NEM's 12th Annual Global Energy Forum & Membership Meeting will be held April 28 & 29, 2009. The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites Washington D.C. - Convention Center located at 900 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC. The early-bird registration rates for members and non-members end on February 28, 2009. Please register at this hotlink. A block of rooms has been reserved for NEM members at the rate of $279 per night. Contact (202) 739-2001 for reservations and reference group code A-MN.

A number of U.S. and foreign officials have already confirmed their participation in the event. Those confirmed thus far include: James Clyburn, U.S. House Majority Whip; Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Congressman, House Energy and Commerce Committee; Gene Green, U.S. Congressman, House Energy and Commerce Committee; H.E. John Bruton, European Commission Ambassador; H.E. Andrejs Pildegovics, Latvian Ambassador; Aleksei Shishayev, Russian Embassy - Head of Economic Section; Marc Spitzer, FERC Commissioner; Philip Moeller, FERC Commissioner; Garry Brown, NYPSC Chairman; James Cawley, PAPUC Chairman; Alan Schriber, Ohio PUC Chairman; Orjiakor Isiogu, MIPSC Chairman; Donna Nelson, TX PUC Commissioner, Robert Curry, NYPSC Commissioner; Stan Wise, GAPSC Commissioner; Nicholas Asselta, NJBPU Commissioner; Erin O'Connell-Diaz, Illinois Commerce Commissioner; Steven Transeth, MIPSC Commissioner; James Kendall, EIA Natural Gas Division Director; Harris McDowell, Delaware Senate; Eric Matheson, PAPUC Energy Advisor; Calvin Timmerman, MDPSC Assistant Executive Director; and Chris Hendrix, General Manager, Competitive Energy - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The full text of the April Meeting Agenda is available on the NEM Website.

NEM is pleased to announce that South Jersey Energy Solutions has joined the Association. South Jersey Energy Solutions (SJES) will be represented within NEM by Michael J. Renna, President; Joseph M. Scheufele, Asst. VP, Business Development; Louis DeCicco, General Manager; and Edward H. Peterson Jr., RCGC Manager Commercial Sales.

South Jersey Energy Solutions (SJES) assists residential, commercial and industrial facilities reduce their overall energy costs. They acquire and market natural gas and electricity to retail end users. They provide comprehensive energy management solutions. They believe that customization is key. Their team tailors energy solutions to your specific needs. SJES works to maximize your long-term savings without sacrificing the quality or reliability you need to get things done.

South Jersey Energy Solutions (SJES) market approach can immediately deliver your energy at the most-competitive rates while minimizing your risk from uncertain, volatile energy prices. Plus, SJES offers energy efficiency improvements with lighting retrofits, HVAC, cogeneration/distributed generation, management controls and asset management possibilities.

FERC issued a proposed policy statement and action plan to address Smart Grid Policy. The purpose of the policy statement is to provide industry with priorities for development of key interoperability standards and to provide an interim rate policy by which jurisdictional utilities may seek cost recovery for smart grid deployments before standards are finally adopted through a rulemaking. The four key grid functionalities identified by the Commission are: 1) wide-area situational awareness, 2) demand response, 3) electric storage, and 4) electric transportation.

FERC proposed as an interim rate policy, "to accept single-issue rate filings submitted under FPA Section 205 by public utilities to recover the costs of Smart Grid deployments involving jurisdictional facilities provided that certain showings are made." These showings include: 1) the reliability and security of the bulk power system will not be adversely affected by the deployment; 2) minimization of the possiblity of stranded investment by allowing the ability for system upgrade; and 3) sharing information with DOE's Smart Grid Clearinghouse.

The full text of the Proposed Smart Grid Policy Statement is available on the NEM Website.

Southern Natural Gas (SNG) filed a rate case proposing "an increase of approximately 36% over its currently effective rates." SNG proposes a "market adjustment" to reduce the size of the proposed rate increase. However, the unadjusted firm transportation reservation rates in the proposed tariffs constitute SNG's filed rates, and the company reserves its right to increase its rates during the course of the rate case proceeding up those unadjusted rates. SNG additionally proposes changes to its Park and Loan service and rate design, its Rate Schedule FT, and general terms and conditions of its tariff. A portion of the SNG Rate Filing is available on the NEM Website.