Below are a few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.

Empowering Consumers - October 17, 2007

One must be very careful not to confuse a true focus on efficiency with utility PR and green washing. A utility truly focused on energy efficiency would not tolerate the 5 decade (and counting) failure to drive up the generation efficiency of the US power grid. A utility truly focused on energy efficiency would have been encouraging energy efficiency long before the creation of DSM programs that made it profitable for them to do so. A utility truly focused on efficiency would not maintain rate classifications that provide price-breaks for customers who go on all electric service - or provide price disincentives to those who would install more efficient on-site generation in their plants. Most importantly, a utility truly focused on efficiency would use it's soapbox not to tout their modest DSM programs, but rather to ask loudly for a reframing of the regulatory compact so that the interests of their shareholders are no longer in direct conflict with the interests of their! consumers.

October 29, 2007

Violent lunatics bent on the destruction of western civilization are one thing. Silent computer hackers who can whittle away at the nation's infrastructure are another.

Federal and industry experts say that the technology that allows utilities to run their operations is more vulnerable now than ever before. Because those networks are becoming increasingly standardized and linked to other centralized systems, they can be more easily breached and the resulting disturbances can be enormous.

October 10, 2007

The leading presidential candidates are for the most part using standard political rhetoric when they talk about energy, calling for energy security, energy independence, or self-sufficiency. They are all jumping on the alternative energy bandwagon, bandying about any number of figures for what percentage of the nation's energy needs should be supplied by alternative sources and when.

However, some of the candidates have gone a little further, providing some concrete details of how they view energy and what policies they might espouse if elected.

October 8, 2007

Top technology officers have arrived. Today, most chief information officers are now considered a part of the strategic "think tank" and management structures of their organizations. Some are wondering if making the climb was such a good idea.

Never before has the utility industry been inundated with so many problems. And, many of the other executives sitting in those boardrooms increasingly are looking to the tech experts for solutions that they needed "last week." Modern tech didn't create most of the problems, but it is certainly expected to come up with answers, and quickly. Now chief information officers (CIO's) are integral to ensuring the organizations are insulated against politics, economics, demographics, regulation, terrorism and war.

October 1, 2007

When the Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by a half of a percentage point, it triggered a vigorous debate. The central bank, which works to balance economic growth with inflationary pressures, is now tested as to where its allegiance lay.