Marginal Utility
The Carbon Paradigm Shift
The telephone companies dumped land lines for cellular, and prospered, thanks to their size, ability to raise funds, and name recognition. They migrated to a new paradigm. Can’t electricity providers?
Law & Lawyers
POPS Is Here to Stay
Reports of Plain Old Power Service’s death greatly exaggerated
The vast majority of electric consumers want reliable, clean, reasonably priced electricity, and little else.
Nikola Tesla and Bob Dylan
July Birthdays
Thomas Davenport built the first direct current motor in the U.S. One of Nikola Tesla's many achievements include the first alternating current induction motor and transformer. And on July 24, 1965, the controversial performance by Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival took place, with electric amps.
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.
Weird Appliances
Getting ready for the big game? You need a keg fridge. What about a vision toaster so you can see how browned your bread is? And how about a stencil toaster so you can decorate your toast or even write a message on it?
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.
Order 745: A Time Bomb for Electricity Consumers
One of the worst orders FERC has ever produced
Order 745 overcompensates demand response, unduly discriminates against wholesale suppliers, sanctions and institutionally enforces the exercise of monopsony market power, and will ultimately raise electricity prices.
Energy People: Tony Clark
We talked with FERC Commissioner Tony Clark, who has said he will not seek a second term.
Commissioner Clark is serving his first term at FERC and formerly served as a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission. He was interviewed by Pat McMurray, who has a long background in the energy business.
Energy Cloud Playbook
Building Competitive Advantage for Grid of the Future
The pace and impact of change in the energy industry are unrelenting. Utilities must rethink many of the assumptions that have anchored strategic planning to date. This requires that utilities play both defense as well as offense to remain competitive.
Energy People: John Hargrove
We talked with John Hargrove, CEO of the Association of Energy Services Professionals.
John Hargrove has led the Association of Energy Professionals since March 2015. Previously, Hargrove was director of renewable programs at NV Energy in Nevada for 11 years.