PJM CEO: Powering a resilient grid through competitive markets

Federal action to protect specific power plants is not only unnecessary, PJM CEO Andy Ott writes, it would raise consumer costs and discourage investment in newer, more efficient technologies.

By Andrew L. Ott • Nov. 6, 2018

ISO New England unveils new initiatives to enhance winter reliability

New England has been looking for market-based solutions to winter difficulties, as its reliance on natural gas has at times put the grid operator in a tight spot.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2018

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

Chatterjee blasts Clean Power Plan, praises EPA replacement in filed comments

Criticism of the Obama administration's defunct carbon regulations was filed the same day that Chatterjee pledged to be a nonpolitical FERC chairman in comments to reporters.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 5, 2018

Emerging best practices for utility grid hardening

The impacts of extreme weather on utility infrastructure are forcing utilities and regulators to take a more proactive approach to storm preparation, risk mitigation and budgeting than they have been accustomed to.

By Jeremy Clark • Nov. 5, 2018

Electric utilities quietly praise EPA coal plant emissions rule

Many large utilities did not comment on the EPA's Affordable Clean Energy rule directly, but a lobbying organization they fund endorsed the looser pollution standards. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 2, 2018

PJM CEO pans coal bailout but says plant payments needed in mid-2020s

A new report on PJM fuel security shows risks to the system could arise in five to six years if more power plants retire than anticipated and multiple stressors hit the grid at once. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 1, 2018

Nevada's Question 3 pits retail choice against uncertainty in battle of billionaires

Voters could pass a constitutional amendment that restructures the state's regulated utility, opens a competitive electricity market and subjects customers and lawmakers to hard questions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 1, 2018

New Orleans fines Entergy $5M over actors paid to support gas plant

An independent report concludes Entergy New Orleans "knew or should have known" that a firm it hired to support its bid for a new power plant was using individuals paid to pose as citizens supporting the project.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2018

Chatterjee pledges no political influence after 'growing into' FERC role

The new FERC chairman says he's evolved into a nonpartisan regulator in the past year — and that will help keep the agency insulated from political pressures. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 31, 2018

Virginia advances stricter carbon emissions cap rule

Virginia and New Jersey are on track to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in 2020, observers say. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2018

ICF: Natural gas infrastructure resilient to storms, but improvements can be made

In a report prepared for Southern California Gas, global consulting firm ICF looked at the resiliency of the natural gas sector and concluded it generally holds up well in natural disasters.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2018

Glick raises bailout concerns over resilience, fuel security dockets

The FERC regulator is worried open proceedings at his agency could have similar effects to a coal and nuclear bailout from the White House that his agency rejected last year. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 31, 2018

Utility solar expands in Florida as regulators approve 260 MW

Investor-owned utilities like Tampa Electric are using a state solar funding mechanism to "rate base" large-scale projects before the investment tax credit winds down.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 31, 2018

GE to restructure power division amid expanded SEC, DOJ probe

The company took a $22 billion write-down last quarter related to its power business — a charge federal investigators are now scrutinizing. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 2018

Western Regionalization Plan B: Utilities take an interim step to expand the grid

California lawmakers rejected the CAISO expansion so western participants are instead looking to evolve the energy imbalance market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2018

Minnesota PUC approves 550 MW gas plant despite renewables push

Minnesota Power says the project will be necessary as "flexible, dispatchable energy producer" to help with its goal to supply 44% of electricity from renewables by 2025.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 30, 2018

US on pace for record coal retirements in 2018, IEEFA finds

The U.S. will retire 15.4 GW of coal capacity this year, the clean energy think tank reported, "easily" exceeding the previous record of 14.7 GW of coal shutdowns in 2015.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 2018

Chatterjee, changed: FERC watchers see a more focused, less political chairman

Industry sources applaud Chatterjee’s newfound independence, but also preach caution about the once and current chairman.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 29, 2018

Study: Natural gas, wind, solar cheapest power generation

With environmental externalities considered, wind is cheapest cross the central plains and down the Appalachian mountains, while solar leads across the Southwest and parts of the Midwest and Northwest.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 29, 2018

Dominion proposes to buy SCANA with larger rate cut, no up-front refunds

South Carolina Electric & Gas customers would see greater bill reductions under the plan, but not the $1,000 refund Dominion pushed in the wake of efforts to recover spending on the V.C. Summer nuclear project.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2018

Kentucky coal plant to close, latest among accelerating shutdowns

Henderson Municipal Power and Light will close 300 MW of coal fired generation after consistently finding the power was more expensive than alternatives on the market. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2018

ISO-NE, generators spar over fuel security at FERC

The grid operator and independent generators in its market are at odds over whether a proposal to retain fuel secure resources would depress market prices. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 26, 2018

California regulators prod utilities to start drafting roadmap to 100% clean energy

The sum of renewables procurements from California electricity providers is not enough to achieve the state's 2045 target, and regulators are struggling for solutions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 25, 2018

Optimizing natural gas generation with energy storage

A gamechanger for the transition to a cleaner and more affordable power sector as the deployment of renewables plus energy storage accelerates exponentially across the country.

By Janice Lin • Oct. 25, 2018

Beyond fuel security: Reliability, resilience and a more sustainable future through grid flexibility

Why the focus on fuel security when improving grid flexibility could achieve the aims of fuel security more cost effectively while modernizing and decarbonizing our grid?

By Jennie Chen and Kate Konschnik • Oct. 25, 2018