Doug Mokoid, president of New Jersey for FirstEnergy, and Phil Vavala, region president of Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power, have been named to the board of directors of the New Jersey Utility Association.
NJUA CEO Richard Henning said the industry veterans will have great impact.
“We are pleased to tap into the enormous industry knowledge that Doug and Phil possess,” he said. “The utilities industry continues to face many opportunities and challenges as we focus on a clean energy future, with enormous ongoing investment from the state’s utilities.
“Doug and Phil are joining the board at a pivotal time; we are very fortunate to have these next generation leaders step up and share their expertise and perspective.”
Mokoid joined FirstEnergy in June, after serving as region president of Atlantic City Electric, where he was responsible for shaping company regulatory and legislative strategies while building meaningful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
He said he is eager to join the board.
“The NJUA serves as a vital voice for the electric, water, sewer, gas and telecom companies in our state and as a tireless advocate for our utilities as a collective,” he said. “Our industry is evolving faster than ever before and faces ever-changing challenges and pressures. I’m excited to be able to lend my voice and experience to the expertise in that room to help support our customers and innovate for our clean energy future.”
Vavala was named region president for Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power in July. He is leading innovative and strategic approaches to strengthening the local energy grid and delivering safe and reliable energy service to the customers and communities it serves.
Under his leadership, customers have experienced record-breaking reliability for homes and businesses across South Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
“I am extremely honored to be appointed to the NJUA’s Board of Directors and look forward to assisting NJUA leadership in advocating for utility customers from across the state,” he said. “The NJUA has a long-standing tradition of supporting the interests of state utility customers and I look forward to continuing to foster relationships with state and local officials, community leaders and various organizations, to ensure the well-being of customers and stakeholders remain a priority.”
Vavala is responsible for executing external affairs strategies and programs for Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power. His expertise is crucial in influencing policy and navigating complex issues within the service areas. Vavala joined Pepco Holdings 33 years ago as an intern in Delmarva Power’s System Planning department.