Mitnick’s observation was visionary, that we are heading toward an industry that will become increasingly dominated by fixed costs. Even so, he could have gone one step further.

Prematurely closing a nuclear plant because of the inflexibility of solar and wind generation is like going after a fly with a sledgehammer.

Each year the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices convenes governors’ energy advisors. They share lessons learned on state policy and hear about the array of issues impacting the energy sector. In June 2016, takeaways included the need to understand more about equity issues surrounding emerging technologies for low-income populations, potential changes to utility business models, and the energy-water nexus.

To address this brave new world facing the U.S.’s electric utility industry, we suggest an electric utility six-pack to facilitate the transition.

State legislators must be mindful that the customer base is evolving. We will need to reassess the enabling legislation that defines the consumer advocate’s roles in our various states. The consumer advocates, within the statutory authority granted, may have to choose which customers to represent before utility commissions.

Co-ops have the freedom to explore creative ways to enhance energy efficiency. Two forward-thinking programs that treat efficiency as a utility investment may be starting a bit of a revolution.

In a world where carbon dioxide has become somehow toxic, carbon-free energy sources are sought after all over the world. Nuclear energy is the other white meat, so to speak. Renewable nuclear energy, which can be recycled, has great value and should be encouraged. Here are five things policy makers can do to enhance the taste of nuclear energy.

As utility executives prepare for the transition to the “utility of the future,” they they would do well to remember the lessons of top dog trainers. Lessons that share a lot of common ground with the best management models.

Do you stand strictly in defense of the way things are as good enough? Or are you a strategic leader, one who actively explores how to make things better? Best lean to the latter, since the former is a predictable path to irrelevance.

Coops’ customers are increasingly suburban rather than exclusively rural. What’s driving this convergence? And what are the implications for the future of the coop sector?