Author name: Michael Giberson

On Trump’s Energy Policy: Big Players Are Bad News for Energy Policy

Energy markets, Environmental policy, Politics, Regulation / By

My commentary, “Trump’s policy may undermine pro-growth intentions,” appears in the October 2016 issue of Nature Energy. Here is one of my favorite parts: Trump’s emphasis on energy independence, in North Dakota and elsewhere, has been common among both Republicans and Democrats. President Richard Nixon declared energy independence a priority in an effort to blame the Organization …

On Trump’s Energy Policy: Big Players Are Bad News for Energy Policy Read More »

House Energy and Power Subcommittee Takes a Look at the Federal Power Act; One Small Suggestion for Reform

Electricity, Energy markets, Regulation / By

As had been announced in June of this year, the Energy and Power subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives is devoting some time to a deep look into the Federal Power Act (FPA). At the time of the June announcement the committee sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) saying: As you know, the …

House Energy and Power Subcommittee Takes a Look at the Federal Power Act; One Small Suggestion for Reform Read More »

Planet Money Buys Oil, Loses About $800 on the Deal, and Makes Some Great Podcast Journalism

Uncategorized / By

The NPR economics podcast Planet Money offers a great five-part introduction to the oil business and the place it plays in our economy. Along the way they offer insights into prices and market processes, innovation and industry change, and the many uses of fossil energy. The five part series does not go deep, but the reporters do cover the …

Planet Money Buys Oil, Loses About $800 on the Deal, and Makes Some Great Podcast Journalism Read More »

Elasticity of Supply Reduces Hotel Price Spikes

1 Comment / Economics, Travel / By

Major sporting events can substantially boost demand for hotel rooms and, given the difficulty of building new hotels on short notice, lead to price hikes and consumer complaints about price gouging. As I wrote four years ago, “Super Bowls usually produce price gouging complaints,” but the complaints were especially high that year given the selection …

Elasticity of Supply Reduces Hotel Price Spikes Read More »

Smart Meters Help Consumers Avoid Wasting Money on Energy Efficiency

4 Comments / Electricity, Energy markets, Environmental policy / By

Analysis of a randomised-controlled trial on a sample of almost 2500 Irish households revealed one surprising result: compared to the control group, households provided with a smart meter, detailed feedback on usage, and time-of-use pricing reduced investment in energy efficiency projects. While this unexpected development appears treated by the researchers as an embarrassment to be overcome, the result should …

Smart Meters Help Consumers Avoid Wasting Money on Energy Efficiency Read More »

Can Regulated Rates Be Designed to Mimic Competition?

Electricity, Regulation / By

Rather than attempting to “mimic competition,” Giberson suggested simply “to allow competition.” Cost-of-service rate regulation cannot be designed to mimic competition. If you want competitive results, then allow competition. At least that was my claim reported in a Megawatt Daily story, “Texas wires rate study draws mixed reactions.” (From Monday, June 27, 2106; articles are not …

Can Regulated Rates Be Designed to Mimic Competition? Read More »

Gaming the Rankings on the Texas Power to Choose Website: Tpuc’s Simple Solution

Uncategorized / By

The Texas Public Utility Commission has implemented a fix to the “gaming the rankings” problem. The fix itself can be gamed a bit – is already being gamed a bit – but the offers gaming the fix are less misleading than before. It is an improvement. Here is what is going on: Creative retail electric …

Gaming the Rankings on the Texas Power to Choose Website: Tpuc’s Simple Solution Read More »

Texas Puc Continues Look at “Gaming the Rankings” Problem on State Website. Here’s My Solution.

1 Comment / Electricity, Energy markets, Regulation / By

Last week the commissioners of the Texas Public Utility Commission once again complained about retail power suppliers who gamed the ranking system on the state’s retail electric power shopping website www.powertochoose.org. This post summarizes the problem and then offers a simple solution. From the Houston Chronicle: Texas’ utility commissioners complained Thursday about confusing or misleading …

Texas Puc Continues Look at “Gaming the Rankings” Problem on State Website. Here’s My Solution. Read More »

Pjm Report Says the Regional Power Market Works, Doesn’t Always Give Regulators What They Want

Electricity, Energy markets, Regulation, Uncategorized / By

PJM has issued a report that, no surprise, finds the regional power promotes efficiency in operation and offers the right incentives for market entry and exit. The report does a few things, but none perhaps as useful as reminding policymakers that transparent, well-functioning markets do not always deliver the outcomes they wish for. From the …

Pjm Report Says the Regional Power Market Works, Doesn’t Always Give Regulators What They Want Read More »

Copyright © 2022 Knowledge Problem Archive