Last Thursday, the New England Energy Alliance released the results of its annual survey of New England households. The Alliance is a group of energy companies dedicated to educating and informing policymakers across New England to promote better decision-making. Exelon, Constellation’s parent company, is a Board member of the Alliance.
Each year the Alliance engages Opinion Dynamics to conduct a telephone survey of New England residents to track their opinions on a range of energy-related issues. Major findings from this year’s survey include the following:
– Eighty four percent (84%) of respondents favor the restructured system, which enables consumers to buy electricity from their electric utility or switch to one of many licensed suppliers in the region that compete on price and service.
– Despite federal inaction on climate change policies, over seventy percent (70%) of New Englanders remain at least somewhat concerned about the effects of global warming. This is a level far greater than the nation as a whole.
– More New Englanders than ever – or about eight in ten – are willing to pay at least something extra every month on their electric bill to fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions from power plants.
Not surprisingly, voters said the high cost of energy – mainly oil and gasoline – is the single most important energy related issue facing the region.
There is also strong consensus that all domestic energy resources are needed to ensure U.S. energy independence including off-shore drilling, nuclear power, renewables, clean coal and natural gas.
As in years past, the Alliance will schedule meetings with key policymakers across the region and brief them on the results of the survey. To view the survey, go to the Alliance’s website here.