Energy Memories: Bill McCollam
Headed EEI for a Dozen Years
William McCollam, Jr., the president of the Edison Electric Institute from 1978 to 1990, died peacefully on July 30.
Law & Lawyers
Reshaping Energy
Transition to Renewables Minimizing Societal Cost
Implementation of renewables is much more complex than simply replacing fossil fuel plants with renewables. We must transition to renewables. But let's make sure we transition to the package that minimizes total societal cost.
Off Peak: What Ernie Knew!
A crestfallen witness, a respectful commission
Public testimony was the highlight of many public utility rate increase request hearings during my years as a commissioner on the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Rarely was a public witness cross-examined by the utility’s attorney or by the commissioners. Here’s an example of the latter.
Averting Disaster on the Grid
Strategy to Mitigate Risks of Catastrophic Events
Grid Assurance is a coalition of six major U.S. utilities dedicated to providing a cost-effective solution to address the increasing threats to the security of power supplies. Grid Assurance and its consultants created a first-of-a-kind framework to help reduce restoration times following a severe attack from months to weeks or days.
Essential Role of Fossil Fuels in Future Economic Growth
Essential in the 20th Century, and in the 21st
World economic growth over the past two centuries was powered largely by fossil fuels. More than 75 million people are being added to cities globally each year, driving greater energy and infrastructure needs. Fossil fuels will remain the essential global energy sources.
Leveraging Gas Smart Meter Technology to Improve Energy Choice
Step forward to match supplier delivery, customer usage
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. headed towards setting an industry standard as it implements smart-meter-driven delivery forecasting to match supplier delivery and customer usage.
Challenges of Coops Converging with Other Utilities
‘We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.’ Maya Angelou.
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?
In Search of Strategic Leaders
Stand as a Champion
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.
Getting Ready for Competition in Japan
Lessons from Abroad
A comprehensive analysis of Japanese investments in the U.S., Mexico, the U.K., and Australia. From a team expert in the fast-changing electric industry in Japan.
Off Peak: Past PUF Pieces
From PUF in early 1929
The Greensboro Gas Co. suspected a residence was consuming more gas than was recorded by meter. Piping was found hidden in the walls to bypass the meter.