Power for Tomorrow is the nation’s leading resource for providing practical research, commentary, and information regarding how the regulated electric utility model protects consumers and supports environmental and public policy goals.

PFT was launched following the tragedy in deregulated Texas. Despite its dangerous flaws, efforts to deregulate electricity markets remain. In fact, a number of well-funded groups exist to promote utility restructuring and deregulation.

We offer a practical analysis of how regulated utilities are best positioned to produce reliable electricity, protect consumers, and adapt to the quickly changing energy landscape; all while allowing states to pursue their own public policy goals.

Our advocacy is focused on ensuring that the public, government officials, the media and other interested parties understand that sensible oversight of utilities is the best regulatory framework to ensure consumers have access to affordable, reliable, and increasingly clean energy.

We stand for electric utility regulation that:

• Puts consumers first. The complicated electric market is difficult for consumers to navigate, and fundamentally is designed to benefit large business interests. Sensible regulation is at core a consumer protection issue, and all electric systems should be designed to first protect consumers as the need for electricity in everyday life increases.

• Ensures reliable access to affordable power. The vertically integrated utility model, in which electricity generation, transmission and distribution are fully integrated within one provider, is well positioned to empower customers to benefit from the changing electric grid. It also ensures that states can protect customers by providing them access to reliable, affordable power and helps achieve public policy goals.

• Promotes a clean energy future. The regulated utility model offers benefits to consumers and the environment as the nation transitions to a cleaner energy future. Energy choices made through a planned, integrated process can keep rates low, maintain reliability and meet environmental priorities.

• Spurs innovation. Regulation must keep pace with the rapidly evolving dynamics of the utility industry, matching the pace of intense innovation in the energy sector. Appropriately regulated, the vertically integrated utility can harness robust energy sector competitive dynamics to benefit consumers.

Regulators and vertically integrated energy companies should also explore ways to modernize regulation to deliver increased customer value. Such reforms should prioritize:

• New and existing infrastructure. The infrastructure of the networked grid is the single greatest asset to facilitate the new energy economy and the regulated model ensures that all customers get affordable, reliable service.

• Fair, equitable access to electricity that benefits the greater good. Regulation must ensure that those who benefit from the grid pay their appropriate share so that special interests don’t get special deals at the expense of the public at-large.

• Clean energy investment. A successful transition to a more sustainable power system cannot be accomplished without substantial investment from financially viable energy companies.

• Innovation. Customer demands for customized energy solutions like solar, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, storage and microgrids can be accomplished through a regulatory environment that grants flexibility and gives incentives to innovate to meet consumer needs.

Parris Glendening

Parris Glendening served as Governor of the State of Maryland from 1995-2003 where he created the nation’s first state-level smart growth policy package. Prior to being elected Governor, Glendening served three terms as elected county executive of Prince George’s County, Maryland. He taught political science at the University of Maryland, College Park for 27 years and is the author of two books and over 100 articles and conference papers.

Glendening has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Olmsted Award and the Harvard Innovations in American Government Award

Steve Larsen

Steve has an extensive background in public service in the state of Maryland, having served in senior positions with three Maryland governors. He served as the chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission, the state’s chief utility regulator, chief legislative officer for Maryland Governor Parris Glendenning, and insurance commissioner of Maryland (1997 to 2003). In each of these positions, he established a track record of vigorous advocacy on behalf of Maryland’s consumers and the public. Steve is an attorney and has also worked in private practice. In 2003, he received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Maryland Hospital Association.

He completed his undergraduate work at Gettysburg College, earned his MPP from Rutgers University, and earned his JD from Rutgers-Camden School of Law.

Ed Hirs

Ed Hirs is a UH Energy Fellow at the University of Houston where he teaches energy economics, a Co-Founder of Zero Carbon Cycle LLC, a renewable diesel company, advisory director to quant-driven hedge fund OIS Capital, and advisory director to the wine and spirits importer BCI Bonneté.  Ed is also an advisory director to the Energy Industries Council and a director of the French American Chamber of Commerce—Texas. Ed is a Forbes contributor and Energy Expert for KHOU TV in Houston. He is widely quoted and an internationally recognized energy economist writing on energy markets, the energy transition and ESG considerations. Hirs founded and co-chairs an annual energy conference at Yale University. 

Ed holds the CFA designation. His degrees are from Yale University: BA with honors and Distinction in Economics, MA in Economics, and MBA.

Brien Sheahan

A government relations executive and regulatory leader, Brien J. Sheahan has a decades-long career and measurable success driving public policy, strategic planning, and positioning initiatives across the utilities, renewable energy, and technology space. His extensive government background includes serving three Illinois Governors in senior policy making roles, as an elected official, and lobbyist for a Fortune 200 industrial manufacturer.

Sheahan is a former chairman and CEO of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and a leading voice among state utility regulators for the modernization of utility infrastructure, and the promotion of innovation and forward-looking regulatory policy.

Appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to serve in a five-year term with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Sheahan was charged with driving change and shaping the agency’s regulation of investor-owned utilities. Additionally, Sheahan initiated the ICC’s first Office of Diversity and Community Affairs, a first-of-its-kind Office of Cybersecurity and Risk Management, and expanded utility supplier diversity efforts.

Gary Meltz

Gary Meltz is the Executive Director of Power for Tomorrow. Gary has worked in strategic communications for nearly two decades and In addition to his work for Power for Tomorrow, Meltz operates a public relations firm in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Meltz served as Press Secretary for former Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, who chaired the House Foreign Relations Committee and was a high-ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He has also worked in the offices of Vice President Al Gore, Senator Richard Durbin, Congressman David Phelps, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and the Democratic National Committee.