Inclusive Utility Investment Fundamentals
This term describes a financing model where the utility pays upfront for upgrades and recovers costs through a site-specific charge on the customer’s bill.
What is an inclusive utility investment?
This type of utility is owned by shareholders and regulated by state commissions.
What is an investor-owned utility (IOU)?
This principle calls for fair distribution of energy system benefits and burdens, and is one of the Five Dimensions of Equity discussed in the retreat.
What is distributive equity?
In Pay As You Save® programs, this percentage rule ensures that utility cost recovery is limited to a portion of the estimated annual savings.
What is the 80% rule?
This type of utility is owned by its members and often governed by an elected board.
What is a rural electric cooperative?
This principle calls for fair distribution of benefits and burdens in the energy system.
What is distributive equity?
This key design feature means the investment stays with the location—not the person—making it accessible for renters.
What is a site-specific tariff?
Why are solar panels great at parties?
They know how to “conduct” themselves!
What do you call a power plant that tells jokes?
What is "a 'current' comedian"?
Why did the energy auditor bring a ladder?
To check the “high” bills!
This nonprofit association represents electric cooperatives nationwide and supports programs like Upgrade to $ave.
What is the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)?
The Jemez Principles emphasize this approach to organizing, centering community voices.
What is Bottom-Up Organizing?
These consumer safeguards—like no disconnections for nonpayment of charges—are essential to building trust in inclusive utility investment programs.
What are consumer protections?
Nebraska is the only U.S. state served entirely by this type of community-controlled utility.
What are public power utilities?
This classic utility dilemma occurs when landlords don’t upgrade properties because tenants pay the bills.
What is the split incentive?