Local Energy Rules

Accountability might just crumble when a utility, accountable to its board, punishes dissenting board members.

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell is joined by Autumn Johnson, Founder and CEO of Tierra Strategy. They talk about Salt River Project: a publicly-owned Arizona utility engaged in some shady behavior. The public’s only accountability measure? Board members who are elected by land-owning customers and punished for their dissension. This is the full interview that was partially released in part five of The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power series.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

https://ilsr.org/articles/salt-river-project-public-utility-ler174/

Autumn Johnson talks about Salt River Project: a publicly-owned Arizona utility engaged in some shady behavior. The public’s only accountability measure? Board members who are elected by land-owning customers and punished for their dissension. |

Show page available: https://ilsr.org/salt-river-project-public-utility-ler174/ |

Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |

Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

With advanced technology, utility regulation has become a juggling act. How do you accurately weigh the risks of innovation? Can utilities be sincere advocates for their customers?

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell is joined by Ted Thomas of Energize Strategies and former chair of the Arkansas Public Service Commission. They discuss access, fairness, cost shifts, utility monopolies, and innovation in the electricity sector.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

https://ilsr.org/articles/regulators-referee-utility-customer-clash-ler173/

Ted Thomas, former chair of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, discusses access, fairness, cost shifts, utility monopolies, and innovation in the electricity sector. |

Show page available: https://ilsr.org/regulators-referee-utility-customer-clash-ler173/ |

Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |

Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

20 years ago, customers of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) were solar “PV Pioneers.” Now, the utility is stifling customer-owned solar, increasing fixed charges, and one third of SMUD customers can’t afford their monthly bill.

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell is joined by Derek Cressman and Fatima Malik, who have both run for seats on the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) board. They describe the evolution of SMUD, how the public utility is failing its customers, and share their proposed solutions. This is the full interview that was partially released in part five of The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power series.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

https://ilsr.org/articles/sacramento-municipal-utility-district-board-candidates-ler172/

Derek Cressman and Fatima Malik, who both ran for seats on the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) board, describe the evolution of SMUD, how the public utility is failing its customers, and share their proposed solutions. |

Show page available: https://ilsr.org/sacramento-municipal-utility-district-board-candidates-ler172/ |

Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |

Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

While many cities profess an interest in advancing clean energy, states often hold the keys to the policy and regulatory opportunities. Activists from Brookline, Mass., the first cold-climate city to ban expansion of the methane gas network to new homes and businesses, aim to give cities the upper hand.

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell is joined by Jesse Gray and David Mendels, co-founders of Zero Carbon Massachusetts. They discuss the six provisions in the Municipal Climate Empowerment Plan, state legislation that would enable Massachusetts communities to tackle their clean energy challenges with local solutions and greater local funding. These policies could be a model for how states serious about clean energy could unlock more local action.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

https://ilsr.org/articles/zero-carbon-massachusetts-ler171/

Host John Farrell is joined by Jesse Gray and David Mendels. They discuss the six provisions in the Municipal Climate Empowerment Plan, state legislation that would enable Massachusetts communities to tackle their clean energy challenges with local solutions and greater local funding. |

Show page available: https://ilsr.org/zero-carbon-massachusetts-ler171/ |

Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |

Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Successful utility takeovers are few and far between. What other options do communities have to get what they want from their electricity provider?

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell explains five alternatives to a public power takeover that can still advance a community’s clean energy and environmental justice aims — with examples from the Local Energy Rules archive. This is part six of a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

https://ilsr.org/articles/public-power-series-6-alternatives-ler170/

John Farrell explains five alternatives to a public power takeover that can still advance a community’s clean energy and environmental justice aims. This is part six of a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power. |

Show page available: https://ilsr.org/public-power-series-6-alternatives-ler170/ |

Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |

Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!