Law & Lawyers

People (November 2014)

El Paso Electric named Mary Kipp president; Edison International appointed Ronald L. Litzinger and Pedro J. Pizarro presidents at subsidiaries; OGE Energy promoted Sean Trauschke to president; Alan Oshima was named Hawaiian Electric’s president and CEO; Plus board of directors changes at ISO New England and sPower; VP appointments at GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, and Georgia Power; and others…

Why Care About Transactive Energy?

Only if you’re a governor, legislator, regulator ... or customer. 

When ratepayers become generators, the utility industry is turned upside-down. A warning to legislators, regulators – and even governors – on what to expect.

Finding Common Ground on Energy Efficiency

Policy recommendations for utilities and regulators.

It’s the downright cheapest way of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Yet it’s mired from state to state in battles over definitions, principles, and parameters. Herein a collection of recommended policy positions to break the impasse over energy efficiency.

Digest (December 2014)

NRG Energy and MGM Resorts International completed installation of the world's largest rooftop solar array on a convention center;

Southern California Edison on November 5 announced the largest purchase of grid-connected energy storage in U.S. history. NRG Energy acquired Pure Energies Group; Duke Energy Progress filed with FERC for approval to purchase $1.2 billion in generating assets;

The U.S. Department of Energy authorized Bechtel to resume engineering work at a facility that will treat some of the nation's liquid radioactive waste; Burns & McDonnell plans to develop a grid stability awareness system;

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of New York's first energy management network operations center. And others...

A Merger Hits Home

Some thoughts on Exelon’s takeover of Pepco.

“Mr. Rigby says there’s no conflict between shareholders wanting the highest price and ratepayers wanting the best service … His view is illogical.” – Scott Hempling, attorney, in opposition.

People (December 2014)

ITC Holdings named Krista Tanner as v.p. of ITC Holdings Corp. and president of ITC Midwest; Dean Seavers will be U.S. president and executive director at National Grid; CenterPoint Energy promoted three company executives; Darren Olagues, is expected to become president and CEO of Cleco; American DG Energy appointed Benjamin M. Locke as co-CEO; Ronald J. Tanski, president and CEO of National Fuel Gas Company, was elected chairman of the board of directors at Interstate Natural Gas Association of America; Appointment changes at several associations, and others...

Transactions (December 2014)

NRG Energy acquired Pure Energies Group, a residential solar industry provider; Duke Energy Progress filed with FERC for approval to purchase the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency’s generating assets for $1.2 billion; Trina Solar Limited signed a share purchase agreement to sell a power plant to funds managed by Foresight Group LLP; AES entered into an agreement to sell its 49.62% equity interest in a joint venture in Turkey; Southern Power acquired the 150-MW Solar Gen 2 solar facility in California from First Solar; SolarCity is planning to launch what would be the first registered public offering of solar bonds in the US; and debt offerings from Dynegy and ComEd.

Energy Politics are Combustible

Many in business back EPA, but the new Congress has yet to weigh in.

The comment period closes on EPA’s Clean Power Plan, but Congress is holding its cards close to the vest.

Managing Assets is Not Asset Management

The real thing demands a culture shift toward long-range thinking.

Rather, it involves a culture shift: towards a broader view to encompass such business processes as life-cycle planning, performance analysis, and the entire value chain.

Integrated Energy

Distributed energy + distributed controls = distributed benefits.

Utility business models are at risk in a world of distributed energy resources and local intelligent controls, such as microgrids. But the real revolution may lie in customer expectations, where third parties threaten to take ownership.