Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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New Microsoft contract could expand corporate renewable energy deals to smaller buyers
The "volume firming agreement" could mitigate some of the risk and volatility of renewable energy power purchase agreements, helping to expand procurement beyond large corporate buyers.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 20, 2018 -
As smart meters proliferate, a new kind of demand response becomes entrenched
Advanced metering infrastructure penetration is slowing, but utilities are harnessing new resources to keep demand response growing.
Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2018 -
APS spent millions defeating Prop 127. Is a clean energy compromise ahead?
The utility beat the push for 50% renewables, then started talk about an 80% clean energy standard.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 14, 2018 -
Locational value of DER is essential to grid planning. So why hasn't anyone found it?
Policymakers want to identify the precise value of DER to their power systems, but the system may be changing too fast to make that possible right now.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 13, 2018 -
Clean energy platforms win at the state level as 7 governor seats shift blue
Several Democratic candidates ran their campaigns on clean energy in stark contrast to their opponents, which observers say may have helped win them the election.
Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 12, 2018 -
Pennsylvania utilities push back on 'prescriptive' ratemaking regulation
The passage of Act 58 gives state regulators authority to approve alternative rate mechanisms, but utilities say a proposed policy statement is too heavy-handed.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 06, 2018 -
Sonnen targets utility contract for Arizona aggregated storage project
The company aims to equip 2,900 homes with solar panels and a battery to provide peak demand during evenings.
Peter Maloney • Nov. 06, 2018 -
Vogtle in sight as money pours into Georgia regulator race
Competition for two Public Service Commission seats has become increasingly heated as Republican incumbents garner support from individuals affiliated with Southern Company.
Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 02, 2018 -
4 state ballot initiatives the utility sector will watch on Election Day
RPS measures in Nevada and Arizona are likely to pass, while the question of a carbon tax in Washington is too close to call.
Robert Walton • Nov. 02, 2018 -
Nevada's Question 3 pits retail choice against uncertainty in battle of billionaires
Voters could pass a constitutional amendment that restructures the state's regulated utility, opens a competitive electricity market and subjects customers and lawmakers to hard questions.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 01, 2018 -
Western Regionalization Plan B: Utilities take an interim step to expand the grid
California lawmakers rejected the CAISO expansion so western participants are instead looking to evolve the energy imbalance market.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2018 -
Chatterjee, changed: FERC watchers see a more focused, less political chairman
Industry sources applaud Chatterjee’s newfound independence, but also preach caution about the once and current chairman.
Gavin Bade • Oct. 29, 2018 -
California regulators prod utilities to start drafting roadmap to 100% clean energy
The sum of renewables procurements from California electricity providers is not enough to achieve the state's 2045 target, and regulators are struggling for solutions.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 25, 2018 -
Utilities worry FCC plan to open wireless spectrum could compromise communications
Making 6 GHz bandwidth available to unlicensed users could interfere with communications between utilities and their customers during emergencies, sector leaders fear.
Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 24, 2018 -
New York energy storage: destination clear, road unsure
Stakeholders see different paths to reaching 1,500 MW of energy storage by 2025.
Peter Maloney • Oct. 23, 2018 -
Exelon CEO: Carbon price preferable to 'band-aid' nuke subsidies
Chris Crane said he would prefer a market-based climate solution to state resource subsidies and does not know the status of a White House bailout proposal for coal and nuclear plants.
Gavin Bade • Oct. 23, 2018 -
Virtual contracts drive a boom in corporate renewables procurement
As options for renewable energy purchase agreements grow, more businesses are coming into the market voluntarily.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 23, 2018 -
New campaign will ask coal users to face the 'cold hard economic case' against them
With 150 GW of U.S. coal set to remain in service after 2020, the Rocky Mountain Institute aims to prove the resource is raising electricity costs.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 22, 2018 -
Can the price of rooftop solar keep falling?
"If prices keep dropping, [rooftop solar] adoption will continue and a smart utility CEO would watch the market and think about ways utilities can have some control over distributed resources," Yale's Kenneth Gillingham said.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2018 -
Spotlight: 6 key issues driving the utility sector today
The industry is undergoing a fundamental transition as it moves away from a centralized, baseload-focused past to a more distributed, renewable future.
Larry Pearl • Oct. 15, 2018 -
California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out
The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Generation: Despite headwinds, natural gas reliance set to grow in much of US
Gas-fired generation has been called a bridge to a renewable future, but the length of the bridge depends on where it is.
Peter Maloney • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Electric Vehicles: The Swiss army knife of the grid
Experts see a future where electric vehicles provide an array of grid services, from demand response to soaking up excess renewable generation.
Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Business Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking
Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018 -
Grid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach
Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.
Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018