The Price is Right?
Demand response on appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.
It could well be that demand response results in a more stable pricing environment that seems less risky to investors.
Commission Watch
Equity Returns: ‘Allowed’ vs. Earned
Understanding how PUC rate case findings differ from a utility’s financial reports.
(November 2015) Setting an allowed return on equity has consistently proven to be the most contentious and subjective part of a rate case proceeding.
Understanding New York's 'Vision'
A roadmap to ‘REV’ and its plan for restructuring.
New York's far-reaching reform plan, called the Renewable Energy Vision, or “REV,” seeks to decentralize power supply by encouraging distributed resources, and a new regulatory entity will be created called a “Distributed System Platform,” or DSP.
New York Takes the Lead
No proposal is as radical – or as well thought out – as REV.
If the New York Rev is fully implemented, utility earnings would depend more on creating value for customers and achieving policy objectives.
Rooftop Solar 2.0
Hawaii and California grapple over net energy metering.
While the underlying questions in each state regarding net energy metering are much the same, the two PUC's will approach the issue from different perspectives.
How to Talk to Regulators
Why some proceedings blow up, while others reach consensus.
The core of a good regulatory proceeding is a conversation.
Commenting on Carbon
State PUCs take on EPA and its Clean Power Plan.
Everything about the Clean Power Plan seems surreal. States complain of unfair treatment. Regulators read the proposed rule and sound warnings of a coming apocalypse.
Regulatory Roundup
2004 FERC roundup: Path 15 Upgrade; Gas Bypass Pipeline; Power Line Communications; Gen Station Power Needs; ISO Retail Service; Renewable Energy Portfolios; Gas Supply Risk; Fuel Cost Hedging; Utility Supply Solicitations; Provider of Last Resort; Coal Seam Gas; Deceptive Marketing Practices; Renewable Portfolio Standards.
Risk Holds Sway
Interest rates not always controlling for return on equity.
(November 2014) Our annual survey of rates of return on common equity authorized by state public utility commissions in recent rate cases for electric and gas retail distribution utilities.
FERC's Folly
Remand Order 745, fix the compensation scheme, but retain federal jurisdiction.
Why the D.C. Circuit should rehear the appeal of FERC Order 745, and how it should rule.