February's PUF Says Aloha

Spent Thanksgiving week in Hawaii. Plus a couple of days of the week after. Four of the days with either Hawaiian Electric or the Hawaii Public Utility Commission. Or both in the case of that sunny Tuesday, spending the morning with the utility and the afternoon with the Commission.

Though the beaches and waterfalls and forests of Maui were stunning, and though the food on all three islands we visited was spectacular, I have to say that our time with the good people of the utility and the regulator was the highlight. Yes, I know. That says it all about me, but hey.

Mickey M. vs. Energy Efficiency

Disneyland won’t be the biggest attraction in town, in Anaheim, on February 17 to 20. Nope. It’ll be the thirtieth annual conference of the Association of Energy Services Professionals over at the Anaheim Marriott. A thousand or so from our industry — our industry’s top experts in energy efficiency — will be gathered there to celebrate what increased end-use efficiency has accomplished in the last three decades and to plan the next strides of the next decades.

Meeting Innovation's Natural Challenges

Overcoming Headwinds

Over the last five years, utilities have successfully infused awareness of the pace of market change into their employees. Consequently, enhanced visibility is being directed to areas where critical innovation is necessary to ensure business success. 

NARUC's Gas Committee

Two Staff Subcommittees

Conversation with New York PSC commissioner and gas committee chair Diane Burman, plus comments by vice chairs, subcommittee chairs and vice chairs.

Hawaii: Chris Lee

State Representative

“Today we are already well on the way to solving our energy problems. And if it can be done here, then it can be done elsewhere.”

Hawaii: Dean Nishina

Consumer Advocate

“There’s no organized group that intervenes on behalf of large industrial customers or large commercial customers. We are supposed to represent the interests of all of those consumers.”