Politics at the PUC benefits no one, says a consultant, while another reader reminds that there's more to renewables risk than fuel price.
I find refreshing Commissioner Craig A. Glazer's admission that what is happening to electric and gas utilities is restructuring, not deregulation ("Ten Ways to Annoy a Regulator,", Feb. 15, p. 26). However, readers know that. The general public is being misled into thinking that deregulation is occurring, so Commissioner Glazer is addressing the wrong audience.
Having long observed and participated in the utility regulatory process, I find Commissioner Glazer's theme interesting and some of his "mistakes" deserving of comment. It is unfortunate that the politics of regulation usually causes "annoying a regulator" to be a career-limiting action. I have observed regulators who deserve to be so thoroughly "annoyed" they seek another line of work.
Some of Commissioner Glazer's "mistakes" require mutual trust, so cannot be implemented without the regulator demonstrating trustworthiness. Too often, mutual trust is not possible, because the regulator is using his or her current position as a political stepping stone.
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