THE CHANGE NEW ENERGY NEEDS

Regulatory capture and the Arizona Corporation Commission

Nancy LaPlaca, April 23, 2015 (Tucson Weekly)

“The powerful giants of the fossil-fueled electricity system are facing choices to change their business models, as a result of two developments: Regulations to decrease carbon dioxide pollution, and price drops in solar energy allowing more ratepayers to install rooftop photovoltaic systems. However, many utility companies…[are] turning to regulators to protect their monopolies…[Regulatory capture] occurs when an agency created to act in the public interest and regulate an industry instead advances the interest of that business, resulting in policy outcomes that favor the regulated entity…The links between influential groups such as the corporate-funded bill-mill American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the utility industry, and the introduction and passage of anti-clean-energy legislation have been well documented…Some of the large corporate clients in ALEC are the electric utilities industry, coal, natural gas, and nuclear industries…The 100 year old U.S. regulatory system is showing its age, but…[o]nly the regulators and the utilities have enough access to the mechanisms of power to bring the change needed…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet