Frontlines: Climate Change and Regulation

Climate Change and Regulation: Going Green II by Charles J. Cicchetti is subtitled as “A Primer on Renewable Energy, Storage, Smart Things and More.” In this case “the more” refers to its clear and concise explanation of public utility (electric and natural gas) regulation as practiced in the US. I can recommend this book to anyone interested in the issues of climate change and energy utility regulation. I highly do recommend this book to current state utility regulators, managers of regulated companies and other interested stakeholders. The issues are carefully described and the options for regulators are balanced from a variety of aspects.

Dr. Charles J. Cicchetti writes clearly and fluidly with both academic authority and practical experience on these pertinent subjects. Dr. Cicchetti’s academic career includes positions as a Professor of Utility and Environmental Economics at the University Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Southern California. His industry experience includes service as Wisconsin’s first “Energy Czar” followed by service as Chairman of the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission in the late 1970. During this period the country’s energy utilities faced unprecedented issues of high inflation, double digit interest rates and shortages of natural gas in interstate markets. During the bulk of his career Cicchetti has published extensively and has testified as an expert witness in numerous energy, utility and environmental proceedings before regulatory agencies, tribunals and courts.

At this point I must also inform the reader that I recruited Charles Cicchetti to join me at BRG, where we are both managing directors, and that over two decades ago he had recruited me to join him at another consultancy. In addition I also served on the Wisconsin PSC subsequent to Charlie’s service there. The reader may also be interested to know that I adjusted my daily commute from Madison to my home in Milwaukee to coincide with the public radio broadcast of Charlie’s popular course in environmental economics given as a Professor at UW. 

If you are a utility executive, a regulator or an analyst, then Climate Change and Regulation should be a must read.