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Electric Utilities

The Impact Of Higher Energy Prices On Winter Heating Costs: many Consumers Over Age 65 To Be Hit Hard  / Research Report
January 2008— Rising heating expenditures by low-income consumers far exceed available resources for low-income energy assistance programs, according to this Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, in which Ann McLarty-Jackson and Neal Walters examine the impact of higher energy prices on the winter heating costs of consumers age 65 and older, and analyze how these costs vary with geographic location and fuel type. (4 pages) (Publication ID: I2)

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: A Critical Resource for Low-Income Households  / Research Report
January 2008— The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the most important source of assistance for low-income households coping with rising energy costs; yet because of inadequate funding, many eligible households go without assistance. Written by Ann McLarty Jackson and Christopher Baker, this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet discusses funding for LIHEAP and participation in the program. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS138)

Vermont Energy Poll of Consumers 18+  / Research Report
July 2007— If the tax rate of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power is raised to the rate charged state Wind Energy Companies, nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents to this poll of 400 Vermont consumers age 18+ support using the increased revenue to lower consumer energy costs. Nearly half favor raising the power plant rate, while just a third oppose the proposed increase. (2 pages)

Survey of AARP Nevada Members  / Research Report
February 2007— This mail survey was conducted by AARP to explore AARP Nevada members' personal concerns and the issues they view as top legislative priorities for AARP Nevada to work on with the State, as well as volunteerism, work or career and retirement plans, health care needs and expenditures, and utility/energy costs and services.

2006 Survey of AARP New Mexico Members  / Research Report
November 2006— Findings from a 2006 mail survey exploring and measuring the opinions of AARP members on legislative issues and personal concerns are presented in five individual topical reports concerning affordable housing, consumer financial privacy, long-term care, transportation, and utilities.

2005 Connecticut AARP Member Survey  / Research Report
August 2006— The opinions of AARP members in Connecticut about a variety of issues, including regulation and affordability of electric utilities as well as cost and availability of long-term care services, are examined in this 2005 AARP random-sample mail survey of 934 members.

Help Keep the Lights On: Vermonters’ Opinions of an Electricity Assistance Program  / Research Report
August 2006— The majority of Vermonters support a low-income energy assistance program—even if they have to pay $1.25 each month to fund it, according to a recent AARP telephone survey examining the opinions of Vermont residents concerning utility rates, winter shut-offs, and assistance for low-income utility customers. (14 pages)

2005 Survey of AARP Members in Louisiana  / Research Report
December 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Long-term care, Social Security, and electric utility issues are examined in this 2005 mail survey of 914 Louisiana AARP members.

2005 Survey of Georgia AARP Members  / Research Report
October 2005— The opinions and experiences of Georgia AARP members regarding utilities including telephone, cellular phone, Internet, gas, and electric, are explored in this August 2005 mail survey. Their top concerns are the rising cost of telephone and Internet services, natural gas and electricity.

Utility Issues in Illinois: A Survey of Residents 18+ in the Prairie State  / Research Report
April 2005— Opinions of Illinois residents age 18+ about the cost of utility services, utility company practices, and upcoming legislation are explored in this AARP survey of these residents on a variety of specific Illinois utility issues, including phone company sales methods, electric service rate setting, and cell phone contracts. (23 pages)

Model Legislation for Fair Share Payment Program to Assure Affordable Electric and Natural Gas Services  / Publication
March 2003— Rising prices are making it even more difficult for lower income households to pay their gas and electric bills. AARP’s model for state legislation addresses bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs that make bills more affordable. The approach targets consumers whose energy bills exceed a percentage of their household income. (24 pages)

Electric Utilities Regulation in Oklahoma: An AARP Survey of Oklahomans  / Research Report
February 2003— Oklahomans age 50 and older are divided about supporting or opposing deregulation of electric utilities in their state, but almost all agree that, if they were to switch electric providers, keeping consumer protections in place is important. (13 pages)

Utilities Regulation in Connecticut: An AARP Survey of Connecticut Residents Age 50+  / Research Report
February 2003— Five years after Connecticut began deregulating the electric industry with the goal of encouraging competition, that goal has not been realized and the majority of the state’s age 50+ residents say they would support returning to stable, affordable, state-regulated, cost-based rates. (20 pages)

Statement by AARP Federal Affairs Director David Certner Urging Congress and the Administration to Maintain LIHEAP Funding  / News Release
January 2003— Statement by AARP Federal Affairs Director David Certner Urging Congress and the Administration to Maintain LIHEAP Funding.

Energy and Telephone Assistance in the States: Public Programs that Help Low-Income Households  / Research Report
December 2002— Programs mandated, funded or approved by federal or state governments to help low-income households initiate and maintain home energy and telephone service are reviewed in this AARP Public Policy Institute report by Ann McLarty Jackson, Christopher Baker and Robert Wilden. (318 pages) (Publication ID: D17577)

Understanding Household Energy Use: Consumer Awareness and Knowledge of Electric Utility Restructuring  / Research Report
November 2002— Seeking to lower prices through competition, some states have deregulated their electric utility industries. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest of findings from a national survey of 3,067 adult energy bill payers, Kellie K. Kim-Sung and Christopher A. Baker suggest that many consumers have neither the necessary information nor options to benefit from these changes. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD81)

Utilities Regulation in Minnesota: An AARP Survey of Minnesotans  / Research Report
October 2002— Minnesotans age 18 and older are almost equally divided as to whether utilities deregulation would help (38%) or hurt (34%) them, and many are uncertain (25%). While they are also divided about opposing or supporting it, most supporters would shift to opposing deregulation if it resulted in less reliable service or additional costs to consumers. (15 pages)

Feasibility of Social Security Individual Accounts  / Research Report
September 2002— The feasibility of modeling Social Security individual accounts after the federal employees' Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is examined in this AARP Public Policy Issue Paper by Frank Cavanaugh, a former TSP executive director, who concludes that a system of individual accounts cannot easily be adapted to the TSP format. (20 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-14)

AARP New York Energy Survey  / Research Report
March 2002— More than 80% of New Yorkers age 50 and older believe it is important to have the same consumer protection "rights" when contracting with private energy companies for gas and/or electric services in their state's deregulated energy marketplace as they had when dealing with regulated public utilities, and support pending legislation to accomplish this. (15 pages)

The Consumer's Glossary of Electric Utility Restructuring Terms  / Research Report
December 2001— In this AARP Public Policy Insitute reference tool for consumer advocates and representatives (and consumers who want to know more), Christopher Baker explains some of the more common technical terms and concepts pertaining to electric utility restructuring. (Publication ID: D16713)