October excerpt: Why financial strength matters

An excerpt from October’s Public Utilities Fortnightly, among the 23 articles, columns and letters in this issue

An excerpt from October’s Public Utilities Fortnightly, From the Editor, pages 4 and 6:

If you believe the nation’s electric grid (including its generating, transmission and distribution infrastructure) doesn’t need much tending to, doesn’t need much capital investment, then the financial strength of our utilities doesn’t matter much to you. 

But consider the converse. If you believe the grid does need much tending to, does need much investment, then the financial strength of our utilities does matter a whole lot to you… 

Byline: 

Steve Mitnick

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You Must Read 'Last Days of Night'

Foundation story for our industry, with intrigues of Edison, Westinghouse, Tesla, Morgan and Bell

“Last Days of Night” is a historical novel about the war of currents between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, along with Nikola Tesla, J.P. Morgan and Alexander Graham Bell.
Byline: 

Steve Mitnick

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October issue: Two compelling excerpts

From our upcoming October issue, among 23 articles, columns, letters

“Rethinking Rationale for Net Metering,” By Barbara Alexander, Ashley Brown, and Ahmad Faruqui; and “Leadership Lyceum Podcast Summary,” Tom Fanning, Southern Co. CEO, with interviewer Tom Linquist.
Byline: 

Steve Mitnick

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Electric Prices Lagged Inflation for Residential, Commercial, Industrial

Residential electric prices increased eight-tenths as fast as inflation, commercial seven-tenths as fast, industrial nine-tenths as fast

All this week, we’ve been filling you in, on what the August 2016 electric price data published last week (the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index) means for utility policy and regulation.

There was too much to fit in a single column.

Byline: 

Steve Mitnick

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Texas Solar Two Step

Different Outcomes in State’s Two Distinct Markets

Texas highlights the importance of market structures and economics in the growth of solar deployment. Driven by customer interest and policy objectives, distributed and utility-scale solar has thrived in municipal and cooperative service territories. The same has not been true in the competitive wholesale market with retail choice.
Byline: 

Marc Miller and Bob Gibson

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Getting Ready for Competition in Japan

Lessons from Abroad

A comprehensive analysis of Japanese investments in the U.S., Mexico, the U.K., and Australia. From a team expert in the fast-changing electric industry in Japan.
Byline: 

Sean Gammons, Glenn George, Robert Southern, and Willis Geffert

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Frequency Control and ACE

Someone Else’s Problem Field

Thirty to forty percent renewable targets are inadequate to halt our steady descent into climate change and ocean acidification. It will require renewable levels of 80 to 90 percent, and international cooperation.
Byline: 

Charles Bayless

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Rethinking Rationale for Net Metering

Quantifying Subsidy from Non-Solar to Solar Customers

A thought-provoking call for fact- and principle-based policy on the controversial net metering matter. From three respected co-authors from diverse backgrounds.
Byline: 

Barbara Alexander, Ashley Brown, and Ahmad Faruqui

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Energy People: Werner Buehler

We talked with Werner Buehler, General Manager of Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative

Werner Buehler is the general manager of Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative based in Baker City, Oregon. Oregon Trail serves 23,000 members in four rural counties in eastern Oregon.
Byline: 

Werner Buehler, with Steve Mitnick

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Energy People: Adam Sieminski

We talked with Adam Sieminski, Administrator at the Energy Information Administration

Adam Sieminski became the eighth administrator of the EIA in 2012. While awaiting confirmation as EIA administrator, Sieminski served as senior director for energy and environment on the staff of the National Security Council.
Byline: 

Adam Sieminski, with Pat McMurray

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