Public must come first at Florida PSC

E. L. Jacobs, Jr.

As a former chair of the Florida Public Service Commission, I am concerned that recent actions in Tallahassee to dismantle the PSC send the message that the views of the working and bill-paying public count for nothing. Those actions show contempt for balancing the interests of ratepayers with politics.
What other meaning could [...]

Time for Energy Efficiency in the South

We already know that energy efficiency offers a “vast, low-cost energy resource” … so why has a new report, Energy Efficiency in the South, triggered a strong reaction from Grist, the New York Times, and many people online?
Maybe the reaction was generated by the prestige of the research team that collaborated on this report, but [...]

Ridiculous rate rhetoric

“Energy efficiency will be the single most important source of energy available to the world’s economies in the years to come.” Rex Tillerson, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ExxonMobil Corporation.
When someone like Rex Tillerson gives a strong endorsement to energy efficiency, it is clear that there is a wide consensus that energy efficiency is [...]

Energy efficiency also helps low-income customers

State House Rep. Joe Gibbons - Photo: Tallahassee Democrat

Rep. Joe Gibbons has kindly allowed us to reprint his published essay.  He addresses the critical need that low-income utility customers have for expanded energy efficiency programs.  As demonstrated in a recent study by Florida Power & Light , low-income residents participate in energy efficiency programs at the [...]

TVA wind purchases open the door to new opportunities

Quietly, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been signing contracts with several wind developers that will put the federal utility in a position to significantly grow its wind energy portfolio in 2012, if all goes to plan.
Over the past 5 months, TVA has announced multiple contracts with Invenergy Wind, CPV Renewable Energy Co., Iberdrola [...]

Florida Utilities Balking at Efficiency Goals

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) just set goals for electric energy efficiency well below targets set—and achieved—by other states, but not surprisingly, several FEECA utilities filed objections seeking still lower goals.
Earlier, we reviewed the goals and outlined why the PSC’s targets were as weak as they were—but still the utilities want to aim even lower.  Progress, FP&L, Gulf and [...]

Industry groups pushing hard to influence EPA decision on coal ash

Industry lobbyists are working hard to influence the EPA’s decision on whether to classify coal ash as a hazardous substance.  According to a recent reports by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, White House officials have held nearly twenty meetings with industry groups since last October to discuss the possible implications of classifying [...]

Florida PSC Fails to Answer the Call on Energy Efficiency

The PSC meeting last week was marked by two dramatic changes for Florida electric utilities.  Utility-oriented commissioner Carter was succeeded as chair for 2010-2012 by the far more consumer-oriented commissioner, Nancy Argenziano.  In remarks made while nominating Ms. Argenziano, Chairman Carter said, “. . . she answered the call to leadership.”   But in the same meeting in which new electricity conservation [...]

Florida editorial writers urge strong state efficiency goals

Next week, a former editorial board editor is one of five Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) members who will direct Florida’s major utilities to pursue energy efficiency efforts over the next five years. Will we get more of the same, as the utilities and the Commission staff suggest, or will Florida take a step towards [...]

Florida Utilities Drag State Efficiency Ranking Down

This post is co-authored by Brandi Colander, NRDC, and John D. Wilson, SACE.
Florida is the dim bulb in the otherwise efficiency-dark Southeast, and the 2009 Energy Efficiency Scorecard from ACEEE shows how badly its electric utilities are dragging Florida’s ranking down. Slipping from 19th to 23rd in the country in a much-improved study, the impact [...]