35% of US nuclear plants face early retirement: Union of Concerned Scientists

The analysis recommends the adoption of state and federal policies that would support the plants, including a national carbon price or low-carbon electricity standard.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2018

Storage will replace 3 California gas plants as PG&E nabs approval for world's largest batteries

Installation of more than 2,200 MWh of storage will be the first time a utility directly replaces multiple major fossil fuel generators with batteries.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 9, 2018

PJM aims for middle in defense of capacity market plan at FERC

Fossil fuel generators and consumer advocates assailed the grid operator's resource carve-out plan in comments while PJM tried to frame its proposal as a reasonable compromise. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 8, 2018

94% of utility execs expect 'severe' earnings pressure before 2025: Accenture

Of the same executives surveyed, 97% also believe that earnings will rise after 2025, once the utility sector has moved past the growing pains of modernization, according to the management consulting firm's study.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 7, 2018

Ballot initiative flops mask strong election for clean energy

The failure of high-profile ballot initiatives in Arizona and Washington came amid wins for renewable energy supporters in key gubernatorial races.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 7, 2018

Should targeted EV programs be subsidized by all utility customers or have separate rates?

Electric vehicles are transitioning from a specialized market representing approximately 1% of U.S. car sales to an anticipated mainstream market of almost 25% of new car sales within seven years.

By Jim Heidell and Diana Lai • Nov. 7, 2018

States raise Exelon market power concerns over Mystic cost recovery proposal at FERC

Exelon's threat to shut down the Mystic Generating Station if it does not receive financial support is a "charade," Connecticut utility regulators argued.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 6, 2018

Texas generators, utilities square off at PUC over storage ownership

The Texas regulatory docket will determine which companies get to own battery storage and other non-traditional grid technologies in the state. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 6, 2018

PJM CEO: Powering a resilient grid through competitive markets

Federal action to protect specific power plants is not only unnecessary, PJM CEO Andy Ott writes, it would raise consumer costs and discourage investment in newer, more efficient technologies.

By Andrew L. Ott • Nov. 6, 2018

ISO New England unveils new initiatives to enhance winter reliability

New England has been looking for market-based solutions to winter difficulties, as its reliance on natural gas has at times put the grid operator in a tight spot.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2018

Chatterjee blasts Clean Power Plan, praises EPA replacement in filed comments

Criticism of the Obama administration's defunct carbon regulations was filed the same day that Chatterjee pledged to be a nonpolitical FERC chairman in comments to reporters.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 5, 2018

Emerging best practices for utility grid hardening

The impacts of extreme weather on utility infrastructure are forcing utilities and regulators to take a more proactive approach to storm preparation, risk mitigation and budgeting than they have been accustomed to.

By Jeremy Clark • Nov. 5, 2018

Electric utilities quietly praise EPA coal plant emissions rule

Many large utilities did not comment on the EPA's Affordable Clean Energy rule directly, but a lobbying organization they fund endorsed the looser pollution standards. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 2, 2018

PJM CEO pans coal bailout but says plant payments needed in mid-2020s

A new report on PJM fuel security shows risks to the system could arise in five to six years if more power plants retire than anticipated and multiple stressors hit the grid at once. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 1, 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.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 1, 2018

New Orleans fines Entergy $5M over actors paid to support gas plant

An independent report concludes Entergy New Orleans "knew or should have known" that a firm it hired to support its bid for a new power plant was using individuals paid to pose as citizens supporting the project.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2018

Chatterjee pledges no political influence after 'growing into' FERC role

The new FERC chairman says he's evolved into a nonpartisan regulator in the past year — and that will help keep the agency insulated from political pressures. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 31, 2018

Virginia advances stricter carbon emissions cap rule

Virginia and New Jersey are on track to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in 2020, observers say. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2018

ICF: Natural gas infrastructure resilient to storms, but improvements can be made

In a report prepared for Southern California Gas, global consulting firm ICF looked at the resiliency of the natural gas sector and concluded it generally holds up well in natural disasters.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2018

Glick raises bailout concerns over resilience, fuel security dockets

The FERC regulator is worried open proceedings at his agency could have similar effects to a coal and nuclear bailout from the White House that his agency rejected last year. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 31, 2018

Utility solar expands in Florida as regulators approve 260 MW

Investor-owned utilities like Tampa Electric are using a state solar funding mechanism to "rate base" large-scale projects before the investment tax credit winds down.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 31, 2018

GE to restructure power division amid expanded SEC, DOJ probe

The company took a $22 billion write-down last quarter related to its power business — a charge federal investigators are now scrutinizing. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 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.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2018

Minnesota PUC approves 550 MW gas plant despite renewables push

Minnesota Power says the project will be necessary as "flexible, dispatchable energy producer" to help with its goal to supply 44% of electricity from renewables by 2025.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 30, 2018

US on pace for record coal retirements in 2018, IEEFA finds

The U.S. will retire 15.4 GW of coal capacity this year, the clean energy think tank reported, "easily" exceeding the previous record of 14.7 GW of coal shutdowns in 2015.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 2018