestically abundant, and inexpensive.

The EPA rules will be a key agent of change in the energy sector. These rules and the marketplace will force the industry to employ cleaner generation, so it is important to let the market develop effective solutions. While they may not be economical without subsidies right now, solar and wind energy will progress as the economy improves.

Any final thoughts?

You cannot control the economics of natural gas prices, but you can control how you talk to employees, relay information and respond to feedback. 

In early 2011, we instituted an initiative called, “Answering the Call” that was designed to foster, facilitate and improve two-way communications between leaders and employees. We changed how people receive information, and trained our leaders to better engage their team members. We want the conversations employees have in the hallway to make their way into the boardroom, so that we can be aware of what our people are thinking and feeling.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event websites below:

Energy CFO Summit 2012

Generation Summit 2012

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

The Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-to-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

Providing Customers with a Transparent Energy Supply

Mary Powell, a speaker at the marcus evans Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit Spring 2012, on providing customers with a green, clean and affordable energy supply. Interview with: Mary Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Green Mountain Power

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Power utilities must continue to improve the value proposition provided to customers and do it in a way that provides state of the art energy solutions, combined with a clean and affordable green energy supply,” says Mary Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Green Mountain Power. It is critical to break down the walls of communication, and continually re-invent your organization to better serve customers, she adds.

A speaker at the upcoming marcus evans Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit Spring 2012, in Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, Powell discusses the importance of keeping consumers content by providing value.   

How can energy utilities create a brighter and cleaner future?

One way to accomplish this, in states that have not de-regulated, is for organizations to pursue a path to ramp up utility-owned renewable power generation as well as cost effective customer scale renewable programs.

It is advisable to reinvent the utility to become fast, fun and friendly in terms of how we relate to our customers. Break down the walls of communication, both literally and figuratively, within the organization and with customers. Remodel processes to focus on customers and reduce costs while ensuring fast and effective communication.

What are the ingredients to a successful utility?

Organizations that stay in touch with the customer and examine consumer behavior will be successful. It is important to see the industry from a customer’s perspective to better understand what they want and when they want it. They want us to make their lives easier, not more complex.

One size rarely fits all. The smart grid will enable utilities to have deeper, broader relationships with certain customer segments. Figure out how to differentiate between your customers and provide them with the information they need to help with adoption. These are the companies that will thrive. For example, some customers are very interested in smart meters and will want to dig into rates and transform into smarter appliances while others may be very content with just realizing the benefits of more effective outage management and smarter diagnostics for high bill complaints

Utilities must be ready to help, but never cross the line and push customers in a direction they do not want to go.

Why do you believe efficiency is crucial in today’s rapidly evolving environment? 

Vermont is an early adopter of energy efficiency. It is a key part of how we are meeting the demand of the future by reducing the demand of the future. There is nothing more cost effective than the kilowatt you do not use.

Any final comments?

Utilities must continue to improve the value proposition provided to customers and do it in a way that provides state of the art energy solutions, combined with a clean and affordable green energy supply.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Distribution Technology & Innovation Summit Spring 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on resolving vulnerabilities of the North American power grid, modernizing the system with innovative Smart Grid technologies and advances for a sustainable energy future.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group environment/utilities/energy

The Energy Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced. Kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com

Managing Water & Wastewater Utilities Proactively

Mike Higgins of Pure Technologies Ltd, a solution provider at the marcus evans Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012, on proactively managing water infrastructure.� Interview with: Mike Higgins, Vice President Engineering, Pure Technologies Ltd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“It is clear that water utilities do not have capital funding necessary to replace their underground pipelines in their entirety. The alternative solution is to better understand the condition of the existing infrastructure and perform proactive maintenance and asset management,” advises Mike Higgins, Vice President Engineering, Pure Technologies Ltd. “If a proactive management strategy is implemented, existing pipelines can be operated as reliably and safe as new pipelines”, he adds.   

Ahead of the marcus evans Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3-4, Higgins discusses how water infrastructure can be managed cost effectively to prevent failures before they occur.

Can you give us an update on the state of water infrastructure in the US today?

The most valuable assets water and wastewater utilities have are their underground pipelines, which are now decaying and causing failures that are significantly eroding people’s confidence in their services. For decades now, the water and wastewater utilities have focused on above ground assets, building treatment plants and pumping stations, forgetting about the pipelines buried underground.

How can water infrastructure be better and cost effectively managed?

It is clear that water utilities do not have the capital funding to replace underground pipelines in their entirety. Further, replacement of large diameter pipes running through urbanized areas is not practical.

The alternative solution is to either do nothing or try to better understand the condition of the existing infrastructure and perform proactive maintenance and asset management. Utilities inspect pipelines, find where the problems are and perform isolated spot repairs.

This approach typically costs three to five per cent of capital replacement, yet it gives utilities the reliability of a new pipeline in terms of performance and safety.

Would a repair program leave infrastructure more prone to safety and reliability failures?

The vast majority of buried infrastructure is in perfectly good condition. After performing an inspection and condition assessment, typically less than one per cent of a pipeline requires repair. The remainder of the line is in “like new” condition. A reliable assessment allows us to repair the problem locations and in the end the pipeline has the safety and reliability of a new pipeline. The challenge is finding those locations where there are problems, and preventing the next failures. If utilities find and repair their next failures, they can safely manage their pipelines into the future.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Water & Wastewater Management Summit 2012

This unique forum will take place at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 3-4, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on improving reliability and cost effectiveness in water and wastewater utilities.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – environment/utilities/ energy sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Pure Technologies Ltd

Pure Technologies is a world leader in the development and application of innovative technologies for inspection, monitoring and management of physical infrastructure including water and hydrocarbon pipelines, buildings and bridges. Pure is committed to continuing the development of solutions and commercialization of state-of-the-art technologies for proactive management and assessment of critical infrastructure.  

www.puretechltd.com

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit: www.marcusevans.com 

All rights reserved. The above content may be republished or reproduced. Kindly inform us by sending an email to press@marcusevanscy.com