WTOP News’ Post

Out of control. It's difficult to have much confidence in assertions about future moderation. "This year, there's another factor: Pacific Gas & Electric, which serves about 16 million Californians, raised its residential rates by 20% in January, pleading necessary system-hardening work and procedural delays at the California Public Utilities Commission that piled two years' worth of rate increases into one year. PG&E officials say they are focused on increasing efficiency and lowering costs to keep future rate hikes between 2% and 4% per year. Meanwhile, its rates are likely to be surpassed by San Diego Gas & Electric's before the end of 2024." https://lnkd.in/gJp4TaQ2

OPC releases report on current and historic utility rates and charges. OPC’s summer 2024 report shows how utility rates have changed over time. Using a variety of figures and tables, the report reveals that most Maryland utility customers have seen their gas and electricity rates increase substantially over the last 10-15 years, with some rates increasing by multiples of two or three. The report focuses on the amounts that utilities charge their customers for delivering electricity and gas to customers’ homes and businesses, as distinct from the supply (or commodity) charges. While the rates of many of the largest utilities have escalated significantly in recent years, other utilities have only seen modest rate increases, tracking inflation rates. The utilities with rapidly increasing delivery rates have taken advantage of regulatory policies that encourage utility spending on capital infrastructure—such as the substations, poles, and wires of the electric utilities and the pipes of the gas utilities—by allowing utilities to recover such spending, along with a profit, on an accelerated basis. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/e-5MapPF

https://lnkd.in/dxX4uw8y It's time for a CA rate payer revolt. Pacific Gas and Electric Company and apparently the California Public Utilities Commission have no motivation to control electricity rates which have gone from $0.14/KWH in 2021 to $0.34/KWH for the lowest off-peak tier (and $0.72/KWH at peak rates) in 2024, even as we are trying to convince our residents to transition from fossil fuels to renewable electricity for vehicles and building HVAC. National average electricity rates are $0.16/KWH.

Via Utility Dive: " Eversource, others may be capitalizing on lax reviews for some transmission projects: Maine officials: “Asset condition” projects receive almost no regulatory scrutiny by states or ISO New England, possibly to the benefit of utility shareholders, Maine’s ratepayer office told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. " #Energy #Utility #Utilities

Mr. Stuart’s post brings up an interesting topic that I have wrestled with for decades. This is my take - it is one person’s opinion based on a lot of experience before a lot of State Utility and PS Commissions. Your experience and opinion may be different. I hope you share your opinion and this conversation topic liberally within your state energy industry as it has such a huge bearing on energy cost in your State. Seems like these large state industrial user coalitions (the “large” being the users and not necessarily the coalition itself - and the same can be said for the occasional commercial and other coalitions that pop up) have done little to keep regulated utility rates lower, or to provide viable pricing or service choices. Their mission, in a lot of cases and in the case of large industrial groups, is to help direct the utility cost to small industrial, commercial and other rate classes. One cannot necessarily point a finger at such coalitions as they smply (and effectively) play by the rules of the regulated rate “game,” which pits rate classes against each other in a “zero sum” situation, the degree of the “zero sum”depending in large part on the strength of the Commission Staff to define the utility revenue requirement. You want to join a coalition - have at it. The best you can expect, depending on the utility and state, is to get a proportionally lower increase than other rate classes (usually those not in the case), as long as you fit the same rate profile at the largest consumers in your coalition). But regardless, you are likely (not always, but likely) going to get an expense increase. A better, albeit harder, alternative - change the “game.” Deregulating electricity generation changes the game to give all consumers the benefits of technology, innovation and risk management options that regulation cannot (or will not) provide. Consumers pick the equipment, services and pricing that suits them, not the utility. Energy should be more like the other goods and services you buy - you’re the buyer so you call the shots. The hard part comes in bringing about the legislation required for a state to deregulate. Takes a lot of money, lobbying and political posturing at the Legislature. Utilities are pretty good at that as well, so it will take a “supercoalition” of aligned parties to make that happen to bring about the needed influence to change (and a lot of those resources will be spent addressing the pro-utility misinformation that will flood the space). Tough to do, but the resulting market will bring about incredible benefits for consumers. Or you can keep living with the same utility “game” and keep paying more. Many states have deregulated generation and their consumers are better off. It’s not perfect- nothing is - but energy deregulation beats the regulated “game” every time. Either way - Good luck and keep investing in energy efficiency in the meantime.

California’s VPP landscape may be about to become much more challenging for utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company to navigate. The state’s $27.6 billion deficit for the next fiscal year means that budget cuts are coming. As the budget tussle plays out, PG&E expects to have 412 MW of VPP capacity this year. Spokesperson Paul Doherty said the utility “is actively looking to integrate more VPP resources into [its] portfolio and improve their performance as a reliable resource." But can it achieve its ambitious goals, given the current landscape? https://lnkd.in/evGgQmxH

2ND ALERT! Big changes ahead for Texas electric grid! The operator's budget is set to surge by 40%, a whopping $119 million increase. Brace yourselves for a slight uptick in fees for power sellers, but fear not – the average residential customer will only see a modest increase of less than 20 cents a month. Stay tuned for more updates on the evolving energy landscape in Texas! ⚡💡 #TexasEnergy #ElectricGrid #EnergyNews https://lnkd.in/gGUMs49c

Its Time you Took Control of Your of Electrify In the aftermath of the power outages experienced in Texas, including the Dallas Fort Worth area, in 2021, there is a heightened awareness of the vulnerabilities of the traditional grid infrastructure. This event highlighted the potential for significant utility rate increases as the system grapples with the need for upgrades and improvements to enhance resilience. 1. **Post-Outage Rate Increases**: The power outages in 2021 exposed weaknesses in the Texas energy grid, leading to disruptions in electricity supply and increased costs for both consumers and utilities. As a result, there is a possibility of utility companies raising rates to fund infrastructure upgrades and improvements to prevent similar outages in the future. 2. **Solar as a Resilient Solution**: Switching to solar power in the Dallas Fort Worth market presents an opportunity for residents and businesses to bolster their energy resilience in the face of potential grid instabilities. By generating their own electricity through solar panels, individuals can mitigate the impact of future outages and reduce their reliance on the traditional grid. 3. **Rate Stability with Solar**: Investing in solar energy can offer rate stability and protection against potential utility rate increases following the 2021 power outage. By producing their own electricity from sunlight, residents and businesses can insulate themselves from fluctuating utility prices and secure a more predictable energy cost over the long term. 4. **Energy Independence**: The power outages in 2021 underscored the importance of energy independence and self-sufficiency. Solar power empowers consumers in the Dallas Fort Worth market to take control of their energy supply, reduce dependence on the grid, and ensure a continuous source of electricity even during grid disruptions. 5. **Government Support and Incentives**: In response to the challenges faced during the 2021 power outage, there may be increased government support and incentives for renewable energy solutions like solar power. Residents and businesses in Dallas Fort Worth can leverage these programs to make the switch to solar more affordable and attractive. 6. **Long-Term Savings and Sustainability**: By transitioning to solar energy following the power outage in 2021, residents and businesses in the Dallas Fort Worth market can not only protect themselves against future rate increases but also realize long-term cost savings and contribute to a more sustainable energy future for the region. In conclusion, the significant rate increase potential following the 2021 power outage in Texas underscores the benefits of switching to solar power in the Dallas Fort Worth market. By embracing solar energy, residents and businesses can enhance their energy resilience, secure rate stability, achieve energy independence, and contribute to a more sustainable and reliable energy future for the region.

In today's uncertain economy, businesses constantly seek ways to cut costs and improve their bottom line. One area that can significantly impact a company's expenses is utilities. Utility bills, including electric, gas, water, sewer, waste, and telecommunications, can be one of the top operating expenses for many businesses. Unfortunately, errors in billing are all too common. At some point, 4 out of 5 commercial or industrial companies are over-billed by utilities. This is where utility audits come in, but what's the difference between a utility bill audit and an energy audit? Get all of the details here=>https://lnkd.in/gHHrenDm.