The New Electric Economy: Utilities and Customers Come Together at Event

Electric utilities face the loss of as much as half of their base load power sales in coming years, and electricity customers must wade through the muck of figuring out technology and offerings. Legislators tend to want to protect and direct all parties (the environment included.) It takes time, discussion, planning and action to figure out how they can all work together for the common good. The Energy Times' event, Renewables Rush, helped the needle move with key leaders in each sector meeting and sharing experiences, opinions and plans.

The morning panels featured a former governor, utility executives and energy customers discussing the "new age electric economy," "the brave new world of electric power," and "energy management innovation."

Following are highlights and a few key points made the this year's executive briefing in San Francisco on April 5.