FortisTCI in partnership with Edison Electric Institute, hosted a roundtable centered around the energy transition on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at its headquarters in Providenciales. The hybrid event marked the continuation of dialogue, which started at the Company's energy forum earlier this year, on changes in the industry and steps to navigate this monumental shift.
The roundtable was attended by stakeholders from various agencies and sectors in the business community, government officials, and the utility Company’s Board of Directors, Executives, and Management. Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Honourable Charles Washington Misick, Honourable Otis Morris, Minister of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation, Honourable Josephine Conolly, Minister of Tourism and Environment, and Honourable Jamell Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, were in attendance.
Senior Vice President of International Programs at Edison Electric Institute, Dr. Lawrence Jones, delivered a presentation and moderated the program, which featured a cadre of industry thought leaders and experts. Senior Vice President of Operations at FortisTCI, Devon Cox, presented an overview of the Company, and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is used as a decision support tool for energy policy and utility investment plans. Special remarks were delivered by Gary Smith, Chairman of FortisTCI Board of Directors, FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes, and Honourable Morris.
Presentations were delivered by Terry Travis, Managing Partner at EVNoire, Philip Moeller, Executive Vice President of Business Operations Group and Regulatory Affairs, Edison Electric Institute, Bob Rowe, Senior Advisor at Guggenheim Partners and Venture Partner at The Westly Group, David Lucido, Managing Director at Sentient Hubs, Julia Matevosyan, Chief Engineer at Energy Systems Integration Group, and Phil Dion, Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions, Edison Electric Institute.
The topics included Transitioning to Net Zero: What Does it Mean for Countries?, Evolving the Regulatory Compact: A Partnership Between Government and Utilities, Towards Modernized Resilient Energy Grids & Ecosystems, Integrating Renewables to the Grid, Accelerating Multi Modal Electrification in the Caribbean, along with Balancing the Three A’s: Affordability, Access, and Acceptance.
FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes, stated: “The energy transition will have a lasting and profound impact on our lives, our businesses and our communities. We therefore have a responsibility to be part of the conversation, and the solutions, for making the transition in a measured, sustainable and equitable way. FortisTCI has long been an advocate for regulatory reform of the energy sector, and a suitable regulatory framework and policies that address the pace of integration, grid resilience and safety, cost and cost recovery, and equitable stakeholder participation, to name a few critical considerations.”
Honorable Otis Morris described the energy transition as one of the most critical challenges of our current time and acknowledged the significance of the roundtable event. He stated: "The climate crisis demands that we act swiftly, decisively and collectively. We need to explore innovative solutions, adopt cutting-edge solutions, and rethink our energy systems, all while maintaining economic stability. Modernizing the regulatory environment is key to enabling this transition. My government and department are dedicated to this issue as it rests heavily upon us to ensure a suitable regulatory environment."
FortisTCI is a member of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), which is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. EEI members provide electricity for nearly 250 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to U.S. members, EEI has more than 70 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members. Organized in 1933, EEI provides public policy leadership, strategic business intelligence, and essential conferences and forums.
