This article is particularly important because it merges several aspects of energy governance: the power held by primary actors in the energy market (i.e. utilities and PUCs) and the effects on secondary actors (consumers and workers in the energy market). Tracing a PUC case in New Hampshire, the article shows how decisions not to expand the energy efficiency works essentially have negative repercussions both for workers in the sector (who see their budgets slashed) and for people who could have potentially been benefactors of the program. With the pandemic, households that were previously able to get are now thrust into worse economic conditions and they also are perpetually excluded from programs that could help bring down their bills. New Hampshire's PUC has denied re-hearing requests on the issue, essentially halting any project extended to working-class and moderate-income households.
Mara Hoplamazian, Daniela Allee and NHPR Staff, "PUC Fight: Commission denies rehearing requests; House passes a bill with a new plan for energy efficiency ", contributed by Briana Leone, The Energy Rights Project, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 11 January 2022, accessed 26 April 2024. https://energyrights.info/content/puc-fight-commission-denies-rehearing-requests-house-passes-bill-new-plan-energy-1
Critical Commentary
This article is particularly important because it merges several aspects of energy governance: the power held by primary actors in the energy market (i.e. utilities and PUCs) and the effects on secondary actors (consumers and workers in the energy market). Tracing a PUC case in New Hampshire, the article shows how decisions not to expand the energy efficiency works essentially have negative repercussions both for workers in the sector (who see their budgets slashed) and for people who could have potentially been benefactors of the program. With the pandemic, households that were previously able to get are now thrust into worse economic conditions and they also are perpetually excluded from programs that could help bring down their bills. New Hampshire's PUC has denied re-hearing requests on the issue, essentially halting any project extended to working-class and moderate-income households.