The price of using less
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
By Staff
Duke Energy delivered what appeared to be an audacious proposal to the N.C. Utilities Commission last year: Let us charge more for selling less power.
In an extensive series of hearings over several weeks this summer, the commission is examining the merits of that request. There's a lot to consider, including objections from some consumer groups and the commission's own public staff.
At heart, the issue is conservation: How can demand for electricity be driven down? And who should benefit when consumption declines?
Duke contends it should profit if it provides programs that save energy. It didn't invent that idea. The N.C. General Assembly enacted legislation declaring it state policy "to require energy planning and fixing of rates in a manner to result in the least cost mix of generation and demand-reduction measures which is achievable, including consideration of appropriate rewards to utilities for efficiency and conservation which decrease utility bills." (more…)
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