How big can New England's regional cap-and-trade program get?

The RGGI program has worked so well for its nine Northeastern member states that some say it's ready to go nationwide.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 1, 2018

PJM: FirstEnergy nukes can retire without reliability threat

The grid operator says three plants subject to an emergency bailout request at the Department of Energy can retire without putting electricity service at risk.

By Gavin Bade • April 30, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

Supreme Court rejects Constitution Pipeline appeal over NY permit

The decision leaves the pipeline's developer one option: seeking help from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to keep the project on track.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2018

Illinois energy law revives renewables while aiding nuclear

The Future Energy Jobs Act is also expanding energy efficiency in the state, but the nuclear subsidies are being challenged in court.

By Peter Maloney • April 30, 2018

Michigan OKs $952M cost recovery for DTE gas plant

Opponents of the 1.1 GW facility say solar, wind, energy efficiency, demand response and storage would be cheaper and could save customers $300 million to $1.1 billion.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2018

DOE gives $60M for advanced nukes, but industry wants better regs

There is growing interest in small modular reactors, but the licensing process must modernize along with the technology, according to a new Nuclear Energy Institute report.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2018

Pruitt: EPA will seek 'comprehensive rule' to alter New Source Review

The agency's recently announced proposal to limit scientific input to its rules could influence how it rewrites NSR, which governs emissions from new and modified sources.

By Gavin Bade • April 27, 2018

PwC: Power sector deals rose 60% in the first quarter

Two mega deals — Dominion-SCANA and Global Infrastructure Partners-Zephyr Renewables — along with activity in the renewable energy sector drove the increase.

By Peter Maloney • April 27, 2018

PJM generators, DR providers clash over seasonal resources at FERC

Demand response providers say rules barring seasonal resources from capacity contracts are little more than an effort to boost market revenues for generators.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Hawaii Gov. Ige signs law mandating performance-based utility regulation

The law goes further than other performance-based efforts, directing the PUC to "break the direct link" between utility revenues and capital investments.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Cutting loose generation lifts earnings for FirstEnergy

The company's prospects also were bolstered by an agreement with creditors in the bankruptcy proceeding of subsidiaries FirstEnergy Solutions and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating.

By Peter Maloney • April 25, 2018

Understanding grid resilience implications for market design: Beyond the NETL study

Researchers at Resources for the Future and the R Street Institute offer an alternative approach to the recent National Energy Technology Laboratory study.

By Karen Palmer, Devin Hartman and Daniel Shawhan • April 24, 2018

SCE&G rate hikes called 'unconstitutional' by South Carolina AG

The Attorney General's comments come as part of a case aimed at recovering the amount customers have paid for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project since its abandonment last year.   

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 23, 2018

California customer choice advocates, IOUs face off on departing load charge

As customers leave IOUs for new providers, commissioners must balance costs. Will they choose a new approach or a really new approach?

By Herman K. Trabish • April 23, 2018

FERC issues NOI seeking comments on gas pipeline evaluations

The NOI seeks comment on how FERC evaluates the need for pipelines, its use of eminent domain, the environmental impact of pipeline projects and the efficiency of FERC's permitting process. 

By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018

DOE's Walker: National security assessment broader than grid reliability

The agency's interpretation of a national security risk will be central to its evaluation of coal and nuclear bailout proposals from FirstEnergy and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).

By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018

Chatterjee opposes MOPR as 'standard solution' for state policies

The announcement makes clear a majority of FERC regulators oppose the "standard solution" provision likely to impact the evaluation of PJM's capacity market proposals. 

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2018

Line fault again plunges Puerto Rico into blackout

While nearly all the island's generation is back online after Hurricane Maria, the grid that supports it remains fragile and PREPA lacks sufficient reserves to resist minor disruptions. 

By Gavin Bade • April 18, 2018

New Hampshire governor's energy plan leans on nuclear, gas

The new plan by Gov. Sununu aims to diminish the cost impacts of renewable energy procurement by neighboring states, assuming those contracts will be above market rates.

By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2018

FERC chair takes up coal lobby line on plant retirements

Chairman Kevin McIntyre told House lawmakers he is concerned entire resource categories could "go the way of the dodo bird." It's a line common among the coal and nuclear lobbies, and few others. 

By Gavin Bade • April 17, 2018

State-federal concerns could dim FERC's landmark storage order

Wider access to a variety of markets has been hailed as the basis for energy storage growth, but jurisdictional issues could thwart an overarching solution.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

Exelon, FE nuke closures would reverse PJM wind, solar benefits: Brattle report

Closing four plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania would harm the environment and raise electricity costs for consumers, a recent analysis finds.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

The shifting winds of near-term renewable energy demand drivers

As project economics have grown more compelling in recent years – particularly in the case of wind in the middle of the country – corporate investment has increased.

By Mason Smith, Matt Mooren and Lili Gao • April 17, 2018

FERC rejects CAISO's proposals to modify capacity procurement

The grid operator proposed tariff revisions to its risk of retirement capacity procurement mechanism, including how compensation for the at-risk resources is determined.

By Robert Walton • April 16, 2018

EPSA rails against FirstEnergy emergency request, New Jersey nuke subsidies

The trade group for independent power plant owners argues both requests amount to unnecessary bailouts for failing power plants.  

By Gavin Bade • April 16, 2018