Ideas Foundation


What it is

The movement from the monopoly model of utility policy and markets to the competitive model involves very difficult economic, policy, engineering, political, and legal issues. In order to develop the needed intellectual capital on these issues, the CAEM has established the IDEAS Foundation as its think tank arm. IDEAS is an acronym for Integrated Development of Essential Assets and Services. The IDEAS Foundation will have a Board of Advisors who will make recommendations to the CAEM Board of Directors on the initiation of major projects. All of CAEM's projects that result in an analytical document are initiated through the IDEAS Foundation. Additionally, the IDEAS Foundation will be the vehicle for raising funds for these projects.

 

Foundation Programs

DISCO of the Future Forum

CAEM is sponsoring a blue ribbon panel of 40 leaders in the energy industry, public and private, to analyze the risks and opportunities for the Distribution Company (DISCO) of the Future and to make consensus-based policy recommendations to decision-makers at all levels of government. The DISCO of the Future Forum will release a number of white papers and a final report intended to have an immediate and important impact on policy and business decisions that affect DISCOs and their customers over the next few years. Find out more on our DISCO Forum page.

 

Distributed Energy Task Force

Energy has become a major issue for the 107th Congress. Even before the release last month of the Presidentšs Energy Plan, numerous legislative committees began devoting some of their time to U.S. electricity prices and infrastructure, along with other energy matters. CAEMšs Distributed Energy Task Force grew out of informal calls for information and assistance from several Congressional offices, as staff members began working on a variety of energy initiatives. The project includes an assessment of opportunities for fostering distribution energy during this Congress, as well as an action plan for taking advantage of the most likely of these possibilities, particularly those where the Task Forcešs own involvement can make a difference. Find out more on our DE Task Force page.

 

Technology Education Initiative


TEI will be a forum to evaluate the implications of new technologies in the transition from the monopoly model of utility regulation to the competitive model. The primary focus will be developing an informational foundation for non-technologists and an identification of impediments and obstacles to deployment of particular technologies. The TEI is an umbrella under will many different technologies will be evaluated over several years. Each technology project will be a stand-alone project but will be fit into a broader framework, the sum of which will be a comprehensive insight into how technology and public policy will dramatically reshape energy markets. The Grid Enhancement Evaluation Project is the first such project in the TEI. For more information, go to our TE Initiative page.


Canadian Energy Restructuring Forum


As an action step following the DOE-NARUC North American Summit on Energy Restructuring, the Center for the Advancement of Energy Markets (CAEM or Center) is initiating the CAEM Canadian Energy Restructuring Forum (CERF). The purpose of the forum is to consolidate within one effort the state of play of gas and electric, wholesale and retail energy restructuring activity in Canada and to develop a consensus on a vision and game plan for energy restructuring in Canada. Additionally, the Forum will analyze impediments and options to successful integration of energy restructuring between the US and Canada and make recommendations on steps to take to ensure an effective transition between the monopoly model of utility regulation and the competitive model. The Forum is scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2001 and to end by the Fall of 2002. The Forum will be made up of about 50 organizations, split evenly between public sector/public interest organizations and corporate (governmentally owned energy facilities are classified as corporate). The Forum is expected to have a significant impact on public officials in developing a coherent strategy on energy restructuring.  Find out more on our Canadian Forum page.

 

Uniform Business Practices

CAEM supports the development of uniform business practices (UBP) for the restructuring retail natural gas and electricity markets.  Find out more about the UBP issue and current activities on our UBP Update page.

 

Foundation Publications

  • Ken Malloy testified in favor of retail customer choice on behalf of the Alabama Attorney General's Office in hearings hosted by the Alabama Public Service Commission.  [See the related news item at CAEM News.]
  • At NARUC’s Winter Meetings, CAEM led four discussions on our work on uniform business rules, one of which was before a joint meeting of the Gas, Electric, Consumer, and Energy Resources and Environment Committees.  [Five UBP presentations from the joint committee meeting are available on our Archive page.]
  • The California Public Utilities Commission requested our views on how energy market restructuring could effect the reorganization of public utility commissions.
  • The Sarkeys Energy Center, University of Oklahoma, invited us to provide our views on the future of retail energy competition and its impact on low-cost states.
  • The School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University asked us to present our thoughts on the drivers of global mergers and acquisitions. [The Merger presentation can be downloaded from our Publications page.]
  • The Government of India asked us to speak on how telecom and energy convergence could open infrastructure investment opportunities.
  • The American Gas Association invited us to comment at an internal workshop on the impact that the movement to develop uniform business rules would have on removing impediments to retail energy competition.
  • The CEO of Trigen Energy invited us to participate in Trigen’s annual strategy retreat to provide our views on the future of energy markets.
  • The Coalition for Uniform Business Rules asked us to deliver a keynote address on the barriers to retail energy competition.
  • The Gas Industry Standards Board invited us to discuss the need for uniform business rules as a condition of effective retail energy competition.
  • The National Energy Services Association invited CAEM to organize a roundtable discussion of energy industry "prophets" to discuss the impact of technology and competition on energy markets.
  • The Capital Area Energy Association conducted an innovative roundtable presentation with Ken Malloy and Branko Terzic on the myths of retail energy restructuring.

 

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