November Birthdays: Sam Insull
Insull literally created our system of regulated monopolies and cost-of-service regulation.
Electric Utility History in History
George Bernard Shaw, President McKinley, Dr. Benjamin Spock, Al Capone
George Bernard Shaw got his start with Edison and Insull; President McKinley collapsed in his arms, later he founded EEI; Dr. Spock’s child care book, and Reddy Kilowatt; Scarface Al Capone thwarted by utilities’ Sam Insull
Energy Memories: Regulatory Economist Michael Crew
Memories by Faruqui and Littlechild
His books, articles, journals and conferences were familiar to many in utility regulation. The California PUC passed a resolution last year acknowledging his contributions to regulation.
2016 Annual Rate Case Survey
It is often said that ratemaking is as much art as science.
It is the process of setting a return on equity that is fair to both shareholders and consumers that demonstrates the art and science practiced by regulators. One case reported here provides a good glimpse at the entire range of issues put before regulators: a decision by the Michigan Public Service Commission setting electric rates for Consumers Energy Company.
Refocusing Rate Design Debates
Public Interest before Special Interest
We must get back to pricing fundamentals. The goals of performance and or incentive-based regulation apply to consumers and not just producers. Here are three questions that every rate design investigation should consider.
Path Forward for Storage
Managing Aging Nuclear Storage Canisters
The Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, will publish nuclear aging management and inspection guidance in early 2017. These will address the potential for chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking in welded stainless steel canisters in dry-cask storage systems.
Benefits Add Up
SW Utilities Show Efficiency Benefits
The southwest region saw more energy saved from utility energy efficiency programs than was generated from solar power, both distributed and utility-scale.
Hooking Up
New Entrants, Many Ways to Engage
The ability of new entrants to interconnect new generation on a timely and fair basis is essential during the transition from coal to natural gas and renewables. But how cooperative will incumbents be about it? FERC has always understood that incumbents are incented to frustrate new entry.
Small Modular Reactors and Path Not Taken
Military Rivalry Fueled Nuclear Program
If we had to choose a new nuclear generating technology today, we would emphasize one that had no potential for catastrophic failure and minimized problems of long term waste storage. Perhaps we should revisit the path not taken: a thorium-fueled nuclear reactor design.
Vegas Energy, Baby
Las Vegas, model of energy efficiency
Having worked in Nevada for many years, I can assure you that Las Vegas is nothing if not mythical. Let’s break down some of those myths as they pertain to energy usage.