Today’s U.S. power sector faces a series of challenges that are not easily overcome. One of the most difficult is balancing the increased demand for power with requirements for cleaner resources. When reliability and affordability are rightfully prioritized, power providers find themselves in the unenviable position of needing to be all things at all times. Competitive markets can help solve this problem, but only if we are willing to change how we think about the future of energy.
Read MorePress Release: Power Generators Address Winter Storm Elliott and Electric Reliability
A new report on power system performance during 2022’s Winter Storm Elliott shows the need for action to improve electric reliability, said the head of the organization representing power generators providing about 150,000 MW of electric generation capacity throughout the U.S.
Read MoreFree markets and Adam Smith, a reality check for critics.
Competitive electricity markets are based on free market principles, but despite looking far and wide, the Adam Smith version of the free market doesn’t exist in practice. Competitive power markets are free markets in the same way the stock market is – both facilitate trade of commodities within the rules and administrative mandates required to operate the market efficiently and without fraud.
Read MoreMarket Design for Power System Reliability
After my post last week on the preliminary report on Winter Storm Elliott power system performance from the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), I wanted to address market design in more detail—and highlight the great work that some are doing to build markets that enable cost-effective reliable power and improve gas-electric coordination.
Read MoreWinter Storm Elliott showed us what needs to be done. Now it’s time to get to work.
The latest report from the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation on last December’s historic and tragic Winter Storm Elliott paints a sobering picture. The power system came close to the brink, putting essential services and even more lives at risk. As major providers of electricity in the Northeast and throughout the U.S., we hold reliable operations as our top priority – and are committed to doing better.
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Podcast: What’s Next for Wyoming? How the top Coal Producer Is Evolving.
Former Southwest Power Pool Director of State Regulatory Policy Kara Fornstrom, now Director of the University of Wyoming’s Center for Energy Regulatory Policy Analysis shares how Wyoming is navigating a changing energy landscape, balancing the need to keep the power system reliable and cost-effective while also supporting workforce transitions and continued economic growth.
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