Performance-based regulation (PBR) has been in the news, with Nevada approving legislation calling for a PBR process. Hawaii just approved a Phase 1 of a ground-breaking PBR initiative, deciding what “performance-based rates, tariffs, and other regulatory mechanisms were most critical for the island state’s efforts to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.” Utilities are relying more […]
With the gas explosion in San Bruno in 2010 came an uptick in public attention to the hazards of pipeline leaks. Regulators in several states are mandating more regular inspections and reporting, and penalties for incidents can be crippling. It is not just high-volume leaks that have potential for harm. Smaller gas leaks, which are predominantly methane, […]
For most veterans of the utility industry, the “utility of the future” hearkens back to the 1990s and the introduction of deregulation and wholesale markets. Today’s “future” represents an even greater departure from previous discussions. What’s new is the rapidly rising penetration of renewables and distributed energy resources, and the prospect of evolving technologies (storage, […]