| Fortnightly

Writing 'The Power Brokers'

Jeremiah D. Lambert, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., has served PJM and other clients in the electric utility industry and has written extensively on energy-related topics.

In “The Power Brokers: The Struggle to Shape and Control the Electric Power Industry,” I sought to craft a narrative, telling the story of an essential bedrock business through the players who influenced its course.

Byline:

Jeremiah D. Lambert

Read Entire Article

Energy Policy Development Potential New Paradigm, and a Challenge

Towards a consensus-based outline of how technological advances can be encouraged and risk-managed.

We need to more seriously and collaboratively explore concepts across stakeholder groups, to gain a better understanding of different perspectives and priorities.

Byline:

Tom Sloan

Read Entire Article

The Powerwall Follies

A year later, reality is kicking in.

One year after Elon Musk rolled out the Powerwall: The real price is 60 to 80 percent more than Musk claimed. A handful (yes, I mean about five) have actually been installed in Germany and Australia. None in the U.S. so far.

Byline:

Steve Huntoon

Read Entire Article

Is Cleantech Coming of Age?

Analysis of investment data from the Cleantech Group i3 platform.

Private investment flows into cleantech reveal consistent signs of maturation. Cleantech is becoming more mature, diverse, and in some sectors – perhaps such as utilities – increasingly “conventional.”

Byline:

Daniel Gabaldon

Read Entire Article

Tale of Two Grids

What a review of PUC cases tells us about the future of consumer technology and grid modernization.

There may be a more fundamental schism that raises fundamental questions about the role of the distribution utility and footprint of the natural monopoly.

Byline:

Cameron Brooks

Read Entire Article

Federal Versus State Jurisdiction in the Electricity Business

Two back-to-back decisions by the Supreme Court in 2016 will fundamentally redefine the jurisdictional split.

If the Supreme Court holds to the principles and logic of its ruling in EPSA, it will restore states’ traditional central role in resource planning.

Byline:

Craig Roach and Vincent Musco

Read Entire Article

Aggregation 2.0: Evolution of Customer Engagement with Retail Choice?

An innovative approach to targeted retail aggregation.

No state has had the same initial success with municipal aggregation as Illinois, where more than 650 local governments enrolled 70 percent of residential consumers into municipal aggregation contracts. The pathway forward in Illinois provides a model to help get programs off the ground in all retail choice states.

Byline:

Michael Strong and Mark Pruitt

Read Entire Article

FPA § 203(a)(1)(B): A Deal is a Deal, No Matter How Small?

With apologies to Dr. Seuss.

There are questions whether FERC and industry resources are being expended on matters once considered, and arguably should continue to be considered, de minimis.

Byline:

Joel deJesus and Carmen Gentile

Read Entire Article

A Five-Point Plan For The Next Wave Of Electricity Restructuring

The monopoly utility model was once expansive and revolutionary. Now, it is contracting and preservationist.

A plan for restructuring: Delivery service pricing reform; devolution of generation and re-allocating risk; stranded cost recovery; distributed resources neutrality; optimization of service offerings.

Byline:

Philip O’Connor, Wayne Olson, and Robert Bussa

Read Entire Article

FERC Chasing the Uncatchable

Trying to fix mandatory capacity markets like trying to win whack-a-mole, Part I

FERC’s efforts to get capacity markets “right” have led to endless – and futile – tinkering. The cure proposed – making capacity auction markets mandatory – has unfortunately proved far worse than the disease.

Byline:

Delia Patterson and Harvey Reiter

Read Entire Article

Search form