The fuel security controversy in New England, particularly as it relates to the availability of natural gas in the winter, escalated dramatically with the issuance of the ISO New England fuel security study, which was followed quickly by Exelon’s announcement that it intends to shut down its Mystic units in Everett unless it receives a […]
Twenty years ago, PowerOptions launched its mission to give Massachusetts nonprofits the opportunity to purchase their electricity and natural gas as part of what is now the largest energy-buying group in the region. Then as now, the contract offered terms that are the best in the industry at no added cost to the customer. In […]
The cold weather over the last few weeks has resulted in a significant amount of electricity being generated by coal and oil in New England. But, on an annual basis, the amount of oil- and coal-generated electricity will still be about 1% or less of all of the generation in the region. It’s important to […]
While there is much debate about whether the GOP tax plan will, in fact, provide economic benefits for employees and consumers in America, one clear benefit should be captured immediately: the reduction in utility rates from the reduction in the corporate income tax rate. Utilities pay taxes like any other corporation, and they will see […]
Over the years, the four major groups representing commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in proceedings before the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU)—Associated Industries of Massachusetts, The Energy Consortium, The Western Massachusetts Industrial Group and PowerOptions—have actively participated in numerous dockets, presenting a unique C&I customer-oriented perspective, only to have their positions dismissed with little […]
For years, many have been lamenting the ever-increasing number of rate mechanisms which fall outside of the base rate review process for utility distribution companies. There are roughly a dozen reconciliation charges, trackers and automatic adjustment charges on the bill for each gas and electric utility. Call them what you will, they all do the […]
