electric utilities Archives - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

26 Jun 2018

Being a B Corp also Benefits Green Mountain Power’s Bottom Line

by Maria McCoy and John Farrell | Date: 26 Jun 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Conventional wisdom suggests that concerns about social and environmental impacts, though well-intended, can distract from a public company’s legal obligation to reward shareholders. But if this conventional wisdom were true, Vermont’s Green Mountain Power ought to be lagging behind its investor-owned electric utility peers. Instead, this certified B Corp is promoting people, planet, and profit, and jumping ahead of its utility industry peers. … Read More

1 Mar 2018

Utility Proposes Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot, But Will Anyone Opt In for No Benefit?

by John Farrell | Date: 1 Mar 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

A Minnesota utility proposes a new program allowing electric vehicle owners to charge their vehicles at night for a lower price, but monthly maintenance fees mean drivers won’t save any money. ILSR provides comments to the state’s Public Utilities Commission illustrating the problem and proposing a solution.… Read More

22 Dec 2017

Paying Utilities for Performance

by John Farrell | Date: 22 Dec 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

In most states with regulated, monopoly utilities, utilities are compensation based on two factors: energy sales and a return on capital spent, such as when they build a new power plant. In comments filed in late December, 2017, ILSR provides some context for basing utility compensation for its shareholders on actual performance.… Read More

24 Aug 2017

Dumb and Dumber: Looking Beyond the Department of Energy’s Flawed “Baseload” Study

by John Farrell | Date: 24 Aug 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Energy commissioned a study purportedly about grid reliability. In reality, it’s more likely the study is a fishing expedition searching for ways to buttress fossil fuel contributors to and allies of the Trump administration — folks squeezed by competition from less costly wind and solar power.… Read More

26 Dec 2016

New Year’s Resolutions for Electric Utilities, Happy 2017!

by Karlee Weinmann | Date: 26 Dec 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

The turn of the year is a perfect time for monopoly electric utilities nationwide to reflect on their substandard policies and embrace changes that will bring cleaner, more affordable energy to their customers. By finally committing to truly support distributed … Read More

3 Jun 2016

Why is Green Pricing a Premium When Wind Power is Cheap?

by John Farrell | Date: 3 Jun 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Ten years ago, a North Dakota cooperative stopped charging customers a premium for getting energy from the wind, because they found it wasn’t costing anything extra. The cooperative, like many utilities, used a “green pricing” program that allowed customers to … Read More

20 May 2016

Why Going Local Makes Sense for the Clean Energy Transition

by John Farrell | Date: 20 May 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

This is a response to a Forbes commentary published last week, by Steve Cicala In his commentary last week, Steve Cicala fell into a common trap for economists analyzing the electricity system. Touting what economics calls competitive advantage, Mr Cicala … Read More

28 Jan 2016

New Fossil Fuel Power Plants: Assets or Liabilities?

by John Farrell | Date: 28 Jan 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

In any conversation about the transition to a renewable energy economy, solar and wind advocates will eventually come up against the term “stranded assets.” It’s a misleading term, usually deployed in defense of legacy fossil fuel power plants (and their … Read More

28 Oct 2015

A Plan B for Every Monopoly Electric Utility?

by John Farrell | Date: 28 Oct 2015 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Electric companies seemingly face a business “death spiral” because the 20th century rules for the electric grid make it a challenge to address stagnant energy demand and competition from energy-producing customers. The result is a utility-funded war on solar and … Read More