As Utility Experts Retire, Rutgers–Camden Partners with the State of New Jersey to Help Build a Critical Workforce Pipeline

Across the country, utilities are confronting a workforce challenge decades in the making. As experienced employees retire and fewer young professionals enter the field, organizations are searching for ways to preserve institutional knowledge and attract new talent to critical roles.

The challenge extends beyond lineworkers and engineers. In utility regulation, a highly specialized field that influences everything from infrastructure investment to consumer rates, experienced professionals are becoming increasingly difficult to replace. National workforce data indicate that more than a quarter of utility employees are over age 55, and nearly half of electric and gas utility workers could reach retirement eligibility within the next decade.

To help meet that need, Rutgers School of Business–Camden and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) have established a first-of-its-kind professional certificate program designed to prepare the next generation of utility ratemaking professionals while creating a direct workforce pipeline for electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities in New Jersey and across the country.

Established through a three‑year memorandum of understanding, the new Utilities Regulatory Ratemaking professional certificate program combines academic coursework with paid fellowships, giving students hands‑on experience in critical areas such as rate design, revenue requirements, and regulatory policy.

“Utility ratemaking may not be a profession that most people think about, but its impact is felt by every resident and business,” said Peter McAliney, director of the Professional and Executive Education program at Rutgers School of Business–Camden. “The decisions made by these professionals influence affordability, infrastructure investment, and the reliability of essential services. By combining classroom learning with real-world experience, we're creating opportunities for participants to develop specialized expertise while helping address a critical workforce need for New Jersey.”

The development of the curriculum and potential fellowship opportunities was led by Stacy Peterson, a veteran rate‑design expert and deputy executive director with the NJBPU.

“This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building the talent pipeline our industry needs,” said Peterson. “As utilities confront increasingly complex challenges—from grid modernization to emerging energy demands—the need for professionals who understand utility economics and regulation has never been greater. By bringing together the expertise of Rutgers–Camden and the real-world experience of the NJBPU, we're giving participants an opportunity to learn from practitioners while gaining insight into one of the most important areas of the utility sector.”

The one-year professional certificate program provides participants with a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices that shape utility regulation and rate design. Through a combination of academic coursework and industry-focused modules, participants explore topics such as utility economics, revenue requirements, cost allocation, rate structures, and regulatory policy while gaining practical insight into the decision-making processes that influence energy affordability, infrastructure investment, and service reliability. For those selected for the limited number of paid fellowships with the NJBPU, they will have the addition of experiential learning opportunities working with professionals at the NJBPU,

Designed for students and professionals from a wide variety of professional backgrounds including accounting, finance, economics, engineering, law, and public policy—as well as utility employees seeking to advance their careers—the program equips participants with the specialized knowledge needed to navigate one of the energy sector’s most complex and critical fields.

“One of the greatest opportunities with this program is creating greater awareness of a profession that has historically operated behind the scenes,” said McAliney. “By providing a structured pathway into utility regulation, we can help more students and professionals see how their skills can contribute to work that has a direct impact on communities and the future of essential services.”

Learn more – For those interested in receiving information on the next cohort, visit  the Utilities Regulatory Ratemaking professional certificate program webpage or visit the Rutgers School of Business–Camden Professional and Executive Education webpage to learn about other professional certificate programs.