​MAYS LANDING, N.J. (September 12, 2019) – "Climate change is among the most significant challenges we face—for our communities, we must act now, and we must act together," said Atlantic City Electric Region President Gary Stockbridge as he delivered the company's comments on New Jersey's 2019 Energy Master Plan before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in Camden, New Jersey today. 

In his comments, Stockbridge offered the company's support for the state's plan and stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and the importance of collaboration in helping New Jersey achieve a clean and sustainable energy future.

The 2019 Energy Master Plan provides a roadmap for addressing climate change and achieving New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's goal of setting the state on the path to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. It addresses emissions from transportation, energy production, and building sectors. New Jersey's 2019 Energy Master Plan is seen as one of the most progressive clean energy strategic visions in the country. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities released a comprehensive draft on June 10, 2019 and is in the process of collecting feedback from stakeholders.

At this final Energy Master Plan public comment hearing, Stockbridge outlined Atlantic City Electric's role in achieving a clean energy future, explaining how the company's modern energy grid will serve as a reliable common platform, connecting customers to more energy services and technologies that will improve their lives and create more sustainable, vibrant and livable communities. His comments highlighted three key areas where immediate action can deliver progress for the company's customers and New Jersey:

"We must accelerate the deployment of advanced metering infrastructure, which is the anchor technology of a modern energy grid. ... The sooner we have advanced metering, the sooner we can use real-time data to not only improve reliability, but also enable innovative programs that achieve our climate goals."

"We must work together to develop best-in-class energy efficiency programs that leverage real-time data to help customers save money and energy."

"We must modernize the local energy grid to position New Jersey as a leader in the electric vehicle industry and provide customers with affordable and equally accessible electric transportation options."

Stockbridge explained that the company's footprint across the region, and its longstanding relationships with customers and communities, uniquely positioned it to deliver these services to South Jersey:

"Our energy infrastructure is the central platform for deploying solutions to meet the state's climate goals, and we are ready to do our part in helping New Jersey get there."

"It's critical that the Energy Master Plan ensure all communities have fair and equitable access to these new programs and we are committed to leveraging our footprint across the region to make sure this happens."

"We have been part of the South Jersey community for more than 100 years and have a vested interest in powering a cleaner and brighter future here for the next 100."

Atlantic City Electric is part of the Exelon family of companies, which forms the nation's largest electric and natural gas distribution company, serving more than 22 million people. Stockbridge noted Exelon's leadership in investing in new technologies and grid innovation, and he made it clear that Atlantic City Electric would use the resources available to it as part of Exelon to support the implementation of state-of-the-art technology and innovative services to address climate change in New Jersey.

Atlantic City Electric has filed an initial proposal to expand charging infrastructure, offer incentives, and electrify public transportation with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, as well as an Advanced Metering Infrastructure feasibility study and business case to demonstrate the projected benefits and costs associated with deploying advanced metering across South Jersey. The company has signaled that it will continue to put forward solutions and proposals for new services that will benefit customers and help the state meet its ambitious climate goals.

All comments for New Jersey's 2019 Energy Master Plan are due by September 16, 2019 and the final plan is expected to be released before the end of the year.

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