Strategy & Planning

Public Utilities Fortnightly's Paul Kjellander examines the federal funds coming into the energy and utilities space and how State Energy Offices are playing a role. He talks to the experts who are already dealing with the big funding issues.

Climate change has emerged as a top priority in Washington, giving hope to all those that have a sense of urgency about slowing down that oncoming train of a changing climate.

“If employees see their leaders taking safety seriously, they know they are supported in putting their safety first always. When leaders prioritize safety, it becomes part of the culture of the organization.”

“Achieving a competitive dispensed price for hydrogen fuel is a challenge – even with IRA support – due to the complex supply chain involved in getting hydrogen fuel to the pump.”

“Most C&I leaders want help achieving efficiency or cleaner energy goals. The good news for utilities is they are among the top of the list of providers large energy consumers would trust for support. But in the data we also see other potential providers they might go to for help.”

“In developing resources, we’re doing a lot of stormwater capture that is cost effective; on the other hand, wastewater cleanup is not so cheap, but it’s cheaper than desalinization.”

“Many of those studies will show, if you look at the IEA or others, that the world will be continuing to use fossil energy in 2050. It’s how do you manage carbon and how you’re reducing emissions from other places. Regulators do have a lot of ability in this space.”

“When you look at the regulated side of the business, our revenue requirement will probably go from 20-ish billion to about $70 billion over the next 15 to 20 years. That means rates are going to go up about 10 to 15% a year. It’s mandatory we do this.”

Excerpts of remarks by British Columbia Utilities Commission Chair David Morton, Resilient CEO Lisa DeMarco, Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines, Canada Energy Regulator Commissioner Trena Grimoldby, Yukon Utilities Board, Board Member Lesley McCullough, Prince Edward Island Regulatory & Appeals Commission Chair Scott MacKenzie, Canada Energy Regulator CEO Gitane De Silva, and Ontario Energy Board CEO Susanna Zagar.

“We need 30 GW of utility-scale storage and 10 GW of distributed storage to ensure system reliability and resiliency. Southern California Edison already has 5.5 GW of storage either installed or on the way because it’s been procured, including a 535-MW utility-owned lithium battery project available later this year.”