How The Electric System Can be Gamed
Ever get the choice you think sounds reasonable? For example, here is the new car you wanted. Only to find out it’s not new; it’s a lease, and you owe $1,500 / month in insurance.
So it is with the energy system.
Background. Utilities are monopolies in that only they can deliver power within their franchise territory.
ISO (independent system operators) act as the wholesale market. In their territory, they control which power plants are interconnected and pay for their power.
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) they are responsible for having a national view (think for the Country). Ensuring the power markets work without unfair competition by ISO, utility, or state regulators.
The choice. Fast-track any “shovel ready” utility fossil fuel power project and grant interconnect approval within 90 days.
MISO’s proposal to alleviate real congestion, and seasonal demands (cold and heat) would authorize only utilities to receive approval for new power projects.
The decision. No from FERC.
MISO (an ISO), which oversees the electric grid across a large portion of the Midwest, is not alone in facing a clogged interconnection process that’s preventing it from swiftly adding new generation to replace coal and keep up with demand. FERC rejected the organization’s plan to address it by fast-tracking new gas plants, marking a win for clean energy advocates.
Some Reality.
The reality is that MISO has 100s of gigawatts of power projects in the queue awaiting approval. The difference is these are NOT utility-owned and are primarily fueled by solar, wind, and battery installations.
FERC saw this effort to address a real problem as an end-run around “reasonably balanced” options. The existing queue of power projects earned their spot by being economically better than alternatives, situated in needed areas, and financially capable of being built and operated without consumer impact.
Sometimes the solution is taking advantage of the problem.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed, and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Renewable Energy means lower energy bills….why stop that?
The lowest cost energy production in the United States is wind and solar.
There are many reasons for this, starting with the fact that neither of these require to pay for fossil fuels to generate electricity for 25 years. Wind and solar is the cheapest electric production sources across the world. The scale of investment drives down the costs of adoption and has improved the efficiency in the technologies steadily for 20 years.
The Federal Government supports both fossil fuel (since 1890) and renewable energy production (since 2002).
Consider:
In the U.S., newly built solar and wind farms can provide power at a cheaper rate than 99% of the country’s remaining coal plants. Even fossil gas, the workhorse of the U.S. grid, struggles to compete with new clean energy. A study from Think Tank RMI found that portfolios of solar, wind, and batteries paired with utility energy-efficiency investments can serve grid needs at a lower cost than newly built gas-fired power plants.
So, what is the impact from the US stopping the investment and advantages that our past Federal Government support has bought? Well, an increase in energy costs! Yes, an increase in energy costs, roughly 0ver $90/year per household.
Just like a teeter-totter push one end down the other goes up. If the US wants to increase fossil fuels use it will increase the costs of energy for all US consumers, while the rest of the world’s energy price goes down.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Natural gas prices are rising. That’s worse news for ratepayers than utilities.
Higher energy prices: who pays them?
A utility pays for them BUT passes the costs through to customers. Utilities do not own the natural gas or they own very little electric generation. They buy on the wholesale market and pay market-based rates. Usually, their payment terms are to buy the gas and electricity but pay for it 60 days after its used. In that way, they use it in the current month, let’s say January, invoice for it in February, and pay the wholesale company back in March. Then do it all again. So, the price they pass through to customers is normally delayed 60 days.
Energy marketers or third-party suppliers buy in the wholesale market and typically repay the wholesale company after 30 days. This means they invoice the current cost immediately. So, there is no delay like with the utilities.
HOWEVER, in both cases the customers end up paying for the wholesale supply. The only question is, do you pay it immediately or after 60 days?
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://energynews.us/2022/10/12/natural-gas-prices-are-rising-thats-worse-news-for-ratepayers-than-utilities/
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Rising temperatures ahead
Trying to stay cool in rising temperatures causes electric bills to increase. Higher usage from running those AC units and fans is inevitable. On top of the norm, this year’s spikes in rates are further upping costs.
Through your utility, you can review options to use less energy and get tips on how to lower your bill through the summer heat. Check out your utility’s website or give them a call to discuss ways to manage your bill.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.eversource.com/content/ct-c/residential/account-billing/manage-bill/about-your-bill/energy-bill-assistance
Michigan’s stride to clean energy?
Michigan has over 10 utilities and each must submit to the MPSC their plan to reduce emissions.
Governor Whitmer will be issuing an executive order on Climate Solutions within the next months.
Consumers Energy is proposing to phase out all its coal plants by 2025, which is good. However, it further proposes to acquire and build new gas plants; less good.
DTE Energy will be filing their plan later in 2022.
Crafting energy policy is very delicate as it requires ramping up investment in alternatives while continuing to meet present energy needs.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: What’s next for Michigan’s stride to clean energy? – Energy News Network