Surging Electricity Rates: What’s Next?

Surging Electricity Rates: What’s Next?

A FACS tele-seminar for journalists

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008

Residential electricity prices nationwide are expected to climb by 10 percent in the next year, according to the Energy Information Administration.  Although the high costs of fuel and materials are often cited as the source of the inflationary pressure, factors such as regulatory restructuring, reliability requirements and environmental mandates also play a role in the cost of electricity.

The Foundation for American Communications will present a free tele-seminar for journalists on what is fueling the rise in electricity rates. “Surging Electricity Rates: What’s Next?” is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific).

James Bushnell, Ph.D., will be featured speaker. He is the research director at the University of California’s Energy Institute and a lecturer at the Haas School of Business.

The tele-seminar will provide journalists with background on how the current inflationary cycle fits within the history of the electricity industry. Bushnell will also explore how the various forces buffeting the industry contribute to the climbing prices and what this means for the future of the industry.

Participants will join this tele-seminar via both the Internet and telephone. Registration is free for journalists, but you must sign up in advance.

For further details or to register, go to www.FACSnet.org. Click on the “registration” link on the home page or use the dropdown menu.  Registrants will receive a confirmation e-mail with details on how to participate.

FACS is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational institution providing seminars for journalists on complex issues in the news. FACS is a programming partner of the Society of Professional Journalists.