Affordability Matters Blog

The Super Bowl blackout almost stymied the Baltimore Ravens’ game plan but it could give a push to the nation’s discussion of energy issues.
 
That’s the view of U.S. Sen.  Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who said the 33 minutes when the Superdome went dark could shed light on how much we all rely on electricity. 
 
“I think it helps to perhaps kick-start the debate,” she said, according to The Hill newspaper.
  Read more »

This recent radio spot by the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau outlines the importance of affordable electricity – not only for our home use, but also for the farmers who help feed our country.

Electricity can be a huge expenditure for farmers and ranchers – so if energy costs escalate unnecessarily our food prices could rise too. Unaffordable electricity caused by unneeded mandates also could threaten the economic well-being of some family farms. 

UPDATED 2/3/2013 at 8:20 PM We don't think much about reliable electricity until we don't have it. We learned during Super Bowl XLVII that we can't afford to take it for granted. From national pleasures like football to national necesities like farming and small business, electricity power our lives.

The quarterbacks aren’t the only things powering the teams in the Super Bowl; electricity plays a big role in the biggest sporting event of the year.

The Super Bowl typically uses 50 million kilowatts of electricity to power the stadium where the Ravens and 49ers will play and to light up the TVs at home for more than 111 million worldwide viewers.  

So how much electricity is that? A lot. 2011’s Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, for example, used enough energy in the stadium to power 1,500 homes for a year. 

Here’s the list of what was plugged in to reach that number:  Read more »

Why do ill-conceived energy regulations and other bureaucratic red tape ultimately lead to greater electricity costs for consumers? As this thoughtful article in the Wyoming Business Report explains, utilities are striving to use a greater variety of energy sources while operating responsibly and ensuring a reliable supply of affordable energy – but it’s extremely difficult in an uncertain regulatory environment. 

Lyle Witham of North Dakota’s Basic Electric Power Cooperative told a Wyoming audience that this lack of clarity makes it tough to plan how to produce electricity in the coming decade.    Read more »

Keeping electricity affordable is extra important for older Americans, an AARP report notes. Seniors 65 or older devote a significantly greater share of their spending to utilities than those under 50 years. And electricity accounts for the biggest chunk of the utility bills of those over 50. 

Seniors are not just vulnerable to price increases, they’re also limited in the steps they can take to save on their monthly utility costs. AARP advises them not to try to save money by turning the thermostat down in the winter or up in the summer because maintaining a comfortable temperature, especially in the sizzling heat of summer or the biting cold of winter, is critical to the health of older adults. Electricity isn’t a luxury to many people – it’s a lifeline.  Read more »