Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Public utility regulation should be politicized to tap cheaper, cleaner energy options
Political influences, exerted by various interests over decades, have shaped and influenced regulation from its first days — and have overwhelmingly favored fossil fuels, the author writes.
Ron Lehr • April 02, 2020 -
Will PG&E be forced to turn to PPAs to get a bankruptcy exit plan confirmed?
The company could achieve $2.5 billion in potential savings from renegotiating existing power purchase agreements, the authors write.
Jeff Manning and Steven Wilamowsky • March 31, 2020 -
Fotolia
Utilities, don't compete with Amazon — online marketplaces must go beyond e-commerce platforms
Instead of having a sole focus on moving products, utility marketplaces should become education centers that equip customers with the tools they need to streamline home and office environmental comfort, the author writes.
Jessie Mehrhoff • March 27, 2020 -
The politicization of public utility regulation
Public utility regulation has extended far beyond its longstanding mandate, the author writes.
Kenneth W. Costello • March 26, 2020 -
Getty Images
One easy fix to COVID-19 disruption of advanced energy development
Direct payment of federal incentives for advanced energy development is required to keep the industry on track, Nat Kreamer, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy, says.
Nat Kreamer • March 24, 2020 -
California risks going seriously off course this week on its path to a zero carbon power sector
The state's public utilities commission, at its upcoming March 26 business meeting, may adopt a greenhouse gas emissions target for 2030 that defers emissions-critical, near-term decisions, the author writes.
Ed Smeloff • March 23, 2020 -
Don't call it a Clean Peak Standard: Leveraging renewables to reduce customer costs during peak demand
The ancillary benefits of a low-cost peak program include reduced emissions, energy independence, resiliency, and hedged fuel-price risks, as well as the ability to retire uneconomic fossil fuel assets early, the author writes.
Ronald DiFelice • March 20, 2020 -
Who's the buyer? How better state assignment of procurement roles can improve retail and wholesale markets
Recent controversy over wholesale markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast presents an opportunity to fix a problem that's existed since the beginning of electricity restructuring — no clear assignment of responsibility for buying power.
Rob Gramlich and Frank Lacey • March 19, 2020 -
Coronavirus calls utilities to humanitarian role — how to help troubled customers in this time of need
As the nation mobilizes to contain the coronavirus, utilities' most vulnerable customers need special assistance as the pandemic exposes and exacerbates existing fault lines between haves and have-nots, the author writes.
Lisa Markus • March 18, 2020 -
As Congress mulls stimulus, Trump should avoid Obama's 2009 mistake
Today's low capital costs combined with low-cost deployment of proven and workable clean power systems present us an opportunity we will likely never have again, the author writes.
Reed Hundt • March 17, 2020 -
Getty Images
Can smart technology shape rate design and drive consumer savings?
Whether they want to prioritize customer bill savings, peak demand savings or energy savings, insights from automation technology can help utilities design their rate structure to best address their objectives, the authors write.
Nathan Shannon and Rob Kelter • March 16, 2020 -
Beyond Alexa: Banking, healthcare offer examples for Xcel and other utilities to advance voice apps
To meet rising consumer demand and stay relevant in the evolving energy landscape, utilities must invest in a customer-driven voice strategy that delivers personalized insights while addressing privacy concerns, the author writes.
Laura Frantz • March 06, 2020 -
Will solar work for low-income communities?
Solar for low-and-moderate-income customers should either provide guaranteed savings or allow customers to easily withdraw from the contract at any time, the author writes.
Warren Leon • March 05, 2020 -
Don't fall for utility talking points on coal ash pollution — it's dangerous and we need real solutions to clean it up
The failure of the U.S. EPA to classify coal ash as hazardous should not be used as an excuse to pretend it’s harmless. Instead, it should be remembered as the success of a massive utility lobbying complex, the authors write.
Nelson Brooke, Casi Callaway, Justinn Overton and Stephen Stetson • March 02, 2020 -
Flickr
Washington's Clean Fuels Standard: Good for utilities, consumers and… birds?
With so much uncertainty around the impacts of the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda, it's imperative to have state-level regulations that don't depend on federal authority, the author writes.
Adam Maxwell • March 02, 2020 -
Esurance
Many internet of things projects fail — PGE's approach could change that for utilities
By starting small and creating a repeatable, scalable process, Portland General Electric was able to roll out an initiative that now saves $18.2 million annually, the author writes.
Tipton Loo • Feb. 27, 2020 -
It's the roaring 20s for renewables — will natural gas join the party?
The best dance partner for renewables this decade is natural gas. Why? Because natural gas can economically back large amounts of new renewables across all seasons, the author writes.
Brent Alderfer • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive
FERC takes steps to modernize PURPA, but will it do more harm than good?
Proposed changes to the funding mechanics for Qualified Facilities under the law could negate or reverse the cost reductions the renewable energy sector has benefited from in the past few years.
Tanya M. Larrabee • Feb. 25, 2020 -
Cap coal ash in place? Duke and others have learned better
Forward-thinking utilities recognize that their communities and increasingly-stringent standards require more than leaving coal ash in polluting pits and have moved their coal ash to dry lined storage, the author writes.
Frank Holleman • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Duke's $10B coal ash cleanup breaks precedents and could cost North Carolinians much more
What is happening with Duke Energy in North Carolina is a major shift in the way the utility industry has been regulated and overseen for the last several decades.
Stan Wise • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Utilities vs. grid edge upstarts: Turf battles in an increasingly DER-centric world
Utilities believe they are best positioned to manage the grid if they own and control the data directly, without intermediaries, but Tesla, SunRun and others want to collect and manage the data for their own platform benefits.
Dan Goldman • Feb. 21, 2020 -
Breaking rooftop solar's distortions: SMUD readies community program for California building mandate
"Contrary to assertions by the rooftop solar industry that we do not support solar, all Neighborhood SolarShares does is offer a choice to home builders," writes Sacramento Municipal Utility District CEO Arlen Orchard.
Arlen Orchard • Feb. 19, 2020 -
Green Charge Networks
Beating China at the lithium game — can the US secure supplies to meet its renewables targets?
To meet its renewables targets, the U.S. needs to secure lithium supplies or find a different way to compete with Beijing’s mining and manufacturing prowess, the author writes.
Teague Egan • Feb. 18, 2020 -
Why DTE Energy gets failing grades on its 15-year energy plan
Advocacy groups gave the utility an "F" for ensuring equitable access to clean energy benefits, according to Vote Solar's Midwest director.
John Delurey • Feb. 13, 2020 -
Erring on the side of trampling on states' rights
Lately, when given the choice between co-existing with state authorities and simply steamrolling those authorities, FERC has consistently pursued the latter, the author writes.
Jessica Bell • Feb. 10, 2020
