Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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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 -
2019 Storage Outlook: Utility procurement will drive deployments, analysts say
Rules for energy storage in wholesale markets are being finalized, but deployments are more likely to be driven by utility resource plans.
Peter Maloney • Jan. 08, 2019 -
Utilities look to Netflix audience clustering model for customer engagement
As efforts to engage customers grow, utilities are looking to data analytics, online portals and personalized messaging to better understand diverse customer preferences.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 08, 2019 -
Murder charges unlikely, but PG&E bankruptcy or asset sales are on the table
Increased federal oversight for the embattled California utility is also likely, energy lawyers told Utility Dive.
Robert Walton • Jan. 07, 2019 -
Getting to 100% zero emissions in California: Beyond CAISO's eight-solution menu
The state's IOUs are on track for 50% renewables by 2020, but questions remain on how to reach the 100% clean energy goal by 2045.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 03, 2019 -
10 trends shaping the electric power sector in 2019
From coal bailouts to batteries and wind and solar growth, here are the issues that will define the year to come.
Gavin Bade • Jan. 02, 2019 -
How policies can make or brake solar development in the Southeast
Third party financing can enable solar growth, but faces hurdles in several states. Some utilities are not compensating for solar's value on the grid and leveling charges specific to solar owners.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2018 -
As grid mod accelerates and regulators push back, Duke and others retool proposals
Within this whirlwind of activity, some utilities are responding well and some are struggling to meet pressure from regulators and stakeholders to justify spending proposals.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2018 -
NY's energy storage target: It's the journey, not the destination, stakeholders say
Many pieces still need to come together to create a truly viable energy storage market in New York State, but analysts see the PSC's energy storage target as a good first step.
Peter Maloney • Dec. 18, 2018 -
Capacity pricing changes: How each power market plans to account for resource adequacy
While PJM's capacity market reform plans dominate headlines, all grid operators are facing the need for greater flexibility as renewables increasingly enter their system.
Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 18, 2018 -
As PacifiCorp and other analyses point to more coal shutdowns, replacement questions rise
A recent PacifiCorp analysis points to a growing trend among utilities, and analysts are watching to see how modeling and reliability issues can best be addressed as retirements continue.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 13, 2018 -
As grid operators file FERC Order 841 plans, storage floodgates open slowly
It will be at least a year before new rules for energy storage take hold for most ISOs and RTOs.
Peter Maloney • Dec. 11, 2018 -
California utilities prep nation's biggest time-of-use rate rollout
Over 300 time-varying rates in 62 pilots have shown consumers can "understand and respond," but California’s three IOUs are dealing with more than 20 million people.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 06, 2018 -
Integration is the next step in demand side management: Here's how 3 utilities are pursuing it
Utilities, including ConEd, PG&E and Eversource, are developing holistic strategies to best take advantage of energy efficiency, demand response and distributed resources.
Robert Walton • Dec. 05, 2018 -
Smart meter deployments slow as questions emerge over cost effectiveness, saturation
There could be 90 million smart meters installed by 2020, but U.S. utilities may also be approaching market penetration limits.
Robert Walton • Nov. 28, 2018 -
New Hampshire settlement moves 'cutting-edge' utility BTM storage pilot forward
The Liberty-led pilot will be the second regulator-approved program for utility-owned behind-the-meter storage, and phase 2 will be the first to include the private sector.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 27, 2018 -
How cities are affected by the federal climate report — and how they're fighting back
Extreme weather threatens to destroy urban areas while transportation systems may buckle, but there is optimism that city leaders will keep moving things forward.
Chris Teale • Nov. 27, 2018 -
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