Much has changed in the public policy arena in the past year, and we can expect more changes ahead. We have a new administration in Washington, new state and federal lawmakers, newly appointed officials and policymakers and a difficult economy. But AEP’s long-term goals remain consistent.

Our future depends on the outcome of important high-priority policy issues that include:

• Alternative rate-making procedures that allow more contemporaneous cost recovery to ensure utilities remain financially viable to be able to deliver services in a timely manner that benefits customers;
• The development of an extra-high voltage (EHV) transmission grid to support a national energy strategy committed to enhanced reliability and optimal use of all resources, including new renewable resources;
• Federalization of siting authority for the EHV grid to overcome difficult decision-making processes that do not support a new national energy strategy;
• Reasonable and achievable climate change policies that include a national cap-and-trade program;
• Regulations and commercial-scale technology improvements to permit the capture and long-term safe storage of carbon dioxide to allow the continued use of coal;
• Timely deployment of smart grid technology to promote energy efficiency and give customers more control of energy use;
• Energy efficiency and demand response programs to reduce consumption and slow the need to build new power plants; and
• Development of renewable energy standards to support mitigation of greenhouse gases.

"There is an exciting debate in the United States about our energy future, with many voices competing — and needing — to be heard. But one of the most critically important voices is that of utilities, because it is they who have the experience of dealing with the myriad challenges of both producing energy and delivering it. As a strategist, I believe passionately in the need to plan for the long term, not just tactically. Because of their business model, utilities are the sector of American business that practices most consistently real, long-term planning. That perspective means utilities must have a premier place at the table for any energy discussion."

Susan Eisenhower, Washington, D.C.; president, The Eisenhower Group