Published on
FRI is pleased to announce that Mary-Anna Holden has been chosen to receive the 2025 Crystal Award for Distinguished Contribution. The industry nominated award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the public utility regulatory policy community. Ms. Holden will be formally presented with the award during the annual Public Utility Symposium hosted by FRI on September 17, 2025.
“Mary-Anna has made a significant contribution to the utility regulatory world,” said Stephen Genzer, Partner at Saul Ewing LLP and one of Ms. Holden’s nominators. “She is a true thought leader with a legacy of presenting and driving ideas that, time and time again, helped all parties recognize the connection between investment, expenses, and their rate impacts.”
With a demonstrated commitment to public service and utility regulation, her career spans more than two decades of industry service. She served as a Commissioner on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) from January 2012 through December 2023, appointed and reappointed by Governors Christie and Murphy. Before becoming Commissioner, Ms. Holden served as Mayor and a Councilwoman in the Borough of Madison, NJ for more than a dozen years. Her duties included governance of the borough’s municipal electric and water utilities.
Former South Carolina Public Service Commissioner and previous Crystal Award recipient John “Butch” Howard shared, “Mary-Anna has served tirelessly as an advocate for strong and fair utility regulation. While serving together on NARUC committees, I had a first-hand view of her passion for fair and affordable water for her ratepayers.”
Ms. Holden has been a prominent figure in national regulatory organizations. She was an at-large board member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and served as a three-year Chair of its Committee on Water. She redesigned and ran NARUC’s Utility Rate Training Schools and wrote NARUC’s handbook for board members. She is also a past-president of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (MACRUC).
Her influence extends to important policy initiatives. She piloted the concept of a Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) into existence. She was involved in regulatory initiatives regarding ‘forever chemicals’ nationwide. Beyond her direct regulatory roles, Ms. Holden has actively contributed to academic and professional communities. She is a past chair of the Financial Research Institute (FRI) at the University of Missouri, and a board member of the Center for Public Utilities at New Mexico State University. At FRI, her nine-year board tenure oversaw growth in programming and board development, boosting nationwide attendance and notice to the Institute.
“Mary-Anna Holden has been an active supporter of FRI and its efforts to advance unbiased education, research and collaboration for sound, innovative public utility policies and regulation,” stated Dr. Michael Sykuta, FRI Executive Director. “She truly exemplifies the spirit of public service and regulatory expertise that the Crystal Award seeks to honor.”
The FRI Crystal Award for Distinguished Contribution recognizes individuals with at least 10 years of experience in the regulated industry. Nominees must show originality, sustained contributions, measurable impact, and peer recognition for their work. Mary-Anna Holden meets these criteria, and FRI, along with the entire regulatory community, is pleased to recognize her significant impact on the industry.
Please join FRI in congratulating Mary-Anna Holden on this well-deserved honor!