Category: Regulations, Gov’t Oversight
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Changes to Electric Bills Add Up To Increase
A recently-filed estimate by the State Corporation Commission staff projects that a typical residential bill for a Dominion Energy Virginia customer will rise more than $7, or more than 6 percent, by next April, despite expected adjustments in the customers’ favor due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. The utility is…
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Virginia’s Date with RGGI
There’s a good chance that Virginia will participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to cut utility CO2 emissions. The impact of the cap-and-trade system would be mostly symbolic. Barring litigation, Virginia could start participating later this year in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced Reggie), a cap-and-trade program designed to reduce CO2…
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Oh, Not Him. He’s A Lobbyist!
“Will Republicans Put a Health Insurance Industry Lobbyist on the Powerful Virginia State Corporation Commission?” screams the headline on the website which to me epitomizes the intellectual depth of that particular political party. It is responding of course to news that Richmond attorney and lobbyist David Clarke is now considered the most likely choice by…
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Only A Brief Romance After All
The key to Dominion Energy’s successful efforts in the 2018 General Assembly was an alliance with the major environmental advocacy groups who saw several of their key goals achieved by the massive bill: promises of more wind and solar generation and massive spending of ratepayer funds on energy efficiency programs, coupled with weaker cost-benefit requirements…
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Does Uberization Increase Traffic Congestion?
The ride-hailing market in Washington, D.C. is booming — ridership for Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing services have more than quadrupled since late 2015, reports the Washington Post. And that’s a problem, some say. All those vehicles on the road are adding to traffic congestion. According to figures provided by the Washington mayor’s office, some…
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Beats a Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick
Critics are furious that Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power Co. won’t be returning all of their excess profits to rate payers, but this year Virginians will enjoy modest rate reductions nonetheless. First, the two power companies will return savings made possible by the federal 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax reductions — $125…
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Nukes and Renewal
Should Dominion Energy re-license its four Virginia nuclear power units? The answer depends on your appraisal of solar power, energy efficiency and other alternatives. Is there a future for nuclear power in Virginia’s long-term energy outlook? Dominion Energy Virginia believes there is. Nuclear power currently contributes about 30% of the company’s electricity sales, and the…
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Ruling Opens Electric Competition for Big Virginia Customers
Direct Energy Services Inc., a Houston-based retailer of electricity and energy-related services, is allowed to sell 100% renewable energy to large customers in Virginia without a restriction that would forbid customers from returning to their incumbent utility without a five-years’ advance written notice, under a Virginia Supreme Court ruling issued this morning. The Supreme Court…
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Reynolds Wins Customer Aggregation Petition
The State Corporation Commission has issued a decision expanding the right of large customers to bypass the monopoly franchises of Virginia’s electric utilities and purchase electricity from competitive suppliers. While the General Assembly was embroiled in debate over grid modernization and the rollback of the electric rate freeze, the SCC approved the first ever “customer aggregation” petition.…
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Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
This will be one of those blog posts where many readers will ignore the substance of my arguments and go straight for the jugular — Dominion Energy Virginia sponsors this blog, I’m a shill for Dominion, and, therefore, anything and everything I say can be discounted without further thought. If you’re one of those people,…
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No Real Pipeline Story Here, But Read on If You Must
The public relations battle over the Atlantic Coast Pipeline continues unabated even as managing partner Dominion Energy edges closer to beginning construction of the 600-mile project. The latest flap surfaced in the Richmond Times-Dispatch this morning after the State Corporation Commission agreed, over Dominion’s objections, to accept expert testimony by natural gas industry analyst Gregory Lander…
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Grid Transformation Controversy Shifts to SCC Nominees
The legislative logjam over a controversial electric grid modernization program appears to have broken. The much-modified legislation, backed by Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia investor-owned electric utilities, has passed the House of Delegates and state Senate, and in the estimation of Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Robert Zullo, “could be headed to … Northam’s desk by the end of…
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Economic Development Requires Grid Transformation
by Todd P. Haymore Building a more diversified economy and regaining Virginia’s status as best for business were the overarching goals during my time as Secretary of Commerce & Trade under Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s administration. Working in partnership with hundreds of companies, the General Assembly, regional entities, and colleagues in federal, state, and local governments,…
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Wall Street’s Perspective on Virginia Rate Re-regulation
What follows is a letter from former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to members of the House of Delegates two days ago. His discussion of the Wall Street perspective on electric rate regulation adds a new element to the debate, so I publish the letter here with his permission. — JAB Dear Delegates, One of the…
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How Is the New Double Dip any Different from the Old Double Dip?
The House of Delegates passed its own version of electric-utility regulatory reform yesterday. The big news is that the House amended the legislative compromise struck between Governor Ralph Northam, the electric utilities, and other key stakeholders to ensure that it prevents the dreaded “double dip.” Reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch: The Virginia Attorney General’s Office and…