Alectra Utilities CEO: 'Someone's going to cannibalize our business — it may as well be us'

"Someone's going to eat our lunch. They're lining up to do it," CEO Brian Bentz told Utility Dive. Here's how the Canadian utility is moving aggressively into DERs.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 14, 2017

Judge rejects lawsuit targeting mine operations, coal plant on Navajo land

Environmental groups previously filed a lawsuit aimed at shutting down the Navajo Mine and the Four Corners Power Plant in New Mexico.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2017

ERCOT: Natural gas composed 50% of August generation

Nuclear generation also rose to 9% of the state's resource mix, but was still well below its 11% mark in August 2016. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2017

Illinois energy reform set to shape new solar business models for utilities

Rate-based returns on distributed resources could allow utilities to displace traditional investments and drive a community solar boom.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2017

DOE expands SunShot program after hitting original cost goal 3 years early

The new program aims to cut utility-scale solar costs to $0.03/kWh and boost durability and lifetimes in panels. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 13, 2017

Michigan advocates fear rollback of retail electric choice program

The Michigan Public Service Commission is considering requiring alternative suppliers to procure the electricity they sell from in-state generators.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

EIA: Coal production increases will continue through 2018

Coal production in August was 8% higher than the same time in 2016. Year-over-year increases are expected this year and next.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

Federal court grants EPA stay on Utah regional haze decision

Last year, the EPA ordered Rocky Mountain Power to install pollution controls on two coal-fired power plants in Utah. The agency is now reconsidering that plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

FERC evaluating enhanced baseload compensation, Chatterjee writes

The acting FERC chair would have told a cancelled House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that his commission is evaluating "compensation for providing [reliability] services," Axios reports. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 12, 2017

California Dems look to restart CAISO regionalization with 11th hour amendments

With only days left in the state's legislative session, lawmakers are pushing bills that would create a planning process for a full ISO across the western United States. 

By Gavin Bade , Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

West Virginia agency vacates water permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline project

The state Department of Environmental Protection said the decision will allow the agency to "re-evaluate the complete application."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

Mississippi Power fails to reach PSC settlement over Kemper costs again

State regulators already extended a settlement deadline in August after its staff and the utility failed to reach a settlement over Kemper costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Half of Florida still without power as Irma churns into Southeast

Federal officials say storm recovery and power restoration will involve the "largest ever mobilization of line restoration workers in this country."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project gains air quality plan approval from Pennsylvania officials

Williams Partners, the pipeline's primary sponsor, will use Emission Reduction Credits to comply with the offset requirements of state law.  

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

California energy interests set to square off over Puente natural gas plant

Solar and storage can meet power needs cheaper than outdated capacity analyses suggest, clean energy advocates will tell regulators this week. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2017

DOE grid study offers no panaceas to struggling nuclear and coal plants

Ray Gifford, a former Colorado regulator and partner at Wilkinson, Barker and Knaur law firm, says the study's modest findings highlight the tension between energy policies. 

By Ray Gifford • Sept. 11, 2017

Bill to California governor would direct utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

SB 338 would compel utilities to include considerations for peak demand management with storage, efficiency and DERs in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 11, 2017

DOE grid study dominates FERC nomination hearing

The hearing illustrated how politicians of all stripes are deploying the study's findings to support their views on power sector transformation.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 8, 2017

'Clean coal' production facility slated for Pennsylvania

CNX Coal Resources and OMNIS Bailey launched a partnership this week to produce the clean carbon fuel from waste coal at CONSOL'S Bailey Mine complex.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 8, 2017

Retail electricity prices rise, spurred by boost in delivery costs, EIA says

The average retail price of electricity in the U.S. increased about 1.5% annually between 2006 and 2016. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 8, 2017

New emails reveal behind-the-scenes battle over Summer nuke

Utility officials suspected they were victims of "financial malfeasance" by contractor Westinghouse as early as last summer, hiring bankruptcy lawyers in June 2016.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 8, 2017

Choosing the right grid infrastructure in the wake of the DOE grid study

Rocky Mountain Institute's Mark Dyson says the grid study failed to highlight the opportunities to boost resiliency with distributed energy resources. 

By Mark Dyson • Sept. 7, 2017

FERC rejects Southwest Power Pool resource adequacy proposal

Regulators determined the RTO's proposal needed to include a requirement that all power purchase agreements be backed by verifiable capacity, among other issues.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2017

Renewables developers 'gaming' PURPA should force reforms, utilities tell Congress

Testimony to a House Energy & Commerce subcommittee comes as lawmakers draft revisions to the 40-year-old law.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 7, 2017

Report: CPS Energy should cease investments in Texas coal plant

Sierra Club commissioned a report saying that replacing power from the utility's Spruce coal units at the Calaveras Power Station with renewables is more cost-effective. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2017