2023 US Power Sector Outlook

2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.

By The Utility Dive Team • Jan. 25, 2023

Green hydrogen – The fuel of the future if we lead with data

Grid-enabled clean hydrogen can be a powerful decarbonization tool if the production involves 100% hourly-matched, locally-procured, clean generation established specifically for the clean hydrogen generator.

By Benjamin L. Gerber • Jan. 25, 2023

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

NuScale Power’s small modular reactor design is first in US to get NRC approval

With the NRC’s certification of the NuScale design, “SMRs are no longer an abstract concept,” an assistant secretary of energy said.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 24, 2023

Constellation, NRG and other generators urge FERC to reject PJM’s mid-capacity auction rule change

The PJM Interconnection’s proposal to change its market rules could set a precedent for all wholesale markets, companies and trade groups told the federal agency Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2023

California PUC orders an additional 4 GW of clean energy resources to bolster grid reliability

The 4 GW would add to the 11.5 GW of clean energy resources that state regulators ordered in mid-2021.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Feb. 24, 2023

PJM generator average interconnection costs soar 728%, driven by network upgrades: DOE Lab

Average interconnection costs for projects in PJM’s interconnection queue have increased eightfold, to $240/kW in 2020-2022 from $29/kW in the previous two years, according to a report released Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2023

Nuclear power gets another look in ‘all-of-the-above’ energy approach as climate worries mount

Federal money and state legislation are combining to boost nuclear power as policymakers race to achieve reduced greenhouse gas emissions goals. 

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 20, 2023

Texas regulators adopt performance credit in market overhaul proceeding, teeing up battle with lawmakers

Regulators "chose to ignore the clear direction" of the Texas legislature, said Sen. Charles Schwertner, an author of legislation that initiated the Texas energy market changes.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2023

Electricity prices surged 14.3% in 2022, double overall inflation: US report

After peaking in the summer of 2022, the price of residential electricity is projected to rise more slowly over the next two years, according to the Energy Information Administration.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 19, 2023

Nebraska utility reviews sites for small modular nuclear reactors using US pandemic aid

Nuclear energy could be a weather-resilient, green source of power for businesses, homes and the medical industry, one state lawmaker said.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 18, 2023

Georgia Power delays Vogtle 3 start after discovering vibrations in plant’s cooling system

Georgia Power now expects Unit 3 will be placed in service in April.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 13, 2023

2023 Outlook: US power sector trends to watch

Federal, state and corporate actions are boosting clean energy in the U.S., but supply chain and economic challenges persist while grid reliability and security concerns are growing.

By The Utility Dive Team • Jan. 13, 2023

PJM generators face up to $2B in penalties for failing to run during December’s Winter Storm Elliott

Nearly a quarter of PJM’s fleet didn’t provide electricity as required, with gas-fired generation making up 70% of the unplanned outages, according to the grid operator’s initial estimates.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 12, 2023

FERC approves PacifiCorp’s proposed interconnection process for replacing retired generation

The agency dismissed concerns the proposal would give PacifiCorp an unfair advantage in grid access.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 11, 2023

PG&E plan to sell non-nuclear generation assets could improperly increase rates, groups tell FERC

The utility’s proposal lacks enough details to determine if it should be approved, according to protests filed Tuesday at the federal agency.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 11, 2023

White House guidance on GHG analysis will ease renewable energy permitting, trade groups say

The interim guidance comes as the infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act are expected to spur clean energy development, which can be slowed by permitting requirements.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 9, 2023

EPA proposes tightening fine particulate matter standard, potentially affecting coal power plants

The agency aims to issue final standards in August, but direct effects would be years away.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 6, 2023

Nuclear power saw multiple gains in 2022, but economic and other questions remain

The first new commercial nuclear plant in the U.S. in more than 30 years moved closer to operation while the sector is receiving a boost from the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 3, 2023

FirstEnergy agrees to pay $3.9M for failing to tell FERC about energy bill bribery payments

The utility company didn’t tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about $81 million it gave to Ohio officials to pass a bill that offered $1 billion to nuclear plants it owned, according to the agency.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 3, 2023

PJM seeks mid-auction capacity market rule change to address anomaly that led to ‘unjust’ price

Some generators warned that changing market rules in the middle of an auction sets a bad precedent.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 22, 2022

Entergy: Grand Gulf nuclear plant’s viability threatened by FERC move to advance state, city complaint

Entergy may need to give customers refunds related to the Grand Gulf’s capacity expansion and its alleged poor operating performance under a complaint by utility regulators from Arkansas, Louisiana and New Orleans.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 20, 2022

Avangrid asks regulators to dismiss 1.2-GW Commonwealth offshore wind contracts, says it plans to rebid project

Economic conditions have changed since the contracts were signed in April, making the project too expensive to build under the power purchase agreements, Avangrid told Massachusetts regulators Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 19, 2022

‘Proceed with caution’: Key takeaways from California’s first offshore wind energy auction

A recent lease sale on the West Coast drew lower bids than similar East Coast sales, which experts say reflects the uncertainties the offshore wind industry faces in California. But the lower bids could ultimately benefit ratepayers.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 19, 2022

Most of US electric grid faces risk of resource shortfall through 2027, NERC finds

“We are living in extraordinary times, from an electric industry perspective,” said John Moura, NERC’s director of reliability assessment and performance analysis.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2022

E3 defends Texas market analysis as early comments on reliability proposals turn negative

The E3 report “is too deeply flawed to be trusted to guide reliability and market decisions of this import,” according to independent energy analyst Alison Silverstein.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2022