Who Holds the Power: Demystifying and Democratizing Public Utilities Commissions
Public Utilities/Public Service Commissions hold vast decision-making responsibilities and power over the energy, water, telecommunications, and sometimes transportation resources that are generated and consumed in our communities.
But who are the people who make up these Commissions? Do they really have the best interest of communities at heart? Do they truly understand the needs of communities most impacted by fluctuating utility costs, proximity to unhealthy power plants, and crumbling infrastructure?
A timely new report, Who Holds the Power: Demystifying and Democratizing Public Utilities Commissions demystifies these critical entities, whose missions are tied to our environmental and economic health. Importantly, it shows how we can ensure that Public Utilities/Public Service Commissions reflect and represent the interests of those they serve.
Resource Details
Related resources (by topic)
Palante Technology Cooperative
Palante Technology is a worker cooperative that provides tech consulting services to progressive nonprofit, social justice, activist and community organizations.
People’s Utility Justice Playbook
The People’s Utility Justice Playbook is meant to support community and ratepayer advocates, energy democracy activists, and others confronting energy utilities. The first section focuses on the different types of fights waged between utilities and energy activists across the country…
Shelterwood Collective
Shelterwood’s vision is to restore right relations between and within people and nature; and thereby create reverberating circles of ecosystem restoration and community healing that return land sovereignty to Black and Indigenous communities.
Solar Commons
Solar Commons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that stewards the development of community trust ownership for solar energy.
Help us expand the Resource Hub
Share resources that you think would be a good addition to this tool and our team will review them for inclusion in future updates.