The New Standard Offer
Impact of Robust Customer Engagement
It's not just residential customers. Commercial customers need to be engaged more vigorously and analytically by utilities as competition increases along with customers’ expectations.
Law & Lawyers
Success Strategies in New Japanese Electric Power Market
Part 3 in a Series on Electric Power in Japan
The pace of learning must accelerate so that players in the new Japanese electric power market are prepared to succeed. For retail entrants, the key will be to diversify, in both the retail and wholesale portions of their business.
Local Financing Benefits U.S. Utilities
Banks, Utilities Find Natural Fit
Local banks are still an under-utilized resource for electric utilities, despite the role these banks played historically. Regional and local banks are often healthier than big banks, according to the Federal Reserve.
Overcoming Fear of Fire
Lessons from the Neolithic Age
Some thrive. Others are lost to the ages. What makes the difference? Applied ingenuity.
Innovation Gains Traction with Utilities
Industry’s Focus Evolves
How innovation is embraced will be a differentiating strategy. Successful innovation will be characterized by how well the industry can actually commercialize its outcomes.
Innovation and Capital Recovery
A History of Public Utility Regulation
The electric power industry is the key industry in our society. Nothing can function without adequate, reliable, fairly-priced produced and delivered electric service. Getting the capital recovery or depreciation right is not optional.
Is Customer Activism for Real?
New Business Model, A Balancing Act
The attention given to the new electricity customer seems to overlook the fact that electricity is basically a commodity. And that the average residential customer may in fact be satisfied with electric service and price.
Vegas Energy, Baby
Las Vegas, model of energy efficiency
Having worked in Nevada for many years, I can assure you that Las Vegas is nothing if not mythical. Let’s break down some of those myths as they pertain to energy usage.
Small Modular Reactors and Path Not Taken
Military Rivalry Fueled Nuclear Program
If we had to choose a new nuclear generating technology today, we would emphasize one that had no potential for catastrophic failure and minimized problems of long term waste storage. Perhaps we should revisit the path not taken: a thorium-fueled nuclear reactor design.
Hooking Up
New Entrants, Many Ways to Engage
The ability of new entrants to interconnect new generation on a timely and fair basis is essential during the transition from coal to natural gas and renewables. But how cooperative will incumbents be about it? FERC has always understood that incumbents are incented to frustrate new entry.