New Jersey Utilities Association to tackle major industry issues at 110th annual conference

MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – New Jersey’s utilities remain a leading topic in Trenton and across the state as government, business, and consumers work together to find long-term, affordable solutions to the growing residential and business demand for electric, gas, water, and broadband services.

Nearly 9.5 million residents rely on the 13 member companies of the New Jersey Utilities Association (NJUA), which will address the most pressing issues facing the industry during its 110th Annual Conference, scheduled for May 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency Morristown Hotel in Morristown.

“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.”

Scheduled presenters include former Gov. Chris Christie; Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy; PJM Executive Vice President 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 set to cause electric rates to rise next month, prompting headlines and legislative hearings this spring. A panel will focus on how all stakeholders can work together to prepare for these rate increases and other challenges heading into summer.

Key conference topics include:

• An examination of Superstorm Sandy’s impact on utility infrastructure and how to prepare for the next climate disaster.
• The high cost of delivering modern, reliable service and how utilities can remain affordable.
• New state and federal regulations on PFAS, microplastics, Legionella, and disinfectant byproducts, requiring higher levels of water purification.
• Broadband collaboration amid digital transformation, demanding more bandwidth and secure private functionality.
• Artificial Intelligence and its impact on utility capacity, with discussion on how New Jersey’s utilities are preparing for AI and potential benefits for customers.
• A deep dive into the 2025 legislative session in Trenton and how government action is affecting utilities and their customers.

NJUA will present its annual awards at Wednesday’s Conference Luncheon. Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to Jim Fakult, former President of JCP&L, and Dave Daly, former President of PSE&G, both former NJUA chairs.

The inaugural Legislative Common Sense Award will be presented to Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-14th District) at Wednesday evening’s Chairwoman’s Reception. Special recognition awards will also be given to utility employees, continuing an annual tradition.

Panel discussions will be moderated by veteran journalists Steve Adubato, PhD, anchor of “State of Affairs” on PBS; Tom Bergeron, editor and 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 at the Hyatt Regency.

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