Frustration with electric utilities is universal today. Whether it’s concerns over high rates, poor service or a combination of both, people are constantly looking for a better answer to the systems that serve them. In the Nov. 7, 2023, election,
Public Utility Research Center Articles: page 2
Maine voters don’t like their electric utilities, but they balked at paying billions to buy them out
Public Utility Research Center celebrates 50 years of service
The Public Utility Research Center (PURC) will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. Established in 1972, PURC strives to enhance the understanding of issues confronting public utilities and regulatory agencies through conferences, seminars and training programs. As an internationally
What social media regulation could look like: Think of pipelines, not utilities
Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, and his controversial statements and decisions as its owner, have fueled a new wave of calls for regulating social media companies. Elected officials and policy scholars have argued for years that companies like Twitter and
What is curtailment? An electricity market expert explains
Curtailment has a special meaning in electric power systems. It describes any action that reduces the amount of electricity generated to maintain the balance between supply and demand – which is critical for avoiding blackouts. Recently, curtailment has made news
The gas tax’s tortured history shows how hard it is to fund new infrastructure
As the Biden administration and Republicans negotiate a possible infrastructure spending package, how to pay for it has been a key sticking point. President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress want to raise taxes on the rich, while some Republicans
How the Texas electricity system produced low-cost power but left residents out in the cold
Americans often take electricity for granted – until the lights go out. The recent cold wave and storm in Texas have placed considerable focus on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, the nonprofit corporation that manages the flow
Why do different countries have different electric outlet plugs?
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why do different countries have different electric outlet plugs? – Evie H., age 9, Seattle,
Delinquent electric bills from the pandemic are coming due – who will pay them?
The shutdowns and restrictions that governments have imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 have made it hard for many households to afford basic needs. Thousands of Americans are struggling to pay monthly utility bills. Utilities and policymakers recognized that
DOJ Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. for anti-competitive behavior. Antitrust expert and Director of the Public Utility Research Center Dr. Mark Jamison spoke with a number of news outlets about the lawsuit. Read
The Good Fortune of Eugene Brigham
It was probably the simplest calculation Eugene Brigham would ever do. There were two lines that day at the University of Miami. One was to register for law school. The other, for business school. This was the mid-1950s. Law school