Ryan Hledik Quoted in Several Recent Articles on Electricity Rates and VPPs

Principal Ryan Hledik was quoted in recent articles from USA Today, Latitude Media, and Inside Climate News.

In a USA Today article on whether AI data center pledges will lower energy bills, Mr. Hledik noted that, while the principles outlined in the pledge “could provide consumers with a degree of protection” from cost shifts, “its ultimate impact will depend on whether data center developers, utilities, and state regulators choose to translate these principles into concrete actions.”

In a Latitude Media article on the push for a virtual power plant (VPP) in New Orleans, Mr. Hledik noted, “VPPs are not at the top of every regulator’s list of priorities, but this shows that when there is a champion who’s pushing for this at the regulatory level, things can happen.” Broadly, “we still need some innovation to align the investor-owned utilities business model with this opportunity,” according to Mr. Hledik.

In an Inside Climate News article on rising electricity rates and bills in the US, Mr. Hledik noted that growth in utilities’ infrastructure spending is a significant cost driver in every state. He also noted that, while renewable portfolio standards contribute to electricity price increases in some states, they do not play a major role in most states with such standards.