DC Circuit will wait until after Paris climate talks to rule on Clean Power Plan stay

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has set the schedule for arguments related to a stay on the Clean Power Plan, but won't rule on them until after climate change talks conclude in Paris this year.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Duke's Piedmont deal forces restructuring ownership of Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Dominion Resources will remain the lead owner of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, but how the shares will be restructered remains to be seen.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Exelon delays decision on Illinois nuke after MISO announces potential market changes

The Midcontinent ISO last week acknowledged the need for market changes in the southern Illinois area, giving new hope to Exelon's struggling Clinton nuclear facility.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

NextEra grows renewable portfolio, weighs sale of Texas merchant generation

NextEra CEO James Robo said the company reviews all their assets each year and determines whether it makes sense to keep them. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2015

Inside the first fully dispatchable utility solar-storage project in Hawaii

SolarCity is combining solar panels and storage in a single project on Kaua'i, but the most innovative part of the deal could be how it is structured.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 29, 2015

SCE&G says new V.C. Summer nuke agreement will prevent further delays

The utilities backing two new nuclear units north of Columbia have struck a deal with companies managing and constructing the project, aimed at reducing cost overruns and delays.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

NV Energy remains on track to join Western energy imbalance market

FERC approved a California ISO tariff change aimed at allowing the utility to participate in the Energy Imbalance Market, but a few other details will need to be worked out first.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

EIA: Gas generation edges out coal for 2nd consecutive month, 3rd time this year

Gas generation in August exceeded coal for only the third time ever, EIA reported this week. But it's also the third time this year and the second consecutive month where gas has been king, marking a shift towards gas as the more popular fuel choice. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

Rocky Mountain Power unveils clean energy proposal, but skeptics remain

The Salt Lake City-based utility wants to offer a new, lower tariff for expanding businesses and split residential bills into use and access charges in a plan aimed at cutting emissions. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

West Virginia gov. says his state will file CPP compliance plan

West Virginia's attorney general is leading the lawsuit challenging the Clean Power Plan, but the state's governor says a compliance plan will be filed anyway in hopes of "lessening the pain."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

Southern Co., rural co-ops buck utility trend in challenging Clean Power Plan

While most utilities around the country are deciding to comply rather than fight the Obama administration's plan to reduce greenhouse gasses, coal-dependent Southern Co. and a coalition of electric co-ops have filed suit against the regulatory package. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

SCE fined $16.7M for illegal regulatory communications on San Onofre closure

Utility execs had prohibited communications with regulators on the $4.7B settlement, an administrative law judge decided.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2015

Duke CEO: Piedmont deal heralds new focus on natural gas industry

In the future, gas infrastructure investments will be a growing focus for Duke Energy, according to CEO Lynn Good.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

FERC: Renewables account for over 60% of new generation in 2015

The latest energy infrastructure report from FERC finds wind up to 5.9% of U.S. generation capacity, while solar passes the 1% mark, even with the rooftop sector not included.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2015

Study: 3 years after Sandy, East Coast and Gulf power grids still vulnerable to storms

A new report shows millions of consumers, hundreds of substations and dozens of power plants are susceptible to a strong hurricane battering the United States' Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

NEI chief: More nuclear retirements to come in unregulated markets

The head of the Nuclear Energy Institute predicted that nuclear plants would be forced to shutter due to market rules that he says do not properly value baseload capacity.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

Plans to expand Texas nuke plant by 2 units pass NRC safety tests

Nuclear regulators have completed a Final Safety Evaluation Report examining a Texas nuclear expansion, concluding the developer is technically and financially capable of moving ahead with the South Texas Project in Bay City.  

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

From theory to practice: The challenges in moving to 'Utility 2.0'

Executives from four major utilities spoke at ESNA 2015 about the trials and tribulations of putting more new technology on their grids. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 27, 2015

Are utility investments in natural gas a good bet?

Storage, solar and nuclear have all been talked about as potentially leapfrogging natural gas, long known as the “bridge fuel.” So why are utilities doubling down?

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2015

Colorado governor does not support his state's Clean Power Plan challenge

Colorado appears well-positioned to meet Clean Power Plan mandates, but now faces conflict between two top elected offices over supporting the regulation. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2015

Xcel CEO: Wind is a better long-term buy than natural gas

Wind's 20-year PPA price of $25/MWh compares favorably with the economics of gas generation, CEO Ben Fowke said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 27, 2015

SCE reaches $400M settlement with nuclear insurer on San Onofre closure

The settlement stems from a radioactive leak on Mitsubishi equipment that led to the closure of the nuclear plant.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 26, 2015

Settlement proposed to keep RE Ginna nuke operating in New York

The deal could cost ratepayers more than $15 million a month to keep the plant operating another year and a half.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2015

AEP anticipates decision on Ohio plant subsidies by end of year

The decision will weigh heavily on whether the utility decides to sell its merchant generation fleet.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2015

Minnesota, North Dakota clash in court over coal power import ban

A panel of three judges will decide the dispute, centered around the interstate trade of coal power, but observers say there is little indication which way they will rule.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2015