People
People for July 2004.
Positions filled at American Electric Power, Schneider Electric, Foster Wheeler Energy Limited, and others.
Commission
Lost in Translation
Critics say FERC's filed rate doctrine is wrong for the times.
It’s quite remarkable how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has been able to pound a square peg into a round hole. With not much more than a wink and a smile, FERC has taken a depression-era law meant for monopolies — the Federal Power Act — and has made it serve double duty as a foundation for competitive power markets. Yet FERC’s reinterpretation, for all its good intentions, may prove inadequate in the long run to define and support full-fledged energy markets.
Biling, Blackouts, and the Obligation to Serve
Complex billing is one way to minimize the size and frequency of blackouts.
Complex billing software allows for demand-response program while maximizing the effectiveness of current resources.
Boardroom Directors: Caught in the Matrix
Building a system to evaluate the leadership's ability to meet corporate goals.
Discover your board’s unique strengths and weaknesses by developing a simple matrix chart — and addressing any gaps.
Envision the Utility of Tomorrow
How will the industry change in the future?
Scale, synergies, and automation will transform tomorrow’s utilities, as will deregulation. But new management strategies and new technology also will play a part.
The New CEOs
Whether utility leaders come from law, engineering, or finance, one thing can be said: Many of the new CEOs have had diverse experiences.
Our annual CEO survey looks at six new utility leaders: Mike Morris of AEP, Robert McGehee of Progress Energy, Michael Chesser of Great Plains Energy, Gary Rainwater of Ameren Corp., Dennis Wraase of PEPCO, and Paul Anderson of Duke Energy.
The Fight for Sustainability
Investors are asking utilities questions about environmental and social risks. Answers can be a challenge.
Sustainability reporting may produce benefits that come full circle-satisfying the demands of shareholders, improving the company's performance on environmental and social factors, and ultimately increasing value for investors.
LNG: FERC Asserts Control
CPUC questioned historic oversight authority.
The Sound Energy Solutions declaratory order clarified an important jurisdictional issue at a time when the United States is facing dwindling supplies of natural gas from traditional sources. While the order may ultimately be subject to judicial review, expeditious review and confirmation by the courts of the declaratory order may facilitate the development of new infrastructure and the expansion of existing LNG terminals.
Back to Basics: A Starvation Diet for Utility Earnings Growth
A look at issues that could keep energy executives up at night.
Although much progress has been made in cleaning up liquidity issues facing the merchant generators, those “fixes” may not be sufficient to carry the merchants through the process of working off the excess.
People
People for June 2004.
Positions filled at Southern Co., Mirant, MISO, and others.