Senate bill targets significant savings from gas demand response amid supply challenges

The legislation, introduced by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Angus King, I-Maine, includes $10 million for pilot programs aimed at reducing market price volatility.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2019

FERC reasserts authority over PG&E contracts in bankruptcy court filing

PG&E may want to exit older renewable energy contracts as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, but FERC argued it must separately win approval from the agency to alter their terms.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 19, 2019

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

Developer eyes world's largest solar+storage facility for Texas

Listed in the ERCOT interconnection report, the project would combine 495 MW of solar with 495 MW of energy storage in 2021, if completed.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 19, 2019

PJM to ask FERC to invalidate its energy market rules after stakeholder impasse

The grid operator's controversial five-point proposal includes changes that will boost the real-time and day-ahead markets by allowing larger, less flexible units to set prices.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 2019

TVA votes to retire Paradise, Bull Run coal units despite Trump tweet

Even if power demand increases and prices for natural gas more than double, TVA found the plants would not be competitive.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 15, 2019

Murkowski 'frustrated' by FERC impasse, pushes White House for nominees

The chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said some issues are "perhaps deadlocked right now" due to a vacancy on the commission, but said the White House has not communicated about potential nominees.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 14, 2019

Dominion to halve emissions from gas infrastructure in next decade

Renewable energy advocates were unimpressed by the commitment, saying the best way for Dominion to reduce methane emissions is to stop building pipelines.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2019

AEP to buy Sempra Renewables for $1B, including 724 MW wind and battery assets

The acquisition follows parent-company Sempra's announcement last summer that it plans to spin off its nonutility operating renewable assets.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 13, 2019

Glick calls for 'new approach' to capacity markets in wide-ranging NARUC talk

The FERC regulator’s hour-long address contrasted with that of his colleague Commissioner Bernard McNamee, who spoke for 11 minutes and addressed no specific policy issues.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 13, 2019

TVA proposes to close Paradise, Bull Run coal units despite Trump tweet

President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pressed the utility on Twitter to keep the Paradise plant open.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Feb. 12, 2019

LA scraps plan to rebuild 3 gas plants, moves towards 100% renewable energy

The decision marks the end of a multi-year debate over the plan to invest $2.2 billion in gas-fired power plants, and follows a decision by state lawmakers last year to pursue an all-clean energy strategy by 2045.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2019

Congressional Democrats push FERC to act on aggregated DERs

Seventeen House members and 18 Senators urged FERC to issue a decision "as soon as possible" that "enables all [distributed energy resources] the opportunity to participate in … wholesale markets."

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 11, 2019

Arizona extends gas plant moratorium, punts on PURPA reforms

Regulators last week extended a partial moratorium on utility construction of new large gas-fired generators in the state until Aug. 1, 2019, as they consider a broad, 80% clean energy proposal.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 11, 2019

With 288 storage and generation projects lined up, California eases interconnection process

The California ISO Board of Governors approved network upgrade definitions, minimum acceptance criteria and validation procedures for interconnection requests, as a result of a year-long stakeholder process.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 8, 2019

ISO-NE capacity prices fall amid controversy over Vineyard Wind participation

Prices fell in the grid operator's annual capacity market this week, but owners of the Vineyard Wind facility said they would have been lower if the 800 MW offshore wind farm had participated fully.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2019

Want better grid mod proceedings? Exelon official says involve stakeholders earlier

To reduce tension between power companies and other stakeholders, the grid mod process could include more opportunities for public input, the company's director of utility initiatives told a crowd of state energy regulators.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 7, 2019

Propelling clean energy innovation forward: What does the industry need from regulators?

As utilities, corporations and states accelerate their goals, new technology will be necessary to support the clean energy transition, and the government's role in R&D and market incentives will be vital, a new report says.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 7, 2019

Ohio governor taps wind critic Randazzo as utility commission chair

The former lobbyist for industrial energy consumers has worked against wind development in Ohio for years and helped craft a 2014 state law that froze renewable energy and efficiency standards.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 6, 2019

Puerto Rico proposes largest solar, storage buildout in US with 20-year draft resource plan

Adding over 2,220 MW of solar and 1,080 MW of battery storage over the next two decades, PREPA would also phase out its use of coal and bunker oil, expensive energy fuels the island imports.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 6, 2019

As corporate renewable buying surges, innovative PPAs pressure utilities to improve green tariffs

Financial intermediaries are de-risking all-time low-cost renewables purchases, driving record private sector buying and pressuring utilities to match the offerings.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 6, 2019

FERC passes on Vineyard Wind emergency request for ISO-NE auction delay

Owners of the planned offshore wind facility pressed FERC to delay the grid operator's capacity auction on Monday, arguing rules do not allow it to participate fully.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Feb. 6, 2019

Michigan Gov cites extreme weather, Consumers gas shortage in signing clean energy order

Gretchen Whitmer, D, committed the state to the U.S. emissions reduction target under the Paris Climate Agreement, noting the urgency of her actions in the context of extreme weather events last week.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 5, 2019

NIPSCO to add 800 MW wind in first steps to coal-free generation

NIPSCO plans to retire its last coal unit by 2028 and expects its generation transition to produce $4 billion in cost-savings for customers over the long term.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 5, 2019

EPS Ep. 6: The toxic legacy of coal ash in Tennessee

A decade after the worst coal ash spill in U.S. history, Nashville Public Radio reporter Shalina Chatlani talks about its continuing impacts on residents and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 4, 2019

Georgia Power plan targets 1 GW new renewables, 1 GW coal shutdowns

In its latest integrated resource plan, filed on Jan. 31, the company attributed the coal shutdowns to lower gas prices and the falling growth rate of energy demand.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 1, 2019