Utilities, DER providers face off over market access at FERC meeting

Grid operators and utilities want to ensure that new distributed resources do not threaten reliability, while DER providers are wary they will use the argument as an excuse to stifle competition.

By Gavin Bade • April 12, 2018

MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting

The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.  

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018

Updated: Whitehouse unveils bill directing study, pilot program for natural gas demand response

In the electric sector, demand response programs help reduce peak load and prices. New legislation would direct federal regulators to study its potential for gas markets.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2018

PJM files competing capacity market reforms at FERC

Stakeholder consternation over the two plans led the grid operator's leadership to punt the decision to federal regulators.

By Gavin Bade • April 10, 2018

As market pressures mount for IPPs, Vistra, Dynegy complete $1.74B merger

The combined company owns approximately 40,000 MW of installed generation capacity.

By Robert Walton • April 9, 2018

Perry: Economics not 'the issue' for FirstEnergy emergency evaluation

A senior DOE official previously said the agency "would never use" an emergency order to "stave off an economic issue."

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

Southern Co. to be 'low to no carbon' by 2050, CEO says

While he gave no exact targets, Tom Fanning told Utility Dive that Southern will focus on technologies "that will allow us to take down carbon emissions to zero."

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

Nuclear regulators to license two new reactors at Turkey Point facility

But Florida Power & Light officials have said they will wait until Georgia Power's beleaguered Vogtle facility is finished before they decide to move forward. 

By Robert Walton • April 9, 2018

What's next for South Carolina's embattled utilities?

The $10 billion planned cost for new nuclear turned into more than $20 billion, and the utilities' nuclear renaissance turned into a nuclear nightmare.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 9, 2018

Updated: California muni shelves gas plant to consider renewable options

The Glendale community becomes the latest on the list of jurisdictions reconsidering gas plant investments. 

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

Trump 'looking at' emergency order to save PJM coal, nuclear plants

The president's off-the-cuff remarks came a day after he dined with a former lobbyist for FirstEnergy, the coal-bound Ohio utility that requested a bailout for the plants. 

By Gavin Bade • April 5, 2018

The two key questions about going to 100% renewables in Los Angeles

The city council wants its municipal utility to reach the clean energy goal, and a new report says it can by 2030 — if the utility can learn new ways.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 5, 2018

EIA: Mild weather drove big drop in 2017 US electricity sales

Retail power sales fell by 80 billion kWh last year, the largest drop since the economic recession in 2009.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2018

Virginia regulators question if utility overhaul law violates US Constitution

Appalachian Power Co. had asked to raise rates to purchase out-of-state renewables, but regulators blocked the request and raised several legal issues.

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2018

Updated: ISO-NE seeks to keep 1,600 MW of gas generation from retirement

The grid operator says the retirement of two units at Exelon's Mystic Generating Station could put power reliability at risk. 

By Gavin Bade • April 4, 2018

Hackers hit communications system of Energy Transfer Partners pipeline

The data exchange platform for the pipeline system was shut down by hackers on Monday, highlighting the vulnerability of the U.S. energy infrastructure. 

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2018

Utilities take note: Hybrid renewables projects are coming

In 2017, combinations of cost-effective renewables plus storage went online, with more due this year. And 2019 looks like a hybrid boom year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 3, 2018

Market-based IRPs: A new paradigm for grid planning?

Instead of forecasts, utilities like Hawaiian Electric and Xcel are beginning to use real-world prices in their integrated resource plans, allowing them to better compare renewables and DERs to traditional grid investments. 

By Gavin Bade • April 2, 2018

FirstEnergy Solutions files for bankruptcy after pushing for DOE emergency order

The move comes days after FirstEnergy asked the DOE to save all coal and nuclear plants in the PJM Interconnection using an emergency order. 

By Robert Walton • April 2, 2018

FirstEnergy asks DOE for emergency action to save PJM coal, nuke plants

The utility wants to secure cost recovery for all uneconomic PJM plants with a 25-day fuel supply, similar to a DOE proposal unanimously rejected by FERC in January.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • March 29, 2018

Kentucky utilities push back on state-ordered rate reductions

The Kentucky Public Service Commission last week ordered Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to cut rates in response to the lower corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

Xcel nuclear cost recovery bill advances in Minnesota despite governor opposing

The company operates three nuclear reactors in the state and will need to invest more than $1.4 billion to maintain them over the next two decades.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

As concern grows over bitcoin's energy use, what's next for cryptocurrency?

There are many cryptocurrencies out there, but Bitcoin is the biggest. And cities and towns where mining operations are greatly increasing energy demand are taking action.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

Bomb cyclone showed coal retirements could raise risks for grid, DOE says

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory examines the role of fossil fuels during the bomb cyclone and sees risks to grid resilience and reliability from the loss of coal capacity.

By Peter Maloney • March 28, 2018

Proposed Texas rule highlights storage's challenges in bridging competitive, regulated energy markets

Energy storage’s unique characteristics make it a difficult fit on the regulated side of Texas’ power market.

By Peter Maloney • March 27, 2018