EnergyBiz - January/February 2008 - (Page 35) to the market that we do not intend to issue any new common equity until the 2010 time frame and that provides a great deal of certainty to investors with their modeling of future earnings and earnings prospects. EnErgyBiz You all face risks. For instance, oil has reached $100 a barrel and some say may be going to $120. Does that have an impact on you? prOTsch If we had a national energy policy that was supportive of the evolution of the plug-in electric vehicle, we wouldn’t be having all these debates about nuclear and coal-fired power plants. Fanning If gasoline prices are going up 20 percent a year, it’s interesting to see how 4 and 5 percent price growth in our own businesses are viewed. The industry has gotten pretty good treatment recently in light of that. EnErgyBiz What new approaches are you taking to risk management? rigBy We have a very elaborate dashboard of almost every risk that we can really think of and track it in terms of likelihood of financial impact. We note what our potential remediation plans would be. EnErgyBiz The industry is getting ready for a wave of retirements. What kind of stress does that put on your financial balance sheet and human resources? pirO We’re in a good position and we’re right now in the process of redefining our pension plan going forward. Right now we’re a defined benefit plan. We’re starting to look to move that to a cash balance plan to take that risk off the balance sheet. Fanning It’s always a challenge and you always worry about the health of the markets going forward, but we think we’re in terrific shape. rigBy Our plan is healthy. We really need to focus on developing the next wave of linemen. Fanning Because we have this huge construction program, we need pipe fitters and welders. rOgErs We’re competing for labor worldwide. As a result of new laws post 9/11, we’re not always able to import labor from other countries. Eliot Protsch Tom Fanning What are the leading business issues driving C-Level decisions in utilities? How is the regulatory climate affecting CIO decision-making? What solutions should utilities be looking to build/integrate to improve efficiencies and customer service and move towards truly intelligent enterprises? You can find the answers to these questions—and more—in the 2008 CIO Report: Tipping Points. More than 140 pages of in-depth analysis and insight from Warren Causey, the foremost utility technology analyst, including: • CIO pain points. • Top issues. How do utility executives rank issues like the aging workforce, iss security, cost-cutting, productivity, customer service, an aging infrastructure, disaster preparedness and more? • Analysis of needs for better architecture and more complete integration and Analysi CIO insights on their progress toward achieving an intelligent enterprise. • Utilities’ internal issues that can affect business and sales process. Utilities • Impact of regulatory issues. Imp • CIO inputs and interviews results with leading CIOs, including those from in Entergy, Southern Company, Ameren, Idaho Power, Cobb Energy and more. Purchase this report for only $1,495.00. • Utility CIO Directory — the industry’s most complete listing of names and contact information. Researcher, writer, analyst and consultant, Warren B. Causey has worked with technology for more than 30 years and specialized in utilities since the early 1990’s. Causey is one of the most respected experts in energy. 08 is r at t. a 0. 20 rt fo d ne rm 1 e po le oa p. fo -55 Th Re ilab nl rou e in 782 wg r o3 IO a o C av d gy m 0 w ate er r r 3 no edi aen Fo 3 o r m er s.” 223 im .si ort 59w w ep -4 w “R 00 k l8 lic al C ,c n tio www.energycentral.com E n E rgyB i z 35 http://www.sierraenergygroup.net http://www.energycentral.com http://www.sierraenergygroup.net http://www.energycentral.com
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