Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read about state public utility commissions' regulations

States have specific laws and regulations to which investor-owned utilities must adhere. Individuals receiving service from municipal utilities are not as protected as those served by private utilities because publicly owned utilities are generally not regulated by state public utility commissions.

I recommend: ConsumerLaw.com discusses the differences in public utility company (PUC) and Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations and how theyir work differs from unregulated utilities, including municipalities and Rural Electric Cooperatives (REC). UtilityRegulation.com provides access to industry reports concerning public utility commissions. These reports include both telecommunications and energy as well as other general reports that not only discuss regulations, but also planning, utility rates, restructuring and market developments.

Understand how regulation-issuing federal agencies operate when dealing with nuclear energy

When nuclear energy first became a viable power source for the U.S. in the early 1970s, the government created the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials to produce energy for the civilian population. The NRC regulates three main areas involving nuclear energy - the reactors, materials and the waste. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also has a hand in regulating energy sources (electricity, oil and natural gas) and their interstate transmission.

I recommend: The NRC’s website offers an explanation of and links to regulation guidelines, radiation and fire protection information, emergency preparedness guidelines and strategic plan. The Federal Register provides access to the NCR’s articles of operation, including those discussing licenses of use of byproduct material, requirements for industrial radiographic operations and standards for protection against radiation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lists on its website the aspects of energy regulation that fall within their responsibility and areas in which they do not have control, namely the regulation of consumer sales of retail natural gas and electricity.

Familiarize yourself with the 'cap and trade' movement

A recent movement within the energy industry and government regulatory agencies is called 'cap and trade,' which would look at cost-effective methods for cost-effective reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions. In essence, the concept would cap (set a maximum limit) on greenhouse gas amounts a company can emit. The trade aspect of the movement would allow those companies emitting less than their limit to sell their extra permits to the higher emitters, making for more easily controllable greenhouse gas emissions.

I recommend: Read more about how the “cap and trade” program would work at AmericanProgress.com. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website also discusses this tool for regulation of environmental policy putting a mandatory cap on emissions with flexibility for complying.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take time to know your investor-owned utilities

Everyone is using an investor-owned utility of some kind. Take a look at the utility's website to find information for residential and business consumers, investors and energy-related issues that can affect you.

I recommend: Con Edison's website provides information on how to go green, storm alerts, as well as investor information. Gulf Power provides energy and money-saving tips for its consumers.

Use the resources of your private utilities

Many shareholder-owned utilities give investment opportunities directly from their websites.

I recommend: A list of investor owned utilities will help you identify the private utilities that serve your community. Energy East allows residents of the areas they service to enroll in its Investor Services Plan. Integrys has an Investor Service Plan that can be opened for as little as $100.

Research the benefits that you may get from your private utility

Privately owned utilities often provide community service programs for the areas in which they provide energy.

I recommend: Pacific Gas and Electric Company provides under-served communities with energy alternatives and its members volunteer in helping to build new homes. It also offers scholarships for college-bound students. National Grid gives scholarships, educates students and supports local sports.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use the information from your investor owned utility companies' websites to see if you can save money by following their tips, get rebates when you install energy-efficient products, or apply for a scholarship.
• •  Pay your bill online and monitor your electric, gas and water usage. If you find your bill running higher and you haven't changed your energy usage, contact the utility to find out if there is an error on its end.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Private utilities

Investor-owned utilities are often called 'private utilities' to distinguish them from 'public utilities,' or utility companies that are government owned. Other times, the label is just shortened to 'IOU' for 'investor owned utilities.'

I recommend: See a list of synonyms including those mentioned above at the Energy Vortex.

Publicly traded utilities

Investor owned utilities are also called 'shareholder owned' because of the specific way that investors 'own' the company, through buying shares in it. Therefore, an IOU is often publicly traded, which means it is bought and sold, in shares, through a public stock exchange.

I recommend: Look under "IOU" in this glossary from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy to see more on terms for IOUs.

Stock ticker

Old-time stock tickers were actual printed ticker tapes with stock prices on them. Today's are electronic running reports of a stock price. Investors rely on IOU stock tickers for looking at share price fluctuations over time for an investor-owned utility.

I recommend: See more on stock tickers at NASDAQ.

Public utility commission

A public utility commission is a state board that regulates factors of IOUs and other utility companies.

I recommend: Take a look at information on public utility commissions by state at this page from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is becoming a prime mover in the larger energy market. Solar, water, wind and biofuels are all renewable energy sources that could be worked into the operations of an investor owned utility.

I recommend: Find out more about renewable energies at this National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Operating expenses statistics

Some of the data on IOUs is widely available to the public. Operating expenses are financial estimates of the costs of maintaining the operations of IOUs.

I recommend: See a chart of operating expenses statistics for major IOUs in America at this chart from the federal Energy Information Administration.