District of Columbia

Bechtel Breaks Ground on Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Virginia

Bechtel broke ground on a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant in Loudoun County, Virginia. Bechtel is providing project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and startup services, while its consortium partner, Siemens, is responsible for core power elements, including the natural gas and steam turbines, generators, and waste-heat-recovery boilers.

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.

Risk Holds Sway

Interest rates not always controlling for return on equity. 

(November 2014) Our annual survey of rates of return on common equity authorized by state public utility commissions in recent rate cases for electric and gas retail distribution utilities.

Modernizing with Trackers

Time-tested cost recovery mechanisms provide stable funding for infrastructure replacement.

Automatic tracker surcharges provide timely cost recovery for multi-year utility system improvement programs.

Partnership, Not Preemption

How state-sponsored planning can fit with FERC’s capacity markets.

FERC-approved capacity markets and state-sponsored resource planning serve different needs. The one shouldn’t pre-empt the other.

People (March 2013)

NSTAR appoints new president; Southern Company names new financial management team; BPA gets new administrator; plus management changes at AEP, Duke, ITC, ConEdison, GDF Suez, ERCOT, MISO, NARUC, and others.