Smart by Default
Time-varying rates from the get-go – not just by opt-in.
Default enrollment for time-varying rates, with an opt-out, will reduce peak demand and far more than a default flat rate with a TVR opt-in.
BGE
Digest (June 2014)
Algonquin Power & Utilities enters partnership with Siemens Canada for 10 wind turbines expected to start operation early next year; Strata Solar installs nine utility-scale solar projects in North Carolina; Ontario Power Generation establishes agreement with Westinghouse to consider nuclear plant refurbishment, decommissioning and remediation; JinkoSolar successfully connects solar power plant in Jiangsu Province; El Paso Pipeline acquires 50 percent interest in Ruby Pipeline from Kinder Morgan
Exelon to Acquire Pepco Holdings
Submitted by aburr on Tue, 2014-05-06 12:25Exelon and Pepco Holdings signed a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in an all-cash transaction. The agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, brings together Exelon’s three electric and gas utilities – BGE, ComEd and PECO – and Pepco Holdings’ electric and gas utilities – Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco – to create the leading Mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility.
Modernizing with Trackers
Time-tested cost recovery mechanisms provide stable funding for infrastructure replacement.
Automatic tracker surcharges provide timely cost recovery for multi-year utility system improvement programs.
Vendor Neutral
(August 2011) Shaw Group completes 500 MW combined cycle plant; Pattern Energy begins building Spring Valley wind farm; AEP, Duke and TVA team up on interstate transmission line; AEP and MidAmerican contract for Texas transmission projects; Alliant contracts Open Systems International for volt-VAR control system; Alstom buys into AWS Ocean Energy; Siemens acquires shares in PV manufacturer Semprius; Lockheed Martin introduces cyber security system; plus contracts and announcements involving Elster, Itron, Suzlon, Solon, Sensus, Westinghouse Electric, Morgan Lewis and others.
Vendor Neutral
(June 2011) Duke and ATC team up to build transmission lines; AEP installs bioreactor to control selenium emissions; NextEra buys 100 MW of wind from Google; Ocean Power Technologies awards contracts for wave power array; Kansas City picks Elster; BC Hydro picks Itron; plus contracts and developments involving Tres Amigas, Ioxus, Opower and others.
People (April 2011)
Ameren announces new executive positions; The New York State Smart Grid Consortium names first executive director; Constellation Energy selects lead for solar sales and green initiatives; plus senior staff changes at Puget Sound Energy, Baltimore Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas and Electric, Central Vermont Public Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, and others.
Better Data, New Conclusions
The authors respond to Roycroft’s reality check.
Experience with time-of-use pricing programs shows that a large majority of low-income customers will benefit from dynamic prices. In fact, not making such prices available to these customers might be harmful. In the most efficient system, all customers will face the same prices—and policy makers can provide direct relief to ease the burden for low-income customers.
Low-Income Reality Check
Evaluating the impact of dynamic pricing.
Are residential time-of-use prices only effective for middle class households, or do low-income customers benefit too—as authors Lisa Wood and Ahmad Faruqui asserted in their October 2010 article? Data from pilot programs show that low-income customers exhibit a reduced ability to benefit from dynamic pricing. Demand response programs should accommodate the realities of low-income customers’ consumption patterns.
People (February 2011)
American Electric Power names new president; Edison International promotes two to e.v.p.; DPL elevates Craig Jackson to vice president and treasurer; INGAA names new director of communications; plus personnel changes at Constellation, Consumers Energy, Southwest Power Pool, and other organizations.