Posts Tagged ‘MS Utility Consumer Advocate’

Grand Gulf receives a failing grade if affordable and reliable electricity for its customers is the goal.  It’s supposed to be the goal of the public service commission who regulates the utility monopoly.  This structure seems to have room for improvement as evidenced by these legal complaints.  Seems a proactive structure in place of a reactive one would better serve the customers’ interests.

While the heavy ‘fog of war’ still lingers over the pandemic battlefield, people can be excused for not realizing that America is in the midst of a monumental economic transition.  This mega-transition is the switch from internal combustion engines (ICE) that burn fossil fuels to electric powered vehicles (EVs).  This is a big deal with the current nationwide fleet of vehicles estimated at 276 million of which EVs make up less than 2%.

How reliable is Mississippi’s electricity? We had rolling blackouts during the freeze. But nothing like the Texas disaster. Were we smart or lucky? We were obviously lucky to have a shorter, less severe freeze than Texas. We won’t know how smart we are until we are really tested. But here’s how the electricity thing works in Mississippi.

Regulators from Arkansas and Louisiana are buzzing around Entergy’s Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant. The buzz from those state regulators is a challenge filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) which is Grand Gulf’s primary regulatory oversight.  Strangely, Mississippi’s regulators are not yet party to this latest investigation of Grand Gulf and its recent operations.  This begs the question — why not?

Entergy Mississippi customers are paying for power neither received nor even generated.

The Mississippi Public Service Commission could have new law enforcement agents if a bill in the legislature becomes law. Does the PSC really need these policing services? In 2013, the PSC looked a $7.5 billion dollar boondoggle straight in the eyes…and blinked.  Enough is enough!

A hoax is a humorous or malicious deception.  A scam is a dishonest scheme or swindle.  It’s a hoax for profit.  Hoaxes have made fools of the unwary, and scams have taken unwitting victims for a long time.  How do you avoid getting taken? Cicero asked: Cui bono — Who benefits?

Regulated monopolies are largely protected from competition and are great for their shareholders.  Not so great for their customers though.  Especially if the regulator (the Public Service Commission) has its thumb on the scale for the monopoly. 

What’s wrong with how Mississippi regulates electricity rates? The short answer: No one in the process represents only the customers – the everyday Mississippians who pay their electric bill.