Where are utilities betting their billions?

Utility Dive looks at the three major trends that emerged from utilities' end-of-year earnings calls.

By Ethan Howland • March 12, 2014

Judge OKs NRG Energy deal to buy Edison Mission power fleet

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan for NRG Energy to buy nearly all of Edison Mission Energy's generating plants for $2.64 billion.

By Ethan Howland • March 12, 2014

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

EEI: Polar vortex shows why we need old power plants

This winter's harsh weather is a reminder that the U.S. must keep a diverse power plant fleet, according to the Edison Electric Institute.

By Ethan Howland • March 11, 2014

Maine utility wants to charge distributed generation fee

Central Maine Power seeks a higher fee for DG customers.

By Ethan Howland • March 11, 2014

Solar sets 4,093 MW record in California

At 4,093 MW, solar generation accounted for 18% of California's demand last Saturday, setting a record.

By Ethan Howland • March 11, 2014

Record deal? Austin Energy buys solar for under 5 cents/kWh

Austin Energy will buy 150 MW of solar from SunEdison for less than 5 cents/kWh under a pending 25-year power purchase agreement.

By Ethan Howland • March 11, 2014

Solar industry fights rooftop taxes in Arizona

Arizona's solar industry believes it may avoid a planned tax for leased rooftop solar equipment.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2014

FERC orders new standards to protect grid from terrorism

FERC Friday directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to develop reliability standards requiring bulk-power system owners and operators to address terrorism risks for certain facilities.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2014

Who pays Duke Energy's $1B coal ash bill: shareholders or customers?

The battle lines are starting to be drawn as to who should pay the roughly $1 billion to clean up Duke Energy's 33 coal ash basins in North Carolina.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2014

EPA chief: Fossil fueled plants will be around for 'years to come'

Fossil-fueled power plants will play a critical role in grid operations, according to the EPA chief.

By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2014

PSEG CEO: Utilities should focus on energy efficiency over distributed generation

Utilities and regulators should focus on lowering energy use, not on distributed generation, according to PSEG's Ralph Izzo.

By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2014

AES, SolarCity advance energy storage options

AES released a new energy storage package it believes can compete with peaker plants while SolarCity aims to provide grid services.

By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2014

Judge orders Duke Energy to halt coal ash pollution

A North Carolina judge ruled that Duke Energy must immediately stop possible groundwater pollution from the company's coal ash ponds in the state.

By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2014

Why is Warren Buffett investing in utilities in the death spiral era?

The Oracle of Omaha stares down the utility death spiral.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2014

AWEA: Iowa, South Dakota get over 25% of power from wind

Iowa and South Dakota get more than 25% of their power from wind while seven other states get more than 12% of their electricity from wind, according to AWEA.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2014

PUC: PG&E must address Diablo Canyon issues

Pacific Gas & Electric must address 11 issues before the utility seeks to recoup the cost of relicensing its 2,160-MW Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, according to the head of the California PUC.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2014

Sierra Club sues Ameren over coal-fired power plants

The Sierra Club sued Ameren Wednesday over alleged Clean Air Act violations at three St. Louis-area coal-fired power plants.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2014

Kansas lawmakers aim to kill renewable portfolio standard

Conservative lawmakers expect to move ahead with efforts to kill Kansas' renewable portfolio standard.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2014

ERCOT: Tight supply margins to start summer in Texas

Texas will have tight power reserves to start the summer, but new gas-fired power plants will be coming online before August, according to the state's grid operator.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2014

Xcel Energy to buy power from 120-MW solar project

Xcel Energy plans to buy power from a $200 million, 120-MW solar project in Colorado.

By Ethan Howland • March 5, 2014

Court rules First Wind, Emera joint venture invalid

The Maine Supreme Court ruled that a wind farm joint venture between First Wind and Emera violated the state's deregulation rules.

By Ethan Howland • March 5, 2014

Solar sets record with 5,160 MW installed in 2013

The solar industry added a record-setting 4,751 MW of photovoltaic capacity and 410 MW of concentrating solar last year, according to a report.

By Ethan Howland • March 5, 2014

Obama administration proposes sale of TVA

The Obama administration is proposing to sell the Tennessee Valley Authority to state and local governments, and area utilities.

By Ethan Howland • March 5, 2014

New England generators oppose infrastructure expansion plans

New England generators are opposing plans by the area's governors to spur regional natural gas and transmission line construction.

By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2014

Facing decline, NRG Energy forges new business models

NRG's long-term strategy focuses on business self-generation, home energy services and off-grid resources.

By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2014