About Us
ELCON – formally the Electricity Consumers Resource Council – is the national association representing large industrial users of electricity.
Since 1976, ELCON, at the direction of its member companies, has focused on federal and state policies that affect the price, availability and reliability of electricity service.
ELCON does this by playing an active role in a variety of arenas including representing industrial electricity users interacting with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a regular basis, working with Members of Congress and their staff in the legislative process promoting policies consistent with its objectives, and is the only national association representing manufacturers working with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) – the organization charged with developing reliability standards for the interstate electricity grid – with ELCON staff and member companies serving on numerous NERC committees.
ELCON members benefit from ELCON’s advocacy efforts, it’s technical resources and educational Workshops, and the ability to network with others involved in corporate energy management.
Since 1976, ELCON, at the direction of its member companies, has focused on federal and state policies that affect the price, availability and reliability of electricity service.
ELCON does this by playing an active role in a variety of arenas including representing industrial electricity users interacting with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a regular basis, working with Members of Congress and their staff in the legislative process promoting policies consistent with its objectives, and is the only national association representing manufacturers working with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) – the organization charged with developing reliability standards for the interstate electricity grid – with ELCON staff and member companies serving on numerous NERC committees.
ELCON members benefit from ELCON’s advocacy efforts, it’s technical resources and educational Workshops, and the ability to network with others involved in corporate energy management.
Mission
The purpose of ELCON is to promote by all lawful means the development and adoption of coordinated, rational and consistent federal, state and local policies and regulations regarding generation, transmission and distribution of power that will assure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for its members and other users at rates that are just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or preferential. In support of this purpose, ELCON advocates for (a) efficient and competitive electricity markets and pricing, (b) resource neutrality, (c) reliable and sustainable service at least cost (d) cost allocation based on the principle of cost causation, and (d) elimination of barriers to self-supply and sale of any surplus on fair terms.
Leadership
Karen Onaran – President and CEO
Karen Onaran is the Vice President of the Electricity Consumers Resource Council (ELCON) where she advocates for policies benefiting large industrial consumers of electric energy before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of Energy (DOE), the North American Reliability Corporation (NERC), and Congress.
Prior to joining ELCON, Karen was the Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Edison Electric Institute (EEI) where she focused on federal electric transmission policy issues, supporting investor-owned utilities on transmission planning and investment issues, as well as wholesale market operations, to promote policies geared towards electric transmission’s role in providing safe, reliable, cost-effective, and increasingly clean energy to consumers.
Prior to her 10 years at EEI, Karen was a paralegal for 16 years in Washington D.C. focusing on energy project finance and federal regulatory compliance.
Karen is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and received her Master of Business Administration degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Karen lives in Washington D.C. with her husband, Bryce, and beagle, Stanley.
Prior to joining ELCON, Karen was the Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Edison Electric Institute (EEI) where she focused on federal electric transmission policy issues, supporting investor-owned utilities on transmission planning and investment issues, as well as wholesale market operations, to promote policies geared towards electric transmission’s role in providing safe, reliable, cost-effective, and increasingly clean energy to consumers.
Prior to her 10 years at EEI, Karen was a paralegal for 16 years in Washington D.C. focusing on energy project finance and federal regulatory compliance.
Karen is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and received her Master of Business Administration degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Karen lives in Washington D.C. with her husband, Bryce, and beagle, Stanley.
