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Rethinking Reliability: Insights from Ron Lehr
New Energy Economics board member and former Chair of the Colorado Public Utility Commission, Ron Lehr discusses why utility reliability planning needs to change—and how we can do better.
Episode 1
"Why Should People Care About Reliability?"
"Why Should People Care About Reliability?"
Power outages can cost billions—and even cost lives.
Ron Lehr explains why electricity reliability planning matters to everyone, not just utility companies.
Episode 2
"Capacity + 15% Is Outdated"
"Capacity + 15% Is Outdated"
Utilities still use an outdated formula to plan for reliability: capacity + 15%.
Ron Lehr breaks down why we should do better.
Episode 3
“Storms Show What We’re Missing”
“Storms Show What We’re Missing”
The grid looked reliable—until the storms hit.
Ron Lehr explains why we need more than just generation capacity to keep the lights on when extreme weather strikes.
Episode 4
“Six Principles of Better Reliability Planning”
“Six Principles of Better Reliability Planning”
What does smarter reliability planning look like? Ron Lehr walks through 6 principles from the Energy Systems Integration Group that offer a better path forward for our power grid.
Episode 5
“Corporate Buyers Care About Planning”
“Corporate Buyers Care About Planning”
Large energy users—like Fortune 500 companies—are asking utilities to improve reliability planning. Ron Lehr shares why corporate buyers care about resource adequacy and what they want to see change.
Episode 6
“The Role of Regulators”
“The Role of Regulators”
Regulation is the art of the question.”
Ron Lehr explains how smart regulators can push utilities to plan better, just by asking the right questions.
Episode 7
“What Reliability Really Costs”
“What Reliability Really Costs”
100% reliability sounds great—until you see the price tag.
Ron Lehr explains the economic tradeoff and why we need a balanced, cost-conscious approach to grid planning.
Episode 8
“San Diego Blackout: $8 Billion in 12 Hours”
“San Diego Blackout: $8 Billion in 12 Hours”
Just 12 hours of darkness cost $8 billion. Here's why the cost of NOT planning for reliability is staggering.
Episode 9
“Why Load Participation Matters”
“Why Load Participation Matters”
What if your building could help keep the grid stable? Ron Lehr explains how demand-side flexibility plays a key role.
Episode 10
“Grid Isolation vs. Sharing Power”
“Grid Isolation vs. Sharing Power”
Even preschoolers know: sharing your toys makes everything better. Ron Lehr on why grid coordination saves lives.
Episode 11
“How Corporate Customers Can Make a Difference”
“How Corporate Customers Can Make a Difference”
Corporate energy buyers can drive smarter grid planning. Ron Lehr explains how to roll up your sleeves and get involved.
Episode 8
“San Diego Blackout: $8 Billion in 12 Hours”
“San Diego Blackout: $8 Billion in 12 Hours”
Just 12 hours of darkness cost $8 billion. Here's why the cost of NOT planning for reliability is staggering.
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Electric system reliability is fundamentally, and importantly, an economic issue. First, when the lights go out, particularly across large areas and for sustained periods of time, economic losses to...
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