Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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A utility regulatory process for the 21st century gets a test run in Hawaii
A set of regulatory workshops advanced a more collaborative process among stakeholders and a reduced utility role to more quickly facilitate the power sector's transformation.
Herman K. Trabish • March 19, 2019 -
As first US utility-scale offshore wind project nears approval, supply chain, permitting come into focus
Despite a lack of domestic components and a complex permitting process, Vineyard Wind is confident in its ability to move forward this summer with construction of its 800 MW project off the coast of Massachusetts.
Iulia Gheorghiu • March 18, 2019 -
As US solar expands, states increasingly tackle compensation and community project complexities
Years of debate by "nerds in beige rooms" has led to today's booming solar market, but solar policy is becoming even more complicated.
Herman K. Trabish • March 14, 2019 -
How new ideas of mobility will shape public EV charging infrastructure
The future of mobility will be autonomous and electric, with more people opting not to own a vehicle. That means ride- and car-sharing services will need to play a role in helping utilities roll out charging infrastructure.
Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2019 -
SEU 2019 survey: Uncertainty mounts in the clean energy transition
Utilities are still moving to a cleaner, more distributed power system, but our annual survey shows they are increasingly unsure about what types of regulation and market structures they want to foster the transition.
Gavin Bade • Feb. 26, 2019 -
Designing Liberty Utilities' New Hampshire residential storage program
A closer look at the decision to pair distributed energy storage with time-of-use rates.
Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2019 -
Enabling storage integration through market-driven procurements
Early renewables procurements that reverse traditional auctions with one utility buyer and multiple renewables-plus-storage sellers have lowered storage costs and grown capacity.
Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2019 -
De-energize and DERs: The tough options wildfires pose for California utilities
California IOUs’ wildfire mitigation plans will cost billions and take years, but distributed generation can give customers power during protective shutoffs.
Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 20, 2019 -
Tesla, others question storage hourly requirements, charges in FERC Order 841 compliance plans
As the comment period on FERC Order 841 compliance fillings closed, various utilities and regulators also asked to play larger roles on storage interconnection requirements.
Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 13, 2019 -
Winning in a more distributed energy world: 3 steps to utility success
The utility of the future will deliver retail products and services instead of generation, but getting to the future will require engaging now-reluctant customers.
Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2019 -
New governors accelerate clean energy action, propelled by Democratic midterm wave
States like New Mexico, which have seen eight years or more of policy inaction and rollbacks, are rapidly breaking into the clean energy space under new leadership.
Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 08, 2019 -
As corporate renewable buying surges, innovative PPAs pressure utilities to improve green tariffs
Financial intermediaries are de-risking all-time low-cost renewables purchases, driving record private sector buying and pressuring utilities to match the offerings.
Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 06, 2019 -
Bidgely AI platform targets better efficiency, load-shaping solutions for utilities
The company is partnering with EnergyHub and turning to artificial intelligence and machine learning to give utilities a better idea of what is happening inside homes.
Robert Walton • Jan. 30, 2019 -
As solar-plus-storage surges, can smart devices help overcome deployment barriers?
As utilities move to reap the benefits of solar-plus-storage, manufacturing and interconnection barriers threaten to impede growth.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 29, 2019 -
An emerging push for time-of-use rates sparks new debates about customer and grid impacts
Momentum is building behind time-of-use rates, but longstanding doubts about whether they are fair remain unresolved, threatening new efforts.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2019 -
PG&E, SCE, SDG&E pursue subscriptions, time-of-use rates to drive more California EVs
As regulators call for a more formal transportation electrification framework, the state's utilities are stepping up with pilot programs that address peak demand and rate concerns.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2019 -
Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage
A report studies Minnesota's options for 70% renewable penetration and finds surprising results regarding energy storage.
Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2019 -
Bailout doubt – PG&E faces bankruptcy amid California's 'first climate change-caused emergency'
Stakeholders say few will benefit from bankruptcy, but alternatives have been dubbed "politically too hot to touch."
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2019 -
Utilities see opportunity in Energy as a Service offerings
Innovative ways to finance energy efficiency could help smooth the way for new rate structures and cleaner energy.
Robert Walton • Jan. 16, 2019 -
'Unlayering' peak demand could accelerate energy storage adoption
A new approach to the peaker-storage debate could help energy storage better meet peak demand and lower emissions.
Peter Maloney • Jan. 15, 2019 -
Tri-State members increasingly unsatisfied as the rise of distributed resources upends the G&T model
Given the increasing affordability of renewable energy, "the very reason G&Ts were created is less valid every day," Chris Riley, president of Guzman Energy, told Utility Dive.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2019 -
2019 Power Sector Outlook: Top trends to watch
We talked to utilities, analysts and technology providers on what to expect in the year ahead for storage, solar, demand-side management and more.
Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019 -
The Keystone State may have found the key to the next wave of transportation electrification
Pennsylvania's combination of guiding principles, legislation and collaboration among a broad array of stakeholders may show how to move the EV market into its next phase of development.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 11, 2019 -
2019 Solar Outlook: Making ambitious state policy into a reality
Breakthroughs in interconnection and communication with stakeholders will help utilities and developers take advantage of the full solar tax credit.
Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 09, 2019 -
2019 Demand Response Outlook: The rise of distributed resources
As electric vehicles, batteries and other distributed resources are added to the grid, analysts predict utilities will increasingly take advantage of that supply to balance load.
Robert Walton • Jan. 09, 2019
