Time for Creativity
Tom Sloan is a recently retired twelve-term veteran of the Kansas Legislature and member of several federal agency and professional legislator organizations’ energy committees.
As an American and retired State Representative, I think about pressing national, state, and local problems that require attention, but too often have been ignored. From a national focus, combatting racism, developing a vaccine to protect against COVID-19, and the amount of U.S. national debt held by China are at the top of my list.
On a personal basis, being unable or unwilling to travel to see our eldest grandchildren during the pandemic and concerns for our younger daughter's bi-racial family occupy my attention.
However, one that is more local in nature, and one over which I no longer have any influence, is the incipient desire of elected officials to address relatively short-term problems with policies that have long-term negative economic and political implications. One example is the widespread issuance of moratoriums against disconnecting customers who do not pay their utility bills.
Precedent
Public officials, state regulators, and utility executives share a common goal - affordable, reliable electricity, but political concerns adversely impact development of coordinated perspectives and policy choices.