Utility Regulation
Check out these reports, studies and guides on topics related to utility regulation!
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Energy Storage for Winter Grid Reliability
By Applied Economics Clinic (AEC) & Clean Energy Group (CEG) |
December 2021 |
The report found that customer-sited battery storage is by far the lowest priced new winter peaking resource now available to Massachusetts utilities.
Winter electric peaking capacity (called “winter reliability” in New England) provides an important value to the electric grid by helping to avoid winter blackouts. As heating and transportation are increasingly electrified to meet climate goals, winter peak energy needs will grow; and as fossil-fueled generators are phased out due to emissions caps, new, clean sources of winter peaking capacity will need to be found.
Although winter peaking capacity has traditionally been provided by gas and oil peaking generators (peaker plants), it can also be provided by cleaner, “behind-the-meter” customer resources such as battery storage.
Currently, this service is undervalued in the Massachusetts programs that provide battery customers with performance payments to supply power back to the grid at times of high demand. These customer performance payments should be adjusted to reflect the true value of winter electric peaking capacity in the region
Download the report here.
Winter electric peaking capacity (called “winter reliability” in New England) provides an important value to the electric grid by helping to avoid winter blackouts. As heating and transportation are increasingly electrified to meet climate goals, winter peak energy needs will grow; and as fossil-fueled generators are phased out due to emissions caps, new, clean sources of winter peaking capacity will need to be found.
Although winter peaking capacity has traditionally been provided by gas and oil peaking generators (peaker plants), it can also be provided by cleaner, “behind-the-meter” customer resources such as battery storage.
Currently, this service is undervalued in the Massachusetts programs that provide battery customers with performance payments to supply power back to the grid at times of high demand. These customer performance payments should be adjusted to reflect the true value of winter electric peaking capacity in the region
Download the report here.
Powerless in the Pandemic: After Bailouts, Electric Utilities' Chose Profits over People
By Jean Su, Center for Biological Diversity, & Christopher Kuveke, Bailout Watch |
September 2021 |
Press Release: The Center for Biological Diversity and BailoutWatch released Powerless in the Pandemic, a report showing that some of the nation’s top utilities received a collective $1.25 billion from last year’s government bailouts while shutting off families’ electric service nearly 1 million times.
The report shows that utilities wielded political power to secure beneficial tax-code changes in the CARES Act but defied calls to grant their own customers temporary relief. Instead, 16 utilities suspended or canceled electric service to nearly 1 million households between February 2020 and June 2021, leaving people without hot water, refrigeration, air conditioning and medical devices.
“It’s appalling that utility companies cut power to countless families throughout the pandemic while raking in taxpayer bailout money,” said Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program. “This greedy, heartless practice hurts low-wealth communities and communities of color most of all. It needs to stop. Complicit state regulators who fail to make shutoff data public should stop cowering and start shedding light on utilities’ bad behavior.”
Other key findings:
The report shows that utilities wielded political power to secure beneficial tax-code changes in the CARES Act but defied calls to grant their own customers temporary relief. Instead, 16 utilities suspended or canceled electric service to nearly 1 million households between February 2020 and June 2021, leaving people without hot water, refrigeration, air conditioning and medical devices.
“It’s appalling that utility companies cut power to countless families throughout the pandemic while raking in taxpayer bailout money,” said Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program. “This greedy, heartless practice hurts low-wealth communities and communities of color most of all. It needs to stop. Complicit state regulators who fail to make shutoff data public should stop cowering and start shedding light on utilities’ bad behavior.”
Other key findings:
- Nine companies received tax bailouts totaling $1.25 billion. It would have cost just 8.5% of that bailout total to prevent every shutoff reported.
- For what taxpayers spent bailing them out, 15 companies (all but NextEra) could have forgiven all unpaid accounts — hundreds of times over in some cases.
- A six-member Hall of Shame — NextEra Energy (parent of Florida Power & Light and others), Duke Energy, Southern Company, Dominion Energy, Exelon, and DTE Energy — perpetrated 94% of all shutoffs documented. NextEra alone accounted for nearly half. Duke Energy and DTE Energy together received $845 million, more than 75% of the tax bailout money the report identified in the utilities sector. They cut off customers’ power more than 203,000 times. Their tax bailouts provided enough unexpected revenue to forgive the underlying unpaid bills more than 150 times.
Indigenous Resistance Against Carbon
By Indigenous Environmental Network & Oil Change International |
August 2021 |
Indigenous Resistance Against Carbon seeks to uplift the work of countless Tribal Nations, Indigenous water protectors, land defenders, pipeline fighters, and many other grassroots formations who have dedicated their lives to defending the sacredness of Mother Earth and protecting their inherent rights of Indigenous sovereignty and self- determination.
In this report, they demonstrate the tangible impact these Indigenous campaigns of resistance have had in the fight against fossil fuel expansion across what is currently called Canada and the United States of America. More specifically, they quantify the metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions that have either been stopped or delayed in the past decade due to the brave actions of Indigenous land defenders. Adding up the total, Indigenous resistance has stopped or delayed greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to at least one-quarter of annual U.S. and Canadian emissions.
Download the report here.
In this report, they demonstrate the tangible impact these Indigenous campaigns of resistance have had in the fight against fossil fuel expansion across what is currently called Canada and the United States of America. More specifically, they quantify the metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions that have either been stopped or delayed in the past decade due to the brave actions of Indigenous land defenders. Adding up the total, Indigenous resistance has stopped or delayed greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to at least one-quarter of annual U.S. and Canadian emissions.
Download the report here.
AAE Consumer Protection Report
By Peter-Raymond Graffeo, Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) |
January 2021 |
The AAE Consumer Protection Report focuses on the best and worst practices of consumer protections provided by utility companies. These protections are essential for low income and minority households that struggle to meet the economic burden of rising utility costs.
The report compares seven State’s consumer protections with what the National Consumer Law Center recommends for such protections, with a special focus on Louisiana. Specifically, the report focuses on seven consumer protections: weather, critical medical conditions, elderly and handicap, veterans, service disconnection restrictions, social service payment customers, and miscellaneous protections. Additionally, for convenience, all State consumer protections have been added to the end of each section in a chart.
After analyzing each category, AAE believes that significant reform is needed to meet the National Consumer Law Center’s base-line recommendations. Ultimately, when considering the vulnerability of many Louisiana residents, stronger protections are needed to ensure families are protected from the disproportionate economic and health impacts associated with disconnections.
Download the report here! Download the spreadsheet here.
The report compares seven State’s consumer protections with what the National Consumer Law Center recommends for such protections, with a special focus on Louisiana. Specifically, the report focuses on seven consumer protections: weather, critical medical conditions, elderly and handicap, veterans, service disconnection restrictions, social service payment customers, and miscellaneous protections. Additionally, for convenience, all State consumer protections have been added to the end of each section in a chart.
After analyzing each category, AAE believes that significant reform is needed to meet the National Consumer Law Center’s base-line recommendations. Ultimately, when considering the vulnerability of many Louisiana residents, stronger protections are needed to ensure families are protected from the disproportionate economic and health impacts associated with disconnections.
Download the report here! Download the spreadsheet here.
2020/2021 Planning Resource Auction (PRA) Results
By MISO |
April 2020 |
MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) provides open-access transmission service and monitors the high-voltage transmission system throughout the Midwest United States and Canada.
This presentation discusses how the MISO region has adequate reserves to meet its 136 GW Planning Reserve Requirement. MISO's RA construct combines regional and local criteria to achieve a least-cost solution for the region. Check out the presentation to learn more about auction clearing prices, PRA results by zone, changes since the 2019 Auction, and the next steps!
Download the presentation here!
This presentation discusses how the MISO region has adequate reserves to meet its 136 GW Planning Reserve Requirement. MISO's RA construct combines regional and local criteria to achieve a least-cost solution for the region. Check out the presentation to learn more about auction clearing prices, PRA results by zone, changes since the 2019 Auction, and the next steps!
Download the presentation here!
Regulation vs. Deregulation: An Analysis of Electricity Markets
By Brian Mounce, Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) |
April 2019 |
This report provides an analysis of the benefits and consequences of: either maintaining regulation on the electricity market in the state of Louisiana or constructing a deregulated market.
Download the PDF here to find out more about the history of differing markets (in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania) and the future of regulation and deregulation!
Download the PDF here to find out more about the history of differing markets (in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania) and the future of regulation and deregulation!
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AAE 2018-2019 Annual Report
By Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) |
2018-2019 |
In this issue - a year's overview, last year's numbers & statistics, and a shoutout to our allies.
A Look at What We've Been Up To:
Read more about What We've Been Up To here!
A Look at What We've Been Up To:
- Secured increased funding for the state's Weatherization Assistance Program
- Engaged in a total of 26 formal proceedings at the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the New Orleans City Council
- Successfully advocated for the New Orleans City Council to open a Renewable Portfolio Standard rulemaking docket
- Protected LA's solar customers from a radical change in net energy metering policy that would devalue their clean energy
Read more about What We've Been Up To here!
Report on Lousiana's Energy Market
By Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) |
2018 |
This report summarizes the state of Louisiana's regulated energy market, the utility business model, and how Louisiana ranks in terms of energy policy. Louisiana is an Energy State. Yet unfortunately, Louisiana consistently ranks near the bottom when it comes to energy policy.
Fortunately, AAE also highlights areas for energy policy improvements. The report focuses on the importance of energy efficiency, residential solar, and net metering.
View the report here to learn more!
Fortunately, AAE also highlights areas for energy policy improvements. The report focuses on the importance of energy efficiency, residential solar, and net metering.
View the report here to learn more!
Lights Out in the Cold | Reforming Utility Shutoff Policies as a Human Rights Matter
By the NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice Program |
March 2017 |
Access to utility services should be a universal human right. No person should live in fear that utility shutoff may leave them in a dangerous or potentially disastrous situation. This report examines the shortcomings of existing state policies, highlights the disproportionate discriminatory impact utility shutoff policies have on socially vulnerable utility customers, and calls & outlines steps for concrete action toward establishing policies that protect the well-being of all utility customers and the eventual ELIMINATION OF UTILITY DISCONNECTIONS.
These policies and protections include:
There are multiple stakeholders who may have competing interests regarding disconnection policies that must be considered when endeavoring to reform the utility system to solve the problems faced by those who experience utility disconnections. Check out the NAACP's Report, Lights out in the Cold - Reforming Utility Shutoff Policies as a Human Rights Matter to learn more about the need for uninterrupted service, the complexities of regulating utility disconnection services, and policy & program opportunities for financing to reduce and eliminate disconnections.
These policies and protections include:
- Procedural protections (second notices, notices in various languages, eliminating disconnection & reconnection fees, restrict disconnection times so the utility has employees available to reconnect utility services, etc.)
- Payment assistance (budget plans that distribute costs throughout the year, partial payments, minimums, etc.)
- Seasonal protections
- Protections for the social vulnerable
There are multiple stakeholders who may have competing interests regarding disconnection policies that must be considered when endeavoring to reform the utility system to solve the problems faced by those who experience utility disconnections. Check out the NAACP's Report, Lights out in the Cold - Reforming Utility Shutoff Policies as a Human Rights Matter to learn more about the need for uninterrupted service, the complexities of regulating utility disconnection services, and policy & program opportunities for financing to reduce and eliminate disconnections.
AAE 2016-2017 Annual Report
By The Alliance for Affordable Energy |
2016-2017 |
In this issue - a note from our Executive Director, Summary of Successes, Policy Update, Partner Spotlight, Funding & Expenses, Leadership & Staff, a thank you to our donors.
Download the report here!
Download the report here!
Electricity Regulation in the US: A Guide
Paid for and Published by the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) |
July 2016 |
Prior regulators and industry insiders came together, with the interest of outlining a framework that illustrates the best practice of policy and procedures that can be applied to general circumstances of electricity regulation in the United States. This book was made to educate fellow regulators and stakeholders, advocates of consumer rights, the environment and more, but even utilities themselves. This book does not aim to support any specific political positions, but rather to strives to highlight the most effective policy, and achieve the best outcomes for all involved.
Download and read a PDF version here!
Download and read a PDF version here!
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Money, Politics, and the Business of Monopolies
By The Alliance for Affordable Energy |
May 2015 |
Baton Rouge, LA – The Alliance for Affordable Energy has released a report that studies the relationship between Louisiana’s monopoly utility companies and the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC), the elected government agency that is charged with regulating these monopolies. The paper found a problematic relationship and “regulatory capture” of the governmental body as a result of campaign finance, among other procedural issues.
Link to downloadable version: Money, Politics, and the Business of Monopolies
The Alliance offers recommendations following the research conducted, including:
Link to downloadable version: Money, Politics, and the Business of Monopolies
The Alliance offers recommendations following the research conducted, including:
- Adoption of prohibitions that limit campaign contributions from regulated utilities to regulated candidates
- Greater transparency by expanding Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law
- The adoption of Robert’s Rules of Order by the LPSC in order to ensure proper procedures
- More regular and enforced audits by the state’s Legislative Auditor
AAE 2012-2013 Annual Report
By Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) |
2012 - 2013 |
In this issue - A letter from the CEO, meet our board and staff, learn about our programs, a policy update, and a financial breakdown of the year.
In the policy update:
Download our Annual Report here!
In the policy update:
- The passage of the energy efficiency rules
- Integrated Resource Planning starts in New Orleans
- Protecting net metering
Download our Annual Report here!
Louisiana Solar Leasing Report
By The Alliance for Affordable Energy |
July 2012 |
The Alliance for Affordable Energy is a strong supporter of equitable, effectively implemented solar leasing.
In 2012, we received complaints from ratepayers, solar installers, and local utilities about two companies that offered leasing agreements, Sader Power and Green Grants. The complaints made against the companies warranted examination. Because the Alliance’s mission is to protect ratepayers, we launched an investigation to discern the validity of the claims, in an effort to ensure that ratepayers were not being harmed.
Download and read our report: Louisiana Solar Leasing Report
In 2012, we received complaints from ratepayers, solar installers, and local utilities about two companies that offered leasing agreements, Sader Power and Green Grants. The complaints made against the companies warranted examination. Because the Alliance’s mission is to protect ratepayers, we launched an investigation to discern the validity of the claims, in an effort to ensure that ratepayers were not being harmed.
Download and read our report: Louisiana Solar Leasing Report
FERC Assessment of Demand Response & Advanced Metering
Staff Report by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
November 2011 |
This is the 6th annual report as required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The report assesses electricity demand response resources and advanced metering with an emphasis on results, activities, and regulatory actions taken over the last year.
The report found:
Read here to find out more!
The report found:
- The penetration of advanced meters is up from 8.7 percent in 2009 to 13.4 percent;
- Demand response potential in organized markets operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) increased by more than 16 percent since 2009;
- Demand responded to peak load emergency conditions in ERCOT and the RTO and ISO organized markets; and
- Federal and state regulators and others continue to focus on demand response, taking actions to remove barriers to wholesale demand response and develop policies to address smart grid.
Read here to find out more!
Electric & Gas 2011 Formula Rate Plan Settlement
Created by Legend Consulting Group for Entergy New Orleans (ENO) |
September 2011 |
The offer of Settlement of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. relating to New Orleans Docket UD-08-03.
View presentation here.
View presentation here.
New Orleans Utility History
By Michael Cobar, The Alliance for Affordable Energy |
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This presentation outlines the history of utilities in New Orleans and Louisiana, from the incorporation of Southwestern Brush Electric Light & Power Company (the first company to generate and distribute electricity in New Orleans) in 1881 to NOPSI's beginning in 1926. The presentation concludes by taking a look at NOPSI rates of return, average bill prices, and electricity rates over time.
The presentation also briefly examines the history of New Orleans utility regulatory control and summarizes the office of the inspector general 2015 report investigating utility regulatory control in New Orleans.
View the presentation here!
The presentation also briefly examines the history of New Orleans utility regulatory control and summarizes the office of the inspector general 2015 report investigating utility regulatory control in New Orleans.
View the presentation here!
Decoupling and Resolution No. R-16-03
By Zeke Magard, Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) |
February 2019 |
In the on-going Entergy New Orleans (“ENO”) rate case, the City Council has adopted Resolution No. R-16-03, which required ENO to submit a proposal for a decoupling pilot program. ENO submitted a proposal for a Formula Rate Plan (“FRP”) to the Council and asserted that this Plan included the required decoupling mechanism. However, the Plan proposed by ENO falls short of the requirements agreed upon by the Council.
Check out this one-pager summary here to learn about decoupling and how it relates to this important rate case!
Check out this one-pager summary here to learn about decoupling and how it relates to this important rate case!
AAE 2008-2009 Annual Report
By The Alliance for Affordable Energy |
2008-2009 |
In this issue - A letter from the board President, an update on the Energy Smart Program, a push for a Renewable Portfolio Standard for LA, a win for the “Say No to Coal, Say Yes to Clean Energy” coalition - work suspended on the Little Gypsy Plant, the Louisiana Green Corps Workforce Training Program and a Testimony from Jordan Walters, our new website, and a shoutout to our new staff and partners.
Download and read our report: Smart Ideas
Download and read our report: Smart Ideas
Cover photo originally published here