Effective Rate Design
Two by Four, not a Nudge
Some might think that tweaking rates is all that is needed. This is false. Effective rate design must get customers’ attention. It is not a precise science that should be constrained by gradualism.
Energy Policy & Legislation
Ultimate Triumph of Standard Market Design
Chairman Wood, Commissioners Brownell, Massey, Breathitt, take a bow
Standard Market Design was demonized on the Hill, declared dead by FERC in 2005, and remains a political third rail. But what really became of SMD?
Residential Demand Charges: Bad Choice
Time-of-Use is a Better Reform
Utilities go too far in their proposals to recover capacity costs from rooftop solar customers who self-generate. The affirmative case for Time-of-Use tariffs that reflect marginal costs is strong for all customers.
Facilitating Innovation
Making Regulation a Better Surrogate for Competition
There are some ways, though perhaps modest, for regulators to move their utilities along and encourage appropriate risk taking.
Energy People: Clint Vince
We talked with Clint Vince, chair of the Dentons LLP Energy sector
Clint Vince has directed the expansion of the U.S. energy team to more than 1,000 professionals in 58 countries. His experience involves major project development, legislative and regulatory advocacy, and litigation and appellate cases, including U.S. Supreme Court advocacy.
Energy People: Chair Audrey Zibelman
We talked with Audrey Zibelman, Chair of the New York Public Service Commission
Chair Zibelman has been responsible for designing and leading the regulatory market changes of the electric industry under Gov. Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision, a comprehensive plan to modernize and transform New York’s electric industry. Previously she served as COO of PJM.
November Birthdays: Sam Insull
Insull literally created our system of regulated monopolies and cost-of-service regulation.
Refocusing Rate Design Debates
Public Interest before Special Interest
We must get back to pricing fundamentals. The goals of performance and or incentive-based regulation apply to consumers and not just producers. Here are three questions that every rate design investigation should consider.
Rethinking Rate Design
Berkeley Lab’s Discussion with Five Experts
Five of our industry's top thought leaders weigh in on the white-hot controversy of rate design as utilities and regulators plot a course for electricity's future.
Energy People: D.C. PSC Staff
We talked with seven staff members of the District of Columbia Public Service Commission
Commission staffs work behind the scenes, without much recognition, to make utility regulation effective. To hear some of their stories, we talked with seven staff members of the D.C. PSC.