News article

As water bills rise, PWSA ramps up efforts to help low-income customers

Water rates have inflated four times faster since 2017. In city’s neighborhoods, 1 in 5 customers spent 10% or more of their income on water. PWSA (Pittsburgh’s local water supplier) has sent shutoff notices to 20% of their nearly 8000 customers who fell behind on their bills. Payment...Read more

New York adds $52.5 million in community solar incentives for low-income residents

At the same time as the closure of one of the power plants producing net-zero carbon emissions, New York is planning to put aside $52 million to invest in solar energy. This investment, however, is targeted at low-income residents who are usually the ones left behind in energy transition...Read more

How coronavirus is changing electricity usage, in 3 charts

This news article talks about shifting energy demand during COVID-19, focusing on California, New York, and Italy. Data is taking from electricity grids and shows that there is a reduced overall demand on the grid -- so even with increased usage in households, the amount of energy consumption is...Read more

In Maine, pandemic hasn’t stopped push for a publicly owned electric grid

Maine calls for a publicly-owned utility, Maine Power Delivery Authority, given the unreliable service and high rates from other local utilities. However, there is a lot of uncertainty that surrounds the consumer-owned utility. The proposed amendment also institutes a task force to consider...Read more

Tropical Storm Isaias Wreaks Havoc On Philadelphia Area

The article here presented is part of a range of articles being published on the recent and devastating tropical storm Isaias. While it wreaked havoc through North Carolina, where it touched land as a hurricane, it was also very devastating as it moved through the region as a tropical storm,...Read more

Dangerous choice: Swelter in quarantine or risk contagion

This article disscusses how cities may protect vulnerable residents from the risks of extreme heat during the COVID19 pandemic. Read more

There Could Be an Energy Bill Debt Tsunami, Too

We're including this article because it discusses the state of household energy bills and the use of pandemic moratoriums. The article discusses differences between when states ended the utility shutoff moratoriums, but also noted that nationally, household consumers did spend more during the...Read more

State Legislature to investigate ConEd, utility companies’ response to Tropical Storm Isaias

Cuomo has taken the aftermath of the storm very seriously and wants to get at the heart of the poor response from ConEd and other energy providers. ConEd is specifically highlighted, but the article underscores the difference preparedness would have made for the storm's response. Additionally,...Read more

Additional LIHEAP funding urged for struggling families as Senate considers more COVID-19 relief

Proponents are advocating for a new round of federal funding for LIHEAP on account of the economic downturn that the nation faces due to COVID-19. They state that around $4.3 billion of funding is needed to protect struggling consumers in the coming months when utility shut-off moratoria...Read more

A Lawsuit Challenges the Tennessee Valley Authority’s New Program of ‘Never-Ending’ Contracts

This article talks about the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) locking 142 of 151 utilities into never-ending contracts, with stipulations to back out of their contracts with 20-year notices. This would essentially prevent many utilities from changing their contracts and power sources to...Read more

Subscribe to News article