Clean energy, consumer advocates outline good rate design principles

The NW Energy Coalition is among 32 consumer, clean energy and environmental organizations urging utility regulators to adopt uniform principles for making rate design changes.

Northwest utilities, like others across the country, are reconsidering their business models as energy efficiency and consumer-owned distributed generation reduce electric demand. Many are considering higher fixed charges, minimum bills and other approaches that could impede progress toward a clean, affordable and equitable energy future.

In a joint letter to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the organizations lay out the basics of doing good rate design. They call for fairness and transparency, use of credible and open data, and a cooperative rather than contested process.

Read the letter here.

Read the Utility Dive article about the letter here.

If you have any questions, please contact policy director Wendy Gerlitz.