Amber Perry

“Most people think of electricity as something that’s just there – you flip a switch and the lights come on. But there’s so much more happening behind the scenes.”

Powering people, not profit

While most leaders are focused on boosting the bottom line, Amber Perry is focused on something else – helping her customers save money.

“I’ve always enjoyed delivering impactful programs for our customers and using their feedback to refine and improve what we offer,” says Perry, Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at Atlantic City Electric. 

Now, after 17 years at the company, Perry leads a team of about 100 people focused on ensuring fair and affordable energy rates, managing energy acquisition and overseeing all of the company’s energy efficiency and electrification programs across New Jersey. They work closely with stakeholders – from local communities to state commissions – to help set fair and affordable energy rates. 

Her team’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to customer experience and energy equity. 

“We’re providing a basic need,” says Perry. “Just like water, customers need power. So we’re constantly thinking about how we can be as creative as possible in delivering solutions that are not only innovative but also affordable.”

That creativity came into sharp focus during the extreme heat of last summer.

“Customers were anxious and eager to understand what was driving their higher bills,” says Perry. “That moment really brought it to the forefront for me – how important it is to help our customers become more conscious of their energy use, more aware of what drives energy costs and to support them in understanding what actions they can take.”

In response, Perry’s team doubled down on customer support, expanding bill payment programs, extending payment terms, and promoting tools like budget billing, which evens out bills across the year to avoid sharp seasonal spikes. 

Her team also continues to grow and refine Atlantic City Electric’s energy efficiency offerings. 

“We truly believe that energy efficiency isn’t just a benefit – it’s essential,” Perry says. “We feel a strong obligation to create programs that deliver real, meaningful savings and help customers understand how to take full advantage of them.”

For residential customers, programs often begin with a comprehensive home energy assessment to identify where energy is being lost and how to improve efficiency. There’s also support for income-qualified households, rebates on efficient products and appliances and low- to no-cost strategies to help customers use less energy. 

Atlantic City Electric also offers a wide range of commercial programs tailored to small businesses, nonprofits, schools and community organizations. These often include on-site assessments and incentives that cover a large portion of project costs – making upgrades more accessible and sustainable.

Perry’s team has already delivered measurable impact. Since 2001, their efforts have helped customers save enough electricity to power about 17,000 homes for a year. Between 2025 and 2027, new programs are expected to help customers save even more energy – enough to power thousands of homes – and add up to about $77 million in savings for people across the state.

Looking ahead, Perry is excited about two new initiatives launching later this year. One focuses on replacing fossil fuel appliances with cleaner energy alternatives. The other introduces time-of-use rates that – when paired with smart meters – help customers shift their energy use to off-peak times when rates are lower. 

For Perry, the energy space is more dynamic and exciting than ever. 

“Most people think of electricity as something that’s just there,” she says. “You flip a switch and the lights come on. But there’s so much more happening behind the scenes. Now it’s about what we can do next to enhance the customer experience in a meaningful and forward-thinking way.”

Atlantic City Electric

atlanticcityelectric.com