Strategy & Planning

Are Utilities and Government Skimping on R&D?

The future of the energy sector and environment is at stake.

Public utility regulation has a role to play in stimulating R&D by energy utilities. Studies have confirmed that social returns on R&D are much greater than private returns, evidence supporting government involvement (e.g., via funding or performance) in R&D.

Byline:

Ken Costello

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Framing Virtual Reality

What’s old is truly new again.

Virtual reality – a fully immersive, all-encompassing experience – has, for decades, captured the imagination of science fiction writers and tech innovators alike. How will this technology change the way we communicate or transact business?

Byline:

Shawn DuBravac

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An Industry Transformed

Looking back on my 45 years in the energy sector.

By diving into today’s more diverse energy sector and embracing change, utilities stand to benefit over the long term. This is precisely why I am so excited about the future, even if I do occasionally look back wistfully on the past.

Byline:

Roy Palk

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Rethinking How To Value Energy Savings In Smaller Businesses

In behavioral programs, where small businesses make all kinds of changes, attributing energy savings is not straightforward.

Evaluators could be performing nearly the identical regression analysis, but with the logarithm of energy usage as a dependent variable.

Byline:

Colin Fraser

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Reinvigorating a Century Old Business Model

The Power of Efficient Capital

Customers don’t have to wait decades while the grid incrementally evolves to incorporate transformational technologies. Led by customer-driven choices and decisions, we in the utility industry can and should accelerate the transition.

Byline:

Larry Kellerman

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Utilities' Role in Transport Electrification: Capturing Benefits for All Ratepayers

Utility load growth from EVs can actually benefit all ratepayers by providing societal benefits and reducing utilities’ average cost of service.

An EV charging infrastructure network only provides value and reduces range anxiety to the degree it is well maintained.

Byline:

Nancy Ryan and Lucy McKenzie

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PPL CEO Interviewed

We went to Allentown and talked with Bill Spence.

What are the most exciting things happening at PPL? What were the biggest challenges in that journey? Were there some tough challenges you had to get through?

Byline:

Bill Spence, with Steve Mitnick

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We Made Light Free

As inexpensive as lighting was, twenty years ago, we’ve since made it close to free. Too cheap to meter?

Will lighting drop to a tenth of residential consumption, then below? Every use of a machine, appliance, device shrunk in its significance to the household budget.

Byline:

Steve Mitnick

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Technological Innovation and Public Policy-Making

The new grid will be driven by opportunities for electric utilities and customers to monetize their economic opportunities.

Policy-maker’s perspective: It's important to permit utilities to become more efficient and develop alternative revenue streams.

Byline:

Tom Sloan

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Schneiderman Targets Peabody Energy

Shareholder Protection or War on Coal?

Why did Schneiderman sue Peabody? Because Peabody is America’s biggest coal company. He also likely wanted to establish a precedent before launching a Martin Act investigation of even bigger game: ExxonMobil.

Byline:

Marlo Lewis, Jr.

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Strategy & Planning