Monopolistic Utility Companies Suppress the Use of Customer Data — Episode 149 of Building Local Power
On this episode of the Building Local Power Podcast, ILSR’s John Farrell is joined by Michael Murray, President of Mission Data. … Read More
ILSR Asks Regulators to Protect Customers From Unjust Utility Spending
In February 2022, ILSR filed comments to FERC on utility rate recovery and industry association dues. These comments argue that monopoly utilities must prove they are not spending ratepayer dollars on advocacy for anti-competitive, anti-consumer policies.… Read More
The Movement to Take Back Control From Monopoly Electric Utilities — Episode 143 of Building Local Power
In this episode of Building Local Power, we share a recording of ILSR’s recent event Democratizing Power: New Citizen Initiatives Challenge Monopoly Electric Utilities. Across the country, powerful utilities are actively blocking decentralized solar energy, degrading the reliability of the power lines even as they raise prices, and failing to make the grid investments needed for a clean, carbon-free future. Listen to ILSR’s Stacy Mitchell and John Farrell facilitate conversations with the advocates who are leading the movement to take back control from electric utility monopolies. … Read More
Can More Competition Fix an Outdated Energy System? — Episode 146 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Chris Villarreal discuss the electricity market and how it insulates utility companies from competition.… Read More
Targeting Subscriber Inequities in Minnesota’s Community Solar Program
In these comments, submitted to Minnesota utility regulators, ILSR asks that the Commission extends the residential adder: a program designed to increase residential participation in community solar gardens.… Read More
In the Star Tribune: Wrong Incentives Drive Energy Decisions in Minnesota, Most States
In the Star Tribune, ILSR Co-Director and Director of the Energy Democracy Initiative John Farrell explains that thanks to a lack of competition, Minnesota energy companies have little incentive to invest in clean energy.… Read More
Much More Rooftop Solar from an Alternative to Monopoly Utility Models
A new modeling approach from Vote Solar and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) might finally put distributed solar on the same footing in grid planning as the large power plants that utilities prefer.… Read More
How Big Utilities’ Climate Pledges Fall Short — Episode 122 of Building Local Power
LSR Co-Director John Farrell speaks with John Romankiewicz, Senior Analyst for the Beyond Coal Campaign at Sierra Club. Their discussion focuses on a new report from the Sierra Club called The Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges, which takes an in-depth look at electric utilities’ public commitments to lower carbon emissions. … Read More
In Support of an Improved Securitization Bill in Minnesota
Read John Farrell’s testimony in favor of a power plant securitization bill, which he gave to the Minnesota the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy committee on February 2.… Read More