Utility To Lower Default Service Rates Due To Federal Tax Cuts
So, the tax cut you heard about is lowering electric rates.
Baltimore Gas and Electric filed to lower its electric rate by 15%. This is due to their corporate tax rate decreasing from 35% to 21%. No word on if salaries are increasing for their employees. This will undoubtedly be a trend for utilities.
Remember, a utility is a monopoly and they can only earn their guaranteed rate of return; any surplus has to be refunded to customers.
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 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
http://www.energychoicematters.com/stories/20180116b.html
Electricity from Coal generation continues to decline in the US
The Federal Energy Agency (FERC) looks ahead annually and forecasts the energy supply for all the generation sources in the US. In the most recent forecast, the energy source being reduced the most remains coal. Natural gas, wind and solar will contribute the most new generation in the coming years. This is the trend that has been in place for 10+ years. Last year was the first time that coal contributed less than ½ of all US electricity.
Coal generation continues to decline as does coal jobs while solar and wind jobs more than made up for the net loss of jobs. However, the wind and solar jobs are generally not located in areas where the coal jobs are lost (with the exception of Illinois, and Indiana).
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 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-20-gw-of-coal-capacity-headed-for-retirement-by-2020/514277/
NIPSCO receives multi-million dollar bailout for aging coal plants
What is the point of regulatory oversight if it fails to protect rate payers from unsustainable and higher cost decisions? NIPSCO the monopoly utility owns and operates aging coal facilities which are the costliest power plants to run in the entire area. NIPSCO admits that shutting them down WOULD SAVE money and cause less pollution.
HOWEVER, the Indiana regulators have approved their continued operation. If NIPSCO was a competitive business, these plants would be shut down. Indiana’s electric pricing is some of the highest in the area and this regulatory process explains why. The businesses and residents of Indiana deserve better oversight by their regulators.
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 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
One year later, Illinois energy jobs law bearing fruit
What creates electricity and jobs? Solar Energy!
A new community solar plant will be generating enough energy to power 400 homes in Tazewell County. Building and maintaining the solar plant required about 30 jobs. The solar plant and the jobs were the result of Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act. Any community in the state can do the same due to the legislation which Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria helped pass.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
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.
Additional Information:
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171206/one-year-later-illinois-energy-jobs-law-bearing-fruit
Updated Environmental Disclosures
If you’re interested in checking out details on Realgy’s certifications as an Alternative Retail Electricity Supplier (ARES), check out the Environmental Disclosures on our website. We will continue to update this page to provide you with related information.
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.
Who Should Pay For Electric Vehicle Chargers? Who Should Profit?
Electric vehicles are becoming a viable option. One issue holding back broader acceptance is charging. States, utilities and utility regulators are trying to address the need to provide charging stations. Such innovations include:
- California is moving toward allowing utilities to invest in the transmission/distribution and own the charging stations
- Massachusetts is allowing utilities to invest in the infrastructure but leave the charging stations to others
- Texas allows ONLY utilities to own and operate charging stations
- Missouri is considering a request to allow utilities to build and own charging stations
- Kentucky is allowing utilities to build and own charging stations BUT only charges customers who use them
Utilities are monopolies. This allows them to charge all their customers for a charging station (that few will ever use), will not allow competition and will most likely stifle the electric vehicle industry. Allowing utilities to build out the infrastructure to which an entity can provide the charging station seems likely to win the day.
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.
Additional Information:
How the House Tax Bill Would Impact Wind, Solar, Electric Vehicles and Utilities
Long term planning is what all businesses and countries seek right?
The U.S. passed laws to encourage the investment in renewable energy technology and innovation. Since then, companies, states and municipalities have invested $BILLIONs to achieve commercially available energy products, sustainable energy and reduced pollution/greenhouse gases. Renewable energy has been a top job producer.
The House Republicans and Senate have unveiled tax reform bills that would undermine this planning and progress. Proposed reforms would include:
- Curtail wind construction
- Stop long term investment in solar development
- Stop investment in electric vehicles
These 3 items represent the majority of jobs created in the electric energy industry over the last 8 years.
One addition was incentive for small wind turbines, fuel cells and geothermal. This is a good plan as none of these technologies are currently commercially viable. That will take a long-term plan. While the Republican tax reform gets finalized, look at what is done to the engines of job growth in the energy industry and for those that carry out long term planning.
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.
Additional Information:
Illinois rated second in the country in grid modernization survey
Illinois is being recognized as one of the top states that has invested or modernized its electric grid (transmission and distribution).
The Commerce Commission and the state Legislators have authorized very large expenditures, in some cases without showing any benefit.
The real question will be HOW this investment will provide returns in reliability, lower costs and improved services to the people of Illinois.
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.
Additional Information:
Tesla Powerpacks will supply Nantucket’s backup power
Tesla’s Powerpack battery systems have been selected by Nantucket to boost the backup power and grid stabilizers. The current generators will need to be replaced and National Grid decided this will be the best alternative power support system. Multiple US properties have already been using these Powerpacks, including Puerto Rico as they recover from hurricane damage.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 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.
Additional Information:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/10/tesla-powerpacks-supply-nantucket-backup-power/
New Illinois rules aim to protect customers of alternative energy suppliers
Add competition while keeping a monopoly…of course there is confusion. Utility regulators initially wanted competition and now appear to see competition as deceptive. Instead of pushing energy marketers and utilities to clearly adopt “customer choice” as a clear alternative, the regulators are focusing on energy marketing sales practices. Competitive energy markets are not new, nor is buying things. So, why the confusion with energy sales?
Comparisons
Most regulators think it’s about the rate, however, the true answer is: it’s NOT. Low rates and saving money should be the driver, but like anything else you buy, quality (in energy’s case terms and conditions) is an important consideration. Comparing the price of energy without looking at the quality issues will always invite confusion.
Fair dealing; do not lie, do not mislead, and do not commit fraud
Consumers have strong consumer protection laws. Utilities have complaint departments as do all energy marketers, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) can remove energy marketers, the Illinois Attorney General’s (IAG) office can seek restitution, and the Illinois State Attorney can prosecute fraud. Energy marketers are required NOT to mislead or commit fraud.
Market competition
No system is more ruthless in removing inefficiency, driving down costs, and providing service as competition. EVERYTHING to support true competition should be implemented. Realgy supports aggressive policing of energy marketers and has applauded the action of the ICC and IAG in these matters. In addition, allowing market competition to fully drive down and deliver energy is the real long term solution.
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.
Additional Information: