Xcel to shutter controversial Minnesota coal units

The company will retire two units at the Sherburne County Generating Plant (Sherco), and is targeting 35% renewables by 2030.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

Southern CEO: New nuke builds confined to large utilities in regulated markets

Only large companies in regulated markets have the resources to develop new nuclear plants, according to Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

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

Black Hills proposes rate-based gas production investments in 5 states

Black Hills Corp. has asked regulators in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming for authority to recover the costs investments in gas wells or reserves, the latest in a growing list of utilities to do so. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

Updated: Exelon, DC mayor reach settlement on Pepco merger

The deal would still need to be approved by the D.C. Public Service Commission, which rejected the initial merger proposal in August.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 2, 2015

New EPA rule targets toxic discharges from coal-fired steam plants

The agency estimates about 12% of the nation's 1,080 steam electric power plants will need to make improvements to comply with the new rules.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2015

EPA to issue finalized regulations on ozone emissions

The new 70 parts per million limit on ozone pollution pleases neither public health experts nor industry groups. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2015

To ITC or not to ITC: What happens if solar's federal tax incentives aren't extended

Without the ITC, the loss of potential solar capacity is equal to the total amount currently installed in the U.S., a new report finds.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

What's at stake in the FirstEnergy and AEP Ohio power plant subsidy hearings

The marathon regulatory sessions could have far-reaching consequences for the region's fuel mix and electricity market structure.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2015

GE unveils Digital Power Plant software to make generation more efficient, responsive

Cloud-based capabilities can add $230 million in value to new gas plants and $100 million to wind projects, the company says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

If Kemper plant delays continue, Southern will need to return $234M in tax credits

If Southern Company can't get its Kemper coal facility up and running by April 19, the company will need to return $234 million to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2015

Ohio lawmakers, governor at odds over renewables and efficiency freeze

A legislative committee has recommended extending the state's temporary freeze on renewables and efficiency mandates indefinitely, a proposal Gov. John Kaisich (R) calls "unacceptable."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 30, 2015

Is this the end for Boulder's municipal utility plan?

Colorado regulators will rule today on a recommendation to dismiss the city of Boulder's plan to form a municipal utility.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

FirstEnergy Solutions will let some Peco Energy contracts expire

After expanding its Pennsylvania presence several years ago, FirstEnergy Solutions is reducing its exposure to the competitive market.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

Talen Energy proposes third option to divest 1,300 MW

The newly-formed generator, now one of the largest in the country with 15,000 MW of capacity, is working to configure a package of assets to sell in order to satisfy federal regulators.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

Duke settles North Carolina coal ash case for $7M

Environmentalists say regulators capitulated to the utility's demands, and Duke says the penalty doesn't amount to a fine.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

EPA files with appeals court to fix MATS, states request its elimination

The D.C.Circuit Court will decide whether June's Supreme Court decision means the EPA can merely fix MATS, or whether the rule must be thrown out entirely.

By Gavin Bade and Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015

How storage will shape the future of concentrated solar power

CSP may not be the hottest topic in the solar or storage sectors, but its backers point out that it offers large scale renewable generation that is in many cases fully dispatchable.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

Moody's: Falling battery prices are bad news for merchant generators

Battery prices have dropped 50% since 2010, and if the slide continues, will decrease peak energy and capacity prices for independent power producers, according to Moody's Investor Services.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015

Clean energy advocate casts doubt on data PNM used to back San Juan power plant proposal

New Energy Economy told state regulators it appears Public Service Co. of New Mexico used a "fictitious baseline" to support its operating proposal for the San Juan generating station.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015

Newly-opened NJ offshore wind tract could yield 3,400 MW of capacity

The federal government has opened nearly 350,000 acres of ocean off the coast of New Jersey to wind development in a bid to meet President Obama's clean energy goals.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2015

How to become the 'Utility of the Future?' Industry experts weigh in

The key to creating the utility of the future is combining consumer demands with emerging technology in smart grids, energy efficiency and distribution generation, experts said during the 2015 Solar Power International conference. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2015

Drought dries up PG&E hydro reservoir in northern California

The Mountain Meadows Reservoir is now little more than 5,800 acres of mud and dead fish.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2015

Entergy brings Mississippi's first utility solar pilot project online

The 500 kW arrays will allow the utility to test solar economics and feasibility.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 25, 2015

AEP Ohio willing to compromise on length of coal subsidy proposal

Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, AEP Ohio President Pablo Vegas has said his company would be willing to sign power purchase agreements for a shorter length of time than requested -- the life of the plants.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2015

ERCOT: Time to build more transmission in Texas Panhandle

Growing wind generation has overwhelmed transmission line capacity built from the Texas Panhandle into the state's dense population centers.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2015