Shielding a single stone – the experience of combating one mom’s energy shutoff

** Please consider contributing to Krystal’s GoFundMe associated with this story** Although we’re generally not direct service providers at EEP, from my 11 years work at EcoWorks, a Detroit non-profit, I learned when people reach out, you respond.  Last week we presented on our Energy Bill Transparency Initiative at a ratepayer clinic organized by MichiganContinue reading "Shielding a single stone – the experience of combating one mom’s energy shutoff"

EEP’s DTE Testimony is Filed – Reflecting on Legacies of Shutoffs and Activism in Detroit

Last Friday, we filed 106 pages of testimony and 980 pages of exhibits (give or take) opposing DTE Energy’s request for a $574 million (11% residential) rate increase. A week removed from that marathon, here are my reflections.  Evaluating EEP’s Role We were drowning for weeks in our almost-but-never-finished testimony for DTE’s latest rate case.Continue reading "EEP’s DTE Testimony is Filed – Reflecting on Legacies of Shutoffs and Activism in Detroit"

The Story of Cal and Lena

We’ve been thinking a lot about data centers, as I imagine many of you have—what they will mean for affordability and the climate, the costs of mining the next cryptocurrency. But I’ve also been thinking a lot about the tendency to treat our minds as data centers, demanding 24-7 processing of information that sucks aContinue reading "The Story of Cal and Lena"

Energy Equity Project to launch Regulators Gettin’ Real TV Show

Energy Equity Project (EEP) is widely known for its work supporting frontline organizations in pursuit of their own visions of community-controlled energy. So the news that EEP is wading into the morass of reality TV may come as a surprise. I sat down with the EEP team to discuss what sparked this shift in strategyContinue reading "Energy Equity Project to launch Regulators Gettin’ Real TV Show"

Energy Equity Valentine’s Day Cards for all!

With Valentine's Day coming up, we've written some mini cards to send to your favorite utility rep or commissioner, as well as one for energy equity allies. Feel free to print them off and mail them with a tasty treat and your own message inside, post them on social media, or use any other meansContinue reading "Energy Equity Valentine’s Day Cards for all!"

Rethinking Procedural Equity

I’ve been revisiting ideas of procedural equity in the energy system since the election. The procedures that govern who is selected to regulate utilities and how stakeholders can access and sway decisions have profound impacts on the distribution of benefits and negative impacts. Procedural equity is at the root of whether energy bills are affordable,Continue reading "Rethinking Procedural Equity"

They died with the AC off. Why the government pays for heating but not cooling.

Illustration by Derek Abella for POLITICO Check out this Politico article by Thomas Frank about the impacts of federal policies that fail to protect people in the hottest regions from extreme heat. For more about extreme heat, see this article by Justin Schott.