Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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'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 -
Is IoT a friend or foe of the utility industry?
While the Internet of Things will profoundly impact how people consume energy, concrete data is lacking on whether connected home appliances will significantly reduce energy use, or by how much.
Jon Snyder • March 15, 2018 -
FERC tries to thread the needle in debate over markets versus mandates
Is FERC destroying markets in order to save them, Montana Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Travis Kavulla asks.
Travis Kavulla • March 13, 2018 -
From smart grid to neural grid: Well, how do I get there?
The interplay of smart infrastructure, end-user devices, and applications and services, is what takes the smart grid of today into the Neural Grid future, Navigant's Richelle Elberg writes.
Richelle Elberg • March 09, 2018 -
Community energy storage: What is it? where is it? how does it work?
IREC attorneys Joseph Petta and Erica McConnell explore the challenges and opportunities of this latest community energy model.
Joseph Petta and Erica McConnell • March 07, 2018 -
Bridging the knowledge gap with virtual and augmented reality
Digital reality can and should serve as a transitional lifeline of sorts for utilities to engage and optimize their new generation of workers.
Michael Hartnack • March 01, 2018 -
Five energy industry trends of tomorrow impacting companies today
Energy is a long game, and all stakeholders have made a long-term affirmation that we are headed toward a more renewable future, REC Solar Senior Vice President Alan Russo writes.
Alan Russo • Feb. 28, 2018 -
Let the US EPA coal ash rule procedures work
Environmentalists are raising concerns about risks to groundwater from coal ash, making this an opportune time to clarify EPA’s 2015 coal combustion residual rule, attorney Brent Fewell writes.
Brent Fewell • Feb. 26, 2018