Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
Ensuring State Emission Reduction in Clean Power Plan
Strong public policy favors giving states credit for the carbon reductions they make while the Plan’s legality is pending.
Energy Policy & Legislation
Costs Fixed Depending on Timeframe
As we head towards a fixed cost electricity system
All costs are fixed. All costs are variable. How is that possible? As Albert Einstein might say, it depends on the reference of time.
Getting Berned
What’s the price tag of banning fracking?
Ironically, a ban on fracking would increase coal generation, which emits carbon dioxide at twice the rate of gas generation.
Tax Implications of NEM Successor Policies
Federal income tax treatment has nothing to do with pricing sale of electricity to utility or customer.
Advocates for net metering argue that if the electricity delivered by the customer to the utility is credited at the full retail rate, the amount is not taxable, but if credited at less than the full retail rate, such as under a feed-in tariff or a value of solar tariff, the IRS might count the credited amount as taxable income. A tax expert fills us in on the other side of the story.
Chasing the Uncatchable
Why trying to fix mandatory capacity markets is like trying to win a game of Whack-A-Mole (Parts I & II)
FERC has little to show for more than a decade of tinkering with mandatory capacity markets.
Illinois Approach to Regulating Distribution Utility of the Future
Annual formula rate is working to stabilize distribution ratemaking.
A lot has been said of alternative ratemaking approaches. The clearest, most direct path is what has been happening in Illinois, a success by any reasonable measure for a distribution utility.
The British Electricity Model: 25 Years of Experience
Should We Follow U.K.’s Lead?
British price cap regulation quickly became the international gold standard for regulation. It looked so simple. But if the purpose was to provide a dramatically different and less expensive electricity experience, it failed.
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.
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.
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.