Our vision is to be the nation’s premier resource for providing thoughtful, practical research, commentary and information regarding how the regulated electric utility model can protect consumers and support environmental and public policy goals. It is our belief that efforts to promote deregulation across America create significant risks for customers, as evidenced recently in Texas where the state’s electric system was incapacitated by cold weather. 

• 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.

• 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, while ensuring states can protect customers and achieve public policy goals. There are good reasons why this model is well established in the majority of states: It produces reliable electricity, protects consumers, and ensures all Americans have access to affordable power.  

• 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. 

• 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. 

• Further beneficial electrification of the economy creates an opportunity to align customer and investor interests for the benefit of a sustainable environmental future. 

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

  • 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.

  • 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. 

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

  • 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.

Tony Clark

Having been appointed by President Obama, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Mr. Clark served from 2012 to 2016 as a Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. While at the FERC, Mr. Clark worked on matters that are at the forefront of energy policy, such as: electricity reliability, electricity-natural gas industry coordination, oversight of the nation’s Regional Transmission Organizations, electricity grid cyber and physical security regulations, major enforcement actions, energy infrastructure permitting, the integration of renewables and energy storage, FERC Order 1000 implementation, and wholesale electricity market reforms.  From 2001 to 2012 he was a Commissioner of the North Dakota Public Service Commission, including over 5 years as its Chairman. In 2010, he was selected by his regulatory peers across the nation to serve a term as President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Through his various positions, he has testified multiple times before Committees of both the US House and US Senate on matters related to energy and telecommunications. 

From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Clark was Labor Commissioner of the State of North Dakota and a member of the Cabinet of Gov. Ed Schafer. In 1994 he was elected to the North Dakota legislature, representing a portion of the City of Fargo for two terms in the State House of Representatives. He is a graduate, with honor, from North Dakota State University and holds a master’s degree from the University of North Dakota. In addition to his work at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, Mr. Clark serves as an Independent Director of NorthWestern Energy Corporation.

Ray Gifford

Raymond L. Gifford counsels communications, electric and gas utilities, and information technology companies on state and federal aspects of regulation, administrative law, and competition policy. 

Mr. Gifford served as Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission from 1999-2003. Following that, he served as President of The Progress & Freedom Foundation, a Washington DC-based think-tank that studied the digital revolution as it relates to regulation of network industries. He entered the regulatory law world as First Assistant Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. He clerked for the Honorable Richard P. Matsch of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Mr. Gifford has authored a number of articles on communications law, public utility regulation and competition policy in network industries. He is a graduate of University of Chicago Law School and St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute.

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

Glenn Ivey

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1986, Ivey worked for the Baltimore law firm of Gordon-Feinblatt (1986 - 1987). From there he worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) from 1987 to 1988. Ivey then worked for Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas (1989 - 1990), before moving to the Justice Department to work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. (1990 - 1994). While there he worked for then-U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder Jr., and handled nearly 40 criminal jury trials, numerous appeals, and grand jury investigations.

Ivey returned to Capitol Hill to serve as majority counsel to U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (1994 - 1995). Ivey then worked from 1995 to 1997 as counsel for Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) during the Senate Whitewater investigations. Following that he served as chief counsel (1997 - 1998) to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD).

From 1998 to 2000 he was Chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission, having been appointed by Governor Parris Glendening. During the time that he headed this agency of approximately 120 employees with a $10 million budget, he also served as the Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulator Utility Commissioners (MACRUC).

After leaving the Public Service Commission, he was a partner at Preston Gates (which later became K&L Gates) in Washington, D.C. from 2000 to 2002.

Elin Katz

Elin Swanson Katz is the Vice President of Utilities and Associate General Counsel for Tilson. Elin works with clients in both the public and private sectors on broadband deployment strategies and developing both wired and wireless communication networks. She leads the Utilities practice at Tilson focused on the telecommunication needs of utility companies, and developing models for utility deployment of fiber collated on utility infrastructure to provide middle-mile and last-mile broadband service to underserved areas. She also works on consumer and stakeholder engagement and education. Elin previously served as Consumer Counsel for the State of Connecticut, as well as President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, and brings her consumer-oriented perspective to her work at Tilson.

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.

Matt Larson

Matthew S. Larson counsels utilities and energy suppliers on state and federal aspects of regulation, administrative law, and energy policy. He has worked on matters before state and federal regulatory commissions on issues involving resource planning, rates, and other issues on behalf of both investor-owned utilities and cooperatives.  

In the energy policy realm, he written extensively on issues related to electric market design and restructuring.  Mr. Larson has also played key roles in significant climate and energy policy legislative efforts.  He played a significant role in the passage of a historic suite of energy and climate policy legislation in Colorado in 2019, including Senate Bill 19-236.   Earlier in his career, Mr. Larson served as a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver, Colorado and the Honorable John L. Kane of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

Why was this new platform formed?

The tragedy in deregulated Texas after Winter Storm Uri catalyzed the launch of PFT. Despite its dangerous flaws, some stakeholders are still trying to deregulate electricity markets in America. In fact, a number of well-funded groups exist to promote utility restructuring and deregulation. We decided it was important to push back on this reckless agenda by offering 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.

What kind of activities will Power for Tomorrow pursue?

Power for Tomorrow is a platform for publishing research, commentary and insights specific to this topic, addressing trends, emerging issues and breaking news – all backed by data and thoughtful analysis. Additionally, PFT will lead public education campaigns to better inform customers, lawmakers and the media about efforts to deregulate states and adopt the risky Texas model. 

Is Power for Tomorrow for or against renewable power/eliminating carbon emissions? 

PFT supports renewable energy production and believes that the fastest way to deploy renewables is through state regulation of the traditional vertically integrated electric system. PFT is not organized to advocate for or against specific resources, but investor-owned electric companies are leaders in clean energy development across the nation and have reduced carbon emissions 45 percent below 2005 levels, compared to the industry as a whole (including state and city-owned utilities) that have decreased emissions by only 33 percent.