David Fein Elected President of RESA

David Fein, Constellation Energy's Vice President of Energy Policy for the Midwest and Pennsylvania, has been elected President of the Retail Energy Supply Association for 2011. RESA also announced the creation of a new "Strategic Market Development and Advancement" Committee for 2011.

The Strategic Market Development and Advancement Committee will be, "dedicated to developing proposals and recommendations for the enhancement and further expansion of competitive markets," RESA said. Joanna Hamrick, General Counsel for Energy Plus Holdings, LLC will lead the committee.

"It is a great honor to take the helm of this dynamic organization whose dedicated members serve residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental gas and electric customers across the country," said Fein, who also serves as Constellation's Director of Retail Energy Policy. "As President, I will work with the membership to preserve and enhance the competitive energy opportunities that are available to customers across the country. Competition in the energy industry is the optimal market structure as it puts downward pressure on prices, fosters innovation, creates jobs, and is a superior market structure to meet the needs of consumers," Fein said.

Fein replaces outgoing President Jay Kooper, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Hess Corporation, who expanded RESA from eight to 15 members during his two-year tenure, and formally expanded RESA from an electric-only trade association to a combined retail electric and natural gas advocacy group.

Other RESA officers for 2011 include:

• First Vice President: Richard Hudson (ConEdison Solutions, Inc.)
• Second Vice President: Melissa Lauderdale (Integrys Energy Services, Inc.)
• Secretary: Stephen Bennett (Exelon Energy Company)
• Treasurer: Roy Boston (Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC)

State Chairs for the RESA electric caucus for 2011 are

• California: Tim LoCascio (Liberty Power)
• Federal: Melissa Lauderdale (Integrys Energy Services, Inc.)
• Illinois: Roy Boston (Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC)
• Maryland/DC/Delaware: Becky Merola (Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC)
• New England: Chris Kallaher (Direct Energy Services, LLC)
• New Jersey: Jay Kooper (Hess Corporation)
• New York: Jay Kooper (Hess Corporation)
• Pennsylvania: Richard Hudson (ConEdison Solutions, Inc.)

Natural gas caucus State Chairs are:

• Kentucky: Lisa Simpkins (Constellation NewEnergy, Inc.)
• Michigan: Lisa Simpkins (Constellation NewEnergy, Inc.)
• New York: Kristyn Noeth (Hess Corporation)
• Ohio: Teresa Ringenbach (Direct Energy Services, LLC)
• Pennsylvania: Kristyn Noeth (Hess Corporation)

Kentucky represents a new formal State Chair position for 2011, though RESA had been active in the state on an ad hoc basis in 2010.