The Future of Heat Initiative is hiring. If you're a lawyer who wants to make waves with state utility commissions -- or if you know a worthy lawyer who might be interested -- go ahead and check out the posting: thefutureofheat.com/s/Regulatory...

Utility regulation in the US is broken. Energy bills are up with no signs of coming down. It's not a technology problem -- It is a competition and regulation problem. We are working to fix it. Excited to have Jamie Van Nostrand on the team to help! Thefutureofheat.com/press-release

"Private equity is rolling up small HVAC companies under big umbrella organizations. From the outside, it still looks like you're getting [heat pump' quotes from three different companies — but they might all be owned by the same firm." Important piece --> www.heatpumped.org/p/plunder-ho...

Plunder: how Private Equity is reshaping HVAC

Uncover how private equity is transforming HVAC businesses, driving consolidation and changing industry dynamics in our revealing podcast interview with author Brendan Ballou.

heatpumped.org

🚨Job Alert🚨Johns Hopkins' Sustainable Energy Institute is hiring a fellow/post-doc (PhD, JD or equivalent experience) to support our work on interregional transmission, state engagement, and offshore wind planning! #energysky Details & application available: apply.interfolio.com/168478

The Future of Heat Initiative is hiring for two roles. Please share with your networks -- or apply. 1. Labor Research & Policy Lead lnkd.in/dXD6JMze 2. Energy Policy Research Associate (junior or senior) lnkd.in/d6kUSV-u More details here: www.linkedin.com/posts/the-fu...

Big climate news from Massachusetts: The state just overhauled a program that gives gas utilities extra financial incentive to repair/replace leaky natural gas pipelines Since it's inception, the program has cost $6.2B and now accounts for 8-11% of monthly utility bills www.wbur.org/news/2025/05...

Mass. orders utilities to spend less ratepayer money on natural gas pipelines

Overhauling the Gas System Enhancement Plan will save ratepayers money and help slash planet-warming emissions, without jeopardizing public safety, the state says.

wbur.org

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities just issued a decision about its program for replacing leak prone pipes in the state's gas distribution system. It is a big decision. Historic even. Check back tomorrow for some explication and commentary. eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/dpu/fileroom...

47% of utility gas homes also have backup heat. And their auxiliary use is higher than that of homes that utilize heat pumps on their primary source. I don’t blame you though Richard. Bad blog post.

Richard Meyer@richardmeyer.bsky.social · last yr.

Half of electric heat pumps use "backup" heat, most of which is extremely inefficient resistive heat. Many homes need "backup" at least every week, and four out of five need additional heat when it's cold.

Ask of the legal community. Who is working on (or would be interested in working on) the intersection of gas & electric utilities and antitrust? Specifically looking at potential antitrust implications of dual-fuel utilities protecting their gas business from electric competition.

The AGA released updated numbers for annual gas utility capital spend. Distribution hit $28bn. A 4x increase since 2010, almost all for replacing old gas lines in areas with 0 customer growth. This is the #1 reason gas bills are spiking in the Northeast. www.aga.org/research-pol...

Gas Utility Construction Capital Expenditure - American Gas Association

Notice In issuing and making this publication available, AGA is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity. Nor is AGA undertaking to perform any...

aga.org

There were 2 podcasts released this week that discuss fundamental issues with utility regulation in the US. Why energy bills are going up, why we’re behind on climate goals, and who’s making money off it. #1 Mark Ellis on how utilities are drastically overcharging us. prospect.org/environment/...

The Secret Society Raising Your Electricity Bills

A breakthrough report details how utility companies use bogus models to earn excess profits.

prospect.org

Mark is one of the smartest people on this very important topic. We’re going to be hearing a lot more about ROE reform in the coming years thanks to him.

Daniel Tait@taitdl.bsky.social · 2y ago

Just an absolute banger of a research paper out recently from Mark Ellis, a Senior Fellow @econliberties.bsky.social about how investor owned utilities are breaking the bank, and the backs, of regular people. Here are few of my favorite passages, a 🧵. www.economicliberties.us/press-releas...

What many people don’t understand is that > 2/3 of their gas bill isn’t to pay for gas, it’s the delivery pipes. @jlappen1.bsky.social masterfully lays out what we can learn from LA regarding the future of gas distribution in the US.

Heatmap News@heatmap.news · 2y ago

"In particular, greater Los Angeles’ burned neighborhoods are already revealing a looming natural gas crisis, decades before most American cities will face it," @jlappen1.bsky.social writes. Los Angeles is about to face a massive natural gas crisis.

🚨job alert🚨 Would you, or someone you know, like to channel something into thinking rigorously about how safe and electrified housing for everyone might also save the grid? I'm hiring a postdoc! 1-2 years, remote ok, $75k/year. Focus: model scenarios on deep building efficiency & grid impacts

This is my favorite chart of problems we aren’t addressing. We’re looking at ballooning energy bills for decades to come if left unchecked… and right now… they are unchecked!

The article links to our report on Peoples Gas which finds sharply rising gas fees for customers, even if pipe replacement spending is curtailed and especially when gas customers start to leave for electrified options that provide enhanced value.

Peoples Gas — Groundwork Data

groundworkdata.org

Everyone should read through this article and the suggestions of the ALJs in Chicago. For the past 15 years, gas utilities have spent endless $$ to convince regulators that replacing gas pipes is a necessary safety measure. And in this case, the ALJs are buying it.. www.yahoo.com/news/icc-adm...

ICC administrative judges recommend Peoples Gas resume paused pipeline replacement program

While it is not a final decision, two Illinois Commerce Commission administrative law judges issued a proposed order Tuesday recommending Peoples Gas resume its paused pipeline replacement program, wi...

yahoo.com

Welcome to Blue Sky! I talk about the future of gas and the future of heat. The role of state regulation, business models, and intersection with all other aspects of political economy. I run the nonprofit: thefutureofheat.com And consult for govt and nonprofits via groundworkdata.org

The Future of Heat Initiative | FoHI

thefutureofheat.com

Hello #EnergySky The team at Groundwork Data has been diving into the the financials and operations of Peoples Gas of Chicago for over a year. I won’t spoil the analysis, but this cover does a decent job summing it up. Give it a read and let us know what you think! Groundworkdata.org/peoples-gas

The recording of this presentation is now online, for any and all of you who'd like to treat your ears to a discussion of how historical analysis of utility-regulatory principles can help us justly decarbonize some buildings!

Josh Lappen@jlappen1.bsky.social · 2y ago

On 10/2 I'm presenting a new paper by me, @michaelwara.bsky.social, Mike Mastrandrea, and @amandazerbe.bsky.social. Come for the fun historical photos, stay for the fantastic panel! Ft. @justingundlach.bsky.social, @mikeebloomberg.bsky.social, and Denise Grab. events.stanford.edu/event/the-un...

This is why systemic change to eliminate single use plastic is meaningful work

Justin Mikulka@justinmikulka.bsky.social · 2y ago

The report also notes the future of oil growth is all in plastics.

Potential watershed moment with what I think is the first, but probably not the last class action suit filed against a gas utility (Eversource) for misleading customers as to the health, safety, and environmental effects of natural gas. #EnergySky www.universalhub.com/images/2024/...

From NatGrid’s latest rate case filing in New York. — “because utility stock prices are down, we need a higher return on equity to attract investors.” Ratepayers are out hundreds of millions more annually than they should be because of this voodoo.

#EnergySky - today Groundwork Data in partnership with the Building Decarbonization Coalition released “The Future of Gas in Illinois” — we also presented our findings as part of the ICC’s future of gas workshops. buildingdecarb.org/the-future-o....

The Future of Gas in Illinois

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buildingdecarb.org

Disappointed that DOE’s National blueprint for building decarbonization completely ignores the challenge of dealing with legacy fossil gas utilities. Lots of good stuff in there for federal agencies. But IMO falls very short of being a “blueprint.” www.energy.gov/eere/article... #EnergySky

New York's Department of Public Service is convening a technical conference on policy considerations related to the Zero Emissions by 2040 requirement in the state's 2019 climate law. Here's the star-studded agenda: documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Commo...

Hey #EnergySky — Groundwork Data is hiring for a Spring 2024 graduate research intern to work on The Future of Heat. Groundworkdata.org/were-hiring