The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a process allowing an electric or natural gas utility to propose a multi-year rate plan, an alternative rate-setting process that would extend utilities’ approved rates for up to three years, according to a Feb. 4 news release. The order establishes a framework for the first utility that requests for…
The Florida Public Service Commission approved an interim storm restoration recovery surcharge allowing Duke Energy Florida LLC to recover costs related to Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Nestor, which occurred in 2019. The utility reported costs of $171.3 million, including interest. Monthly bills for residential 1,000 kilowatt-hour customers will increase by $5.34 from March 2020…
Utilities are stepping up efforts to boost retail power and gas rates to offset tepid growth in electric demand and weak prices in the wholesale markets. Utilities are also overhauling how charges are set by launching non-traditional rate programs, including revenue decoupling and performance-based rates. Keep on top of the latest utility rate programs by…...
The California Public Utilities Commission proposed additional guidelines that investor-owned utilities would be required to follow prior to the 2020 wildfire season prepare for and minimize the impacts of public safety power shutoff events to avoid the risk of power lines starting wildfires, according to a Jan. 30 news release. The agency also issued a…
Climate change and clean energy are figuring more prominently in Pennsylvania, which has been historically associated with coal and nuclear until the shale gas boom. Over the past year, Pennsylvania set the first statewide climate goals, committed to join the regional carbon market, funded solar projects, established alternative ratemaking, and unveiled a roadmap to boost electric vehicle adoption.
The Michigan Public Service Commission authorized a settlement agreement, allowing Indiana Michigan Power Co. to raise electric rates by $36.4 million per year, about 38 percent lower than the utility’s request, according to a Jan. 23 news release. The new rates, which take effect on Feb. 1, will increase monthly residential bills by about 15…
Virginia Delegates Mark Keam, a Democrat, and Lee Ware, a Republican, introduced legislation on Jan. 17 that would enable customers to purchase electricity from the retail provider of their choice, ending monopoly control over the state’s energy system. The bill would require each incumbent investor-owned utility, electric cooperative, and municipal electric authority to separate its…
The New York Public Service Commission on Jan. 16 adopted a three-year rate plan for Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc., allowing the utility to increase electric and gas rates annually through 2022. The agency authorized a first-year electric revenue increase of about $113 million, or 3.1 percent, down from the original request of…
The Iowa Utilities Board approved a settlement allowing an increase of $127 million in Alliant Energy Corp.’s annual electric base rates, according to a Jan. 9 news release. The company initially asked for an increase of about $204 million, but a partial settlement reached last October reduced the amount by nearly 40 percent with a…
Utilities are optimizing green power programs to meet carbon reduction targets and satisfy their customers simultaneously. Green pricing options allow customers to meet a portion of their electricity needs from renewable energy resources. While offering innovative products to increase customer access to green power, these programs provide larger consumers the option to meet their varying sustainability and renewable energy goals.
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom found that Pacific Gas and Electric’s proposed restructuring plan failed to meet the requirements of the state’s wildfire law, dealing a blow to the company’s efforts to exit bankruptcy, according to a Dec. 13 letter to PG&E Chief Executive Officer Bill Johnson. Newsom called for a feasible plan, pointing to the…
The New York Public Service Commission adopted a measure to consolidate the utility bills of Community Distributed Generation (CDG) customers in a bid to reduce operational costs and broaden access to the technology, according to a Dec.12 press release. CDG systems, such as community solar, offer customers that prefer not to install solar directly on their property,…