Is it time to rethink who controls the grid?
Elisa Wood sits down with legal expert and author Sandeep Vaheesan to discuss the rarely told—but critically important—history of public power in the United States. From the rise and fall of rural electric cooperatives to today’s mounting frustration with investor-owned utilities, Sandeep offers a sweeping, insider’s look at why our energy systems are failing the public—and what we can do about it.
Together, they explore the roots of energy democracy, the tension between shareholder-driven utilities and the public good, and the resurgence of interest in publicly owned power. Sandeep shares examples of governance breakdowns (like Virginia’s Rappahannock Electric Cooperative) and inspiring success stories (such as Oregon’s Eugene Water and Electric Board). He also unpacks a surprisingly radical proposal from FDR and lays out his vision for a modern, democratic, and climate-resilient power system.
Whether you’re a grid operator, policymaker, energy advocate, or just tired of high electric bills, this episode offers vital insights—and a hopeful call to action.
Key Topics Covered:
The two primary models of energy democracy
Why public utilities don’t always serve the public
Proxy voting abuses in electric cooperatives
Lessons from Tri-County’s grassroots revolt in South Carolina
The tension between scale and democracy in grid planning
Sandeep’s proposal for democratic governance of large-scale energy infrastructure
The future of public power in a post-IRA world
Public involvement in regulatory commissions
Promising models like BPA and Eugene’s EWEB
A live policy fight in New York: Should NYPA lead the clean energy buildout?
About the Guest:
Sandeep Vaheesan is the legal director at the Open Markets Institute, where he focuses on competition policy and monopoly power. He has written extensively on the intersection of law, utilities, and the public interest. His book, Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States, offers a deeply researched and accessible account of how energy systems in the U.S. came to be dominated by private utilities—and how public alternatives can help us address the climate crisis and economic inequality.
Links & Resources:
Get Democracy in Power from University of Chicago Press: Use code DMCRCYPWR24 for $15 off
Listen to the August 28, 2024 episode: Are We Expecting Too Much from Virtual Power Plants?
Learn more and join the conversation at energychangemakers.com
Call to Action:
Help shape the future of our energy system:
Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast
Leave a review on your podcast platform of choice
Join our newsletter at energychangemakers.com
Share this episode with your network
Let’s build a grid that works for everyone.