News Release
September 22, 2008

Utility pricing encouraging efficient use among topics at UW Consumer Issues Conference

Simply allowing high utility prices to suppress energy consumption is not an answer to these times of expensive energy, said the chief counsel to the Wyoming Public Service Commission and a scheduled presenter at the 2008 University of Wyoming Consumer Issues Conference.

Chris Petrie is one of about 30 speakers at the conference Sept. 25-26 on the UW campus. Themes are energy and telecommunications, and Petrie said the scope of the conference drew him to participate. There are more than 14 presentations within four breakout sessions Sept. 25 and a day of energy-related tours Sept. 26. More information about the conference is at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/consumerconference/.      

“This is Wyoming’s premier consumer issues event with some of the most interesting speakers addressing issues and topics that are almost certain to have profound impacts on Wyoming’s and America’s future,” said Petrie. “It’s a rare and exciting opportunity to be involved in positive discussions with the leaders and experts who are able to inspire awareness and action.”

The conference comes at a time when Wyoming consumers enter fall and winter bracing for increasing prices of natural gas for heating. Estimates in August forecast increases of 50-70 percent. Petrie said recent estimates predict less drastic increases, assuming there are no major market disruptions such as hurricanes.

He said he has no data to determine what people are doing to prepare, “but I have to assume people who are aware of the situation are very serious about identifying and taking cost-effective conservation and efficiency measures.”

Petrie will discuss traditional utility rate setting practices, incentives they present to utilities and consumers and alternative pricing approaches that are becoming more prevalent.

 “My hope is to have people take away the understanding that energy utility pricing that encourages greater consumption should be eliminated,” he said, “and that other approaches to pricing, including demand-side management, conservation incentives, smart metering and other pricing approaches that encourage thoughtful, informed, efficient use, will be a key feature of our energy use.”

Americans have seemingly reached the end of relative cheap energy and need to increase their energy efficiency awareness, said Petrie.

Using energy wisely – unplugging electronic devices, turning off lights and turning down heat in unused rooms, setting the thermostat a little lower in winter and higher in summer – “these things add up to real, worthwhile savings,” Petrie said. “And in the bigger picture, overall demand is reduced, which can only mean less rapidly rising prices.”

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Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu
Archived News Site http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/UWAG/news.asp

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