Elizabeth (Betsy) Moler, SIS/BA 鈥71, blazed trails in US energy policy over the course of her long and influential career.聽From being appointed a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by three different presidents鈥攖wo Republicans and one Democrat鈥攖o leading Exelon Corporation鈥檚 Washington, DC, office for more than 10 years, she has played an important role in how US energy markets function.
Recently, Moler gave a generous gift of one million dollars to SIS to support undergraduate students, in memory of her late husband, Thomas B. Williams, a longtime public servant who taught in SPA鈥檚 Department of Government from 2000 to 2010. Her gift comes during an exciting time for 小蓝视频鈥攄uring the聽Change Can鈥檛 Wait campaign. We spoke with Moler to learn more about her impactful career, her time at SIS, and why she believes it鈥檚 important to give back.
Elizabeth (Betsy) Moler, SIS/BA 鈥71
Attending 小蓝视频 and Working on the Hill
Originally from Utah, Moler was adamant about pursuing her undergraduate degree at 小蓝视频 after taking part in Girls Nation, an annual civic training program for female high school seniors who had participated previously in the state-level version of the program, Girls State. She was selected as one of the two Utah women to go to Girls Nation in 1967, which was held at 小蓝视频.
鈥淕irls Nation was what led me to 小蓝视频. The experience introduced me to the campus, and I knew I wanted to apply,鈥 says Moler. 鈥淚鈥檇 only been there for that short period of time, and I鈥檇 fallen in love with DC.鈥
While at SIS, Moler had the opportunity to work part-time on Capitol Hill for Laurence Burton, a congressman from Utah serving on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, a subject in which she took particular interest. The Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, now known as the Committee on Natural Resources, had legislative jurisdiction over the preservation and development of US natural resources, including national parks and forests, trails, and rivers.
After graduating from SIS and before starting her law degree at George Washington University, Moler worked for several senators who served on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. During the years she spent working on the Hill, she rose from a junior legislative assistant to senior counsel for that committee.
Creating a More Competitive Energy Market
Eventually, after accruing expertise and experience in energy policy, Moler was first appointed to work at FERC by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. She was subsequently re-appointed by presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, serving at FERC until 1998. During her tenure at the agency, she led the development of the open access transmission, a landmark initiative that required energy utilities to open their transmission lines to their competitors on an equal-access basis.
鈥淭his initiative meant that power plant owners could sell in wholesale markets regulated by FERC. This way, you could have a competitive supplier base, which made a huge difference in the way electricity was marketed,鈥 says Moler. 鈥淭his initiative saved American consumers, without a doubt, billions and billions of dollars.鈥
After concluding her time in government service, Moler was tapped by John Rowe, the then-CEO of Exelon, to explore new regulatory options for the company; these options also played a role in the competitiveness of the energy market. In the past, utility companies only would have been able to buy power from the power plants they owned to sell to their customers. But, with wholesale competition, utility companies could buy power from any power plant owner, like independent producers that aren鈥檛 owned by utilities.
鈥淭his meant that the utilities serving their retail customers would have lots of supply options, and more options means more competition,鈥 says Moler. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the whole combination of regulatory initiatives at both wholesale and retail levels that leads to a lot more customer choice.鈥
Looking back at her time at SIS, Moler recalls a saying from the late聽SIS professor emeritus Abdul Aziz Said聽that鈥檚 stuck with her through the years. It鈥檚 one she鈥檚 applied to the work she鈥檚 accomplished in the energy industry: 鈥淚 remember his favorite maxim was: 鈥楳aximize your alternatives to minimize your risk.鈥 It鈥檚 an adage that鈥檚 applicable very broadly鈥攜ou can even apply it in terms of wholesale competition.鈥
Throughout her career, Moler has had a big impact on energy markets, and she encourages other women to seek out these same kinds of leadership roles: 鈥淗istorically, the energy sector has been absolutely male-dominated鈥攍ike many, many other sectors. Obviously, men don鈥檛 have a monopoly on brains or smarts or experience. I absolutely believe that鈥攋ust as diversity in energy suppliers鈥攄iversity in leadership matters a great deal.鈥
Giving Back to a University She Loves
Moler emphasizes that 小蓝视频 has been part of her and her husband鈥檚 lives for a long time. Her close relationship with the university was one of the reasons she wanted to give such a generous gift to SIS that would support undergraduate students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very difficult, unless you come from means, to attend college without help. I鈥檓 fortunate enough to have some great career experience, and I really believe in giving back,鈥 says Moler. 鈥溞±妒悠 has been important to me from a whole lot of different perspectives. I鈥檝e gotten to know so many people who have been associated with 小蓝视频 because of my husband, Tom, and because of SIS. The university鈥檚 been a part of my life for so many years.鈥
