Press Release

HARRISBURG -- Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Glen R. Thomas today hosted the Council of Australian Governments Energy Market Review Team, visiting the PUC to discuss the future direction of energy markets in Australia and to learn about Pennsylvania’s successful approach to electric competition.

The meeting is the latest in a series of follow-ups since Chairman Thomas joined Gov. Mark Schweiker on a March trade mission to Australia focused, in part, on energy. Chairman Thomas has used these follow-ups to seek ways Pennsylvanians can benefit from partnership with Australian governments and industry through increased innovation and services, particularly related to renewable energy, and business partnerships that could create jobs.

"Today’s visit continues the information and technology sharing with our friends in Australia," Chairman Thomas said. "On our mission this spring, we learned that the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria both are interested in restructuring their electric markets, and seek information and first-hand accounts of Pennsylvania’s success. We also learned that there is revolutionary research happening in Australia that may someday give Pennsylvanians increased choices in how and where they get power for our homes and businesses.

"Today, we shared more information about Pennsylvania Electric Choice and about the PJM Interconnection, America’s first fully functioning regional transmission organization. PJM is based in Pennsylvania and is quickly becoming an international model.

"We thank the Council of Australian Governments Energy Market Review Team for visiting Pennsylvania today, and we look forward to continuing our partnership."

Chairman Thomas also thanked Gov. Schweiker for his continued leadership in these areas.

In Australia in March, Chairman Thomas toured Pacific Solar, the largest solar-power research center in the Southern Hemisphere, to see technology that may someday benefit Pennsylvanians. He also toured private homes installed with smart meters. The Pennsylvania PUC has encouraged similar Demand Side Response (DSR) technology in Pennsylvania to help change conservation from an environmental responsibility into an economic opportunity for consumers. The Chairman also met with Australia’s top government, energy and economic-development leaders.

To date, 120 foreign delegations from 61 countries on five continents -- including Australia -- have visited the Commission to learn more about Electric Choice.

Chairman Thomas recently was elected Second Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and serves on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Board and the National Regulatory Research Institute Board of Directors.

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