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RAP experts keep their finger on the pulse of the energy sector and provide timely analysis of topics impacting stakeholders TODAY.
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July 7, 2020
In a Time of Transition, Regulators Can Drive Cutting-Edge Cost Allocation Reform
- Jim Lazar ,
- Mark LeBel
The need for change in how we measure the cost of providing electric service by customer class is obvious to any attentive observer of the dramatic changes now underway in the electric utility industry. Electric Cost Allocation for a… View Summary +
May 5, 2020
Synchronizing the Electric Regulatory Response to COVID-19
- Jim Lazar
The COVID-19 crisis is influencing every aspect of the global economy, and electric utilities are certainly seeing significant impacts. Before utility regulators take actions to adjust revenues or rates to reflect COVID-19 impacts, it is important to identify and quantify… View Summary +
April 15, 2020
Modern Marginal Cost of Service Studies
- Jim Lazar ,
- Mark LeBel
The previous blog post in this series examined embedded cost of service studies — but some states choose to look ahead, considering marginal costs. This approach stems from the economic theory that today’s consumption drives tomorrow’s costs and customer classes… View Summary +
January 28, 2020
Updating Embedded Cost of Service Studies for a New Era
- Jim Lazar ,
- Mark LeBel ,
- Paul Chernick
In the first blog post in this series, we outlined how our new manual, Electric Cost Allocation for a New Era, looks comprehensively at the process of dividing utility costs among customer classes — and proposes several ways it… View Summary +
January 6, 2020
Cost Allocation: New Approaches for a New Era
- Jim Lazar ,
- Paul Chernick ,
- William Marcus ,
- Mark LeBel
Setting electric utility rates has traditionally been a three-step process: first, determining the revenue requirement; second, determining how to equitably divide costs among classes of ratepayers; and third, designing the rates themselves. That second step, cost allocation, is a… View Summary +
December 2, 2019
21世纪电力系统的灵活性
- Carl Linvill ,
- Jim Lazar ,
- David Littell ,
- Jessica Shipley ,
- David Farnsworth
简介 电力系统最基本的规则是发输用电必须同时完成。多年来,电网运营商一直在确定系统的负荷,并通过增加可用的发电机来满足需求、调整供电。 然而,现在供应侧出现了快速爬坡和高度灵活的联合循环燃气轮机发电等新技术,需求侧也出现了智能热水器和储能等新技术,另外,输电能力和系统运行也得到了改善。这些新技术共同创造了巨大的机会,使电力系统比以往更加灵活。… View Summary +
October 3, 2019
Value Added: Measuring the Health Benefits of the “Layer Cake”
- Jim Lazar ,
- Nancy Seidman
In 2013, RAP released a pathbreaking publication, Recognizing the Full Value of Energy Efficiency. We refer to the main concept of this paper as “the layer cake,” after its centerpiece concept analogizing the multiple benefits of energy efficiency as… View Summary +
August 29, 2019
Electric Cars Are a Lot Like Water Heaters
- Jim Lazar
People unfamiliar with electric cars often fear that a blossoming of EV ownership will bring chaos to the electric grid. For example, I recently spoke with the manager of a beach resort who was fearful of adding an EV charger,… View Summary +
March 14, 2019
共益电气化:交通(下)
- David Farnsworth ,
- Jessica Shipley ,
- Joni Sliger ,
- Jim Lazar
实施共益电气化交通 本节列出了确保交通电气化有益的一些考虑因素。此外,我们会提供一套与共益电气化相关的策略供各州考虑。 保障公共利益的几点思考… View Summary +
March 1, 2019
“共益电气化:确保电气化实现公共利益”系列报告之《共益电气化:交通(上)》
- David Farnsworth ,
- Jessica Shipley ,
- Joni Sliger ,
- Jim Lazar
执行摘要 技术进步,无论是发电效率还是终端能源效率,都为共益电气化提供了机会。交通、供暖、热水供应,就是这些机会之一。在电池成本下降和性能提升的推动下,电动汽车(EV)市场正在快速增长。自动驾驶汽车技术的开发和采用,以及对共享交通服务不断增长的需求也在塑造这一市场。 在当今不断变化的环境中,电动汽车的可用性和便利性日益增加,用户也逐渐习惯。与内燃机车辆相比,电动汽车可将其充电量的60%转换为行驶里程数,而相等情况下内燃机车辆仅能转换约20%的一次能源。由于这种高效率,电动汽车可以显著降低成本且减少污染。电动汽车充电负荷也可以作为电网的资源进行控制和管理。 为确保电动汽车惠及公众,政策制定者需要确定公众对交通市场的要求。他们还必须协调平衡市场参与者的需求与公共利益。我们鼓励公用事业委员会在各州都可以找到相应的平衡点,如果现有的法规权力不足,则应向立法机构需求帮助。 将技术与交通需求匹配… View Summary +