PR-10-37 -- MEDIA ADVISORY -- PSC To Hold Second State Of The Electric Industry Presentation

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- AUGUST 21, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY---Energy experts from across the country will be among the speakers at the Missouri Public Service Commission’s State of the Electric Industry to be held on Monday, August 24, 2009, in the fourth floor Ballroom (Room 450) of the Governor Office Building (200 Madison Street) in Jefferson City.  The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am and will conclude at 4:30 pm.

The Commission will hear from representatives of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Regulatory Assistance Project, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Electric Power Research Institute.

Others expected to speak at the event include Mark Templeton, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Lewis Mills, who heads up the Office of the Public Counsel.  The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency which represents the general public in matters before the PSC.  Great Plains Energy & KCPL as well as Ameresco will also make presentations.

The presentations and discussions will focus on the electric industry today as well as what the future holds.  This discussion is particularly timely in light of Congressional proposals and the great potential for change in the delivery of electricity to Missouri customers.  Other topics to be discussed include demand growth, energy efficiency, financing alternatives and the current credit/capital markets for utilities in the coming years.

This seminar is the second in a series and is follow-up to the Commission’s June 22, 2009 event.  At that time, the Commission received information from the Edison Electric Institute, The Empire District Electric Company, Kansas City Power & Light, Missouri Public Utilities Alliance, AmerenUE and the Electricity Consumers Resource Council. 

“The Commission needs to continue the dialogue among stakeholders regarding potential changes in state and federal law which may lead to mandated investments in infrastructure, which, in turn, may cause increased costs and correspondingly higher utility rates,” said PSC Chairman Robert M. Clayton III.  “We must plan now for how Missouri utilities will respond by engaging all stakeholders in a collaborative process,” Clayton said.

The State of the Electric Industry Presentation will also be webcast and available over the internet at www.psc.mo.gov.

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