Efficiency & Demand Response
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OpinionCompetitive electricity retailing: Why restructuring must go onBy Erik DesrosiersPower consultant Erik Desrosiers offers five steps regulators can take to get electricity deregulation back on track.
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Hawaiian Electric proposes new, cheaper grid modernization planBy Peter Maloney • July 06, 2017A previous grid modernization plan was rejected in December for being too costly.
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Shell wades into the power sector with bid for Texas retail provider MP2 EnergyBy Robert Walton • July 06, 2017The retail power supplier boasts a diverse energy portfolio, including wind, solar and gas, as well as 550 MW of demand response capacity in Texas.
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FeatureHow New York City expects to save 75 MW this summer through demand responseBy Robert Walton • June 28, 2017The city's complex demand management program just registered its 400th facility and it's looking to expand further.
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Kansas regulators nix bulk of KCP&L efficiency proposalBy Robert Walton • June 28, 2017Kansas City Power & Light wanted to develop efficiency programs similar to what it has been running in its Missouri service territory for years, but Kansas regulators balked at the cost.
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Report: Large commercial building controls could cut energy use 30%By Robert Walton • June 28, 2017Researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory examined 34 different energy efficiency measures, most of which rely on various building controls
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Southern Co. unit forms alliance with Advanced Microgrid SolutionsBy Peter Maloney • June 28, 2017Southern will bring its experience at designing and building distributed generation solutions, mostly to commercial and industrial customers, to the partnership.
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FeatureAs gas plants struggle, California seeks new flexible capacity strategiesBy Herman K. Trabish • June 27, 2017With up to 6 GW of gas plants at risk of closure in the coming years, energy stakeholders are scrambling for new compensation techniques and zero-carbon alternatives.
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US mayors pass resolution to target 100% renewable energy by 2035By Robert Walton • June 27, 2017Leaders of more than 250 U.S. cities said they are committed to holding up their end of the Paris climate agreement, despite President Trump's decision to withdraw from the pact.
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Italian company Enel makes $300M bid for EnerNOCBy Robert Walton • June 23, 2017Enel Green Power North America will purchase the demand response company for $7.67/share in an all-cash deal.
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DC Court of Appeals rejects challenges to PJM capacity rulesBy Robert Walton • June 23, 2017Nine groups had challenged the new PJM rules, which require resources to be available year-round.
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Arizona business groups clamor for efficiency funding after TEP pulls commercial programBy Robert Walton • June 21, 2017Last month, Tucson Electric Power halted its commercial energy-efficiency programs for the rest of the year after running out of funds.
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FeatureUtilities in hot water: Realizing the benefits of grid-integrated water heatersBy Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2017Water heaters offer storage capabilities at a fraction of the cost of batteries. The challenge is getting everyone a piece of the returns.
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FeatureUtility customer engagement goes digitalBy Herman K. Trabish • June 19, 2017Utilities find the best engagement experience involves meeting customers where they are — online and on mobile devices.
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CAISO finalizes proposed storage, DR rulesBy Robert Walton • June 16, 2017The goal is to lower barriers to energy storage and distributed resources participating in the California ISO market.
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FeatureSMUD's holistic DER planning process could set new standard for utilitiesBy Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2017Even solar advocates are praising the distributed resource planning done by Sacramento's municipal utility.
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FeatureHeat waves: Demand response's time to shineBy Robert Walton • June 14, 2017
Efficiency and demand response can keep hot weather from turning into a price spike for individual customers and the larger grid.
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Massachusetts bill would compel utilities to consider non-wires alternativesBy Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • June 14, 2017Under H. 1725, utilities would have to submit any plans for system upgrades to a newly created Grid Modernization Board, which would evaluate the viability of NWAs.
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US could lag on battery research if Trump's proposed budget clears, researchers warnBy Peter Maloney • June 13, 2017Budget cuts to the Department of Energy could result in an outflow of U.S. research talent to countries with better-funded programs, such as China, Japan and South Korea.
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FeatureKCP&L thermostat program shows how regulatory design can make or break DSMBy Robert Walton • June 07, 2017In the utility's Missouri service territory, its partnership with Nest is going strong. But in Kansas, regulators are wary of the program's costs.
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New York will sink $1.5B into renewable energy projects to spur clean energy jobsBy Robert Walton • June 05, 2017The "unprecedented investment" of $1.5 billion in major renewable energy projects is part of an effort to attract 40,000 jobs to the state by 2020.
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Low carbon prices hang over RGGI as June auction approachesBy Peter Maloney • June 01, 2017In the March auction, CO2 allowances sold for $3/short ton, the lowest price in more than three years.
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FeatureWhat's the future for demand response under PJM's new capacity and aggregation rules?By Robert Walton • May 31, 2017
Vendors blame new market rules for diminished DR capacity in a recent auction, but some see ways forward for the resource.
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FeatureMore than 30 states embrace grid modernization, new policy tracker findsBy Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2017A new quarterly report from the folks who brought you "50 States of Solar" aims to chronicle grid modernization initiatives across the U.S.
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El Paso Electric opens first demand response pilotBy Robert Walton • May 31, 2017The utility's first demand response program will be available to 3,000 residential and small commercial customers in Texas and New Mexico.