Blog Archives: December 2011

Utility Planning: Pitch-Perfect Description
December 2011

A general description of the prudent resource planning process for vertically-integrated electric utilities.

by Nancy Brockway, Principal, NBrockway & Associates

Electric utilities have an obligation to serve the public.  This obligation is generally understood to include the obligation to forecast the electricity needs of the customers in their service area, and plan to obtain sufficient resources to meet those needs.

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Policy Mandates
December 2011

My essay,  “Separating Policy Mandates from Cost Consequences:  Will the Public Lose Trust?” produced the following articulate response from a long-time telecomm attorney:

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Eminent Domain: Taking One for the Team
December 2011

Transmission upgrades are getting a lot of attention.  Congress mandated "incentives" and gave FERC preemptive authority for siting.  The U.S. DOE is allocating millions for inter-regional studies.  FERC is allowing high generation prices to attract more transmission.  Regional transmission organizations, new generation entrants, utilities, and non-utilities are all pressing for multi-state plans to get power moving.

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