Change — that's the operative word in the electric 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.

But how did we get here and where is this all going? Utility Dive takes an in-depth look at six key issues driving the utility sector today — from the growth of electric vehicles in the U.S. to the modernization of today's power grid; the rise of state control over electricity markets to new and innovative ways for determining how customers pay for their electricity. 

Our latest Spotlight covers all that along with a look at the future of natural gas in the U.S. and how states are dealing with successors to net metering to continue promoting solar.

1. Electricity markets: States reassert authority over power generation

   States want the benefits of electricity markets but also want to dictate their outcomes. How federal regulators strike a balance will influence the power mix for decades to come. Read More >>

2. 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. Read More >>

3. Renewables: As rooftop solar expands, states grapple with successors to net metering

   Replacements to the controversial solar incentive have cropped up in Hawaii, California and elsewhere, but policymakers have struggled to devise a replicable model across the U.S. Read More >>

4. 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. Read More >>

5. 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. Read More >>

6. 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. Read More >>