Description

Cooperative Power Supply: An Industry in Transition (BLC #961.1)

Electric co-op boards face a rapidly evolving energy landscape where power supply decisions are more complex, involve greater risks and have greater cost consequences for consumer-members than ever before. The low price of natural gas, the combination of state renewable portfolio requirements, the falling prices of wind and solar, and environmental regulations are leading a fundamental shift in the U.S. electricity generation portfolio. This shift has significant implications for electricity suppliers and for consumers. At play are five fundamental dynamics: Regulatory/Legislative, Markets, Fuels, Power Technology, and Customer expectations and preferences. 

This course focuses on building competencies and strategies boards can pursue in the face of this uncertainty including understanding what members want, working closely with power suppliers, communicating with members and being their trusted energy advisor.

KEY TOPICS 

• Key milestones and significant regulatory actions impacting the evolution of electric cooperative power supply.
• Traditional and organized markets.
• The value of diversity within the power supply portfolio, in both fuel and technologies.
• Characteristics, measures and properties of power supply.
• The advantages of the consumer centric utility.