Opinion

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders

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Borrowing from Europe to reinvent co-ops' business model

Power sector transition is often dominated by 'shiny new objects' like solar + storage, and the chance to serve customers more comprehensively can be overlooked. One way to change this is the European "chauffage" contract.
Peter Kelly-Detwiler and Ken Colburn • July 19, 2018
Make or buy for utilities: Putting services and capital investments on a level playing field

While the performance of regulatory options can vary, if a service solution is more cost-effective to meet a need, regulators should ensure that customers can benefit without punishing utility investors, AEE's Danny Waggoner writes.
Danny Waggoner • July 16, 2018
Utilities: Time to sharpen your product management skills

As they diversify into distributed energy, blockchain, online marketplaces and other innovative energy solutions, utilities will want to expand their product management competencies, writes Austin Whitman of FirstFuel Software.
Austin Whitman • July 13, 2018
Energy & utility leaders: How to transform with little to no room for error

From repairing and replacing decades-old infrastructure, to innovating new ways of providing clean energy, the utility industry is facing a powerful set of circumstances with high risk, writes David Carder of Kotter.
David Carder • July 09, 2018
Exploding transmission costs are the missing story in California's regionalization debate

A debate is raging in California about whether the risks of a new western RTO outweigh the benefits claimed by transmission proponents. The answer is a resounding no, Clean Coalition's Doug Karpa writes.
Doug Karpa • July 05, 2018
Assuring grid reliability in California — a view from Commissioner Randolph

A decade and a half after the energy crisis, market behavior and a changing portfolio have triggered new moves to ensure California has enough affordable generation to meet demand.
Liane M. Randolph • June 28, 2018
New grid transparency tools improve distributed generation siting

Two tools can help customers and project developers more quickly and cheaply identify grid locations for distribution generation projects, according to Mari Hernandez, regulatory program manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
Mari Hernandez • June 26, 2018
'Restructured' by any other name would smell as sweet

On the subject of energy markets and their functioning, there's no free market electricity competition, with or without the Trump administration's baseload power supply subsidy plan, former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark writes.
Tony Clark • June 21, 2018
5 things utilities should consider for energy storage

Utilities navigating energy storage integration should take into account the flexibility and speed of modular programs when comparing storage to gas peaker plants, Axiom Exergy's John Lerch writes.
John Lerch • June 19, 2018
Will FERC uphold state support for clean energy?

Some are celebrating FERC's apparent defense of state environmental policies, but that reaction is premature, write Danny Cullenward and Shelley Welton.
Danny Cullenward and Shelley Welton • June 04, 2018
Why natural gas' reign may come to a quick end

Turbulent markets and disruptive technology will require every fuel source — even those that are currently winning on low costs — to become even more efficient, writes Uptake's Michael Donohue.
Michael Donohue • May 31, 2018
5 ways energy companies can protect themselves from cyberattacks

Cyberattacks are a matter of when, not if. As a result, energy companies should choose a tech partner that’s mature, proven and dedicated to innovation and security, Aurea's Rachel Collins writes.
Rachel Collins • May 26, 2018
Minnesota overhauls interconnection standards to streamline clean energy

The standards are the great equalizer in clean energy markets, and remain a key building block to support a strong foundation for continued clean energy growth, writes IREC Counsel Sky Stanfield.
Sky Stanfield • May 25, 2018
California utilities race to charge your electric car, bus, forklift

California utilities want to spend $1 billion on EV charging infrastructure. Regulators want to cut that in half. Earthjustice attorney Adrian Martinez suggests three tweaks for regulators to consider.
Adrian Martinez • May 16, 2018
Order 1000 should remain a priority for FERC

As grid changes and resilience demands drive transmission construction, FERC should expand Oder 1000 to drive innovative solutions and cost containment, former PUC Texas Chairman Barry Smitherman writes.
Barry Smitherman • May 09, 2018
How can US utilities be ready when everything changes?

EY has modeled three critical tipping points for utilities on the way to a new energy system. In Europe and Oceania they're staggered, but in the U.S., they'll arrive in much quicker succession, Dana Hanson writes.
Dana Hanson • May 04, 2018
Energy use disaggregation is coming. Here are 3 ways utilities can make the most of it

Uttara Sivaram, who has managed product deployments for Bidgely Corp., says utilities need to make energy usage disaggregation part of a broader strategy.
Uttara Sivaram • April 26, 2018
Understanding grid resilience implications for market design: Beyond the NETL study

Researchers at Resources for the Future and the R Street Institute offer an alternative approach to the recent National Energy Technology Laboratory study.
Karen Palmer, Devin Hartman and Daniel Shawhan • April 24, 2018
Access to data: Bringing the electricity grid into the Information Age

Timely and convenient access to utility and customer data is vital to moving the electric utility industry into the digital age, unlocking value and engaging customers in new ways, AEE's Coley Girouard writes.
Coley Girouard • April 23, 2018
Transportation electrification should build on energy efficiency and renewables program success

States should build on the foundation of strong energy efficiency and renewable energy policies to accelerate the public benefits of transportation electrification, attorney Robin Lunt writes.
Robin Lunt • April 13, 2018
DOE research, development and demonstration funding: Keep on growin'

The Trump Administration is proposing historic cuts in energy RD&D spending. Congress rejected similar cuts for FY 2018 and should do the same for FY 2019, ITIF's Colin Cunliff and David Hart write.
Colin Cunliff and David Hart • April 13, 2018
Three things consumers want from electricity providers

Utilities are working to improve the customer experience, but what do consumers really want? Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative's Patty Durand explores.
Patty Durand • April 10, 2018
Of monopolies and monopolies: Cost of service 'markets' abound

The Restructured Administrative Market Model is having a "tough go," attorneys Ray Gifford and Matt Larson write, noting that central planning is its core tenet, as with traditional monopoly service providers.
Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • March 28, 2018
C&I demand response grows half a world away from its starting point

Navigant Principal Research Analyst Brett Feldman looks at recent demand response initiatives in the commercial and industrial sectors in Australia and Japan.
Brett Feldman • March 23, 2018
Wind and solar costs continue to drop below fossil fuels. What barriers remain for a low-carbon grid?

Energy Innovation's Michael O'Boyle and Silvio Marcacci outline the barriers to high-penetration wind and solar in the least-cost era.
Michael O'Boyle, Silvio Marcacci • March 21, 2018