October 23
The Affordability Pressure Is Rising
This week's top smart energy news, curated by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC).
Member News
Energy affordability has become not just the primary force in the relationship between electricity providers and their customers – but a hallmark issue of this era that routinely makes mainstream headlines. As some have said, it’s the “new price of eggs.” New research from the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) and an analysis of 1,199 U.S. utilities from BlastPoint reveal the extent of the affordability crisis and its effects on households and electric utilities.
National Grid gained authorization from the New York State Public Service Commission to amend its demand response programs that reduce energy loads at peak times when natural gas is used. The approval reduces the amount of testing each year, lowers the enrollment thresholds, and recommends transitioning multifamily customers from National Grid’s thermostat program to the Excelsior Power Program.
Every fall, we hold a gathering to bring together the community that is driving modernization on the electric grid. I am continually reminded of the astounding innovation that is accelerating to solve the grid’s toughest challenges. When we started this event nearly 10 years ago, macro conditions on the grid were not dynamic enough for me to have imagined that we would need to focus on the topic of grid affordability.
A new $6 million contribution from Google will support a community collaboration led by Omaha Public Power District, working alongside United Way of the Midlands (UWM) and other community partners to support households, organizations and strengthen community resilience. This energy impact funding will help reduce energy costs for families, improve energy efficiency and expand workforce pathways across the region.
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Industry News
It’s a great time to have an electric vehicle – and more Americans are getting the message. Despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to refrain from striking Iran before next month’s midterm elections, oil markets are still roiling. The average price for a gallon of gasoline across the country has been stuck at over $4 for months now, making it considerably cheaper to drive an EV than a gas-powered car.
An agreement by Google to fund a 100-MW virtual power plant in the nation’s biggest regional market signals the emergence of distributed capacity as a valuable resource amid tightening power supplies, industry sources say. The tech giant announced in June that it would pay residential, commercial and industrial customers in the PJM Interconnection to participate in a three-year VPP operated by Voltus.
As data centers scour the U.S. grid for capacity they can get online as quickly as possible, they’ve widened the stack of energy technologies they’re willing to rely on. For the last few years, hyperscalers have pursued advanced nuclear, enhanced geothermal and long-duration storage – and now distributed capacity as well.
Central Georgia EMC will deploy up to 50 MW of small-scale, customer-sited energy storage in partnership with Base Power. Set to begin in 2027, the deployment marks Base Power’s first utility partnership outside its home state of Texas. CGEMC will charge the batteries when wholesale power prices and members’ energy demand are low and discharge during periods of peak demand.
