Efficiency & Demand Response

New Jersey's energy efficiency approach could reduce incentive to invest, stakeholders warn

A proposal to reduce utility returns on equity for efficiency investments drew concern from electric companies in the state at a Wednesday stakeholder meeting.

By Robert Walton • April 02, 2020

Trump administration slashes required annual fuel economy increase to 1.5%, potentially harming EV market, advocates say

The new rules are intended to make vehicles safer and more affordable, according to Trump Administration officials.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 31, 2020

EV groups brace for phase 2 of Trump fuel standards expected to decrease efficiency mandates

The two phases of the fuel efficiency rollbacks could cut the number of zero emission vehicles on U.S. roads by 14 million over the next 15 years, advocates warn.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 30, 2020

Virginia rejects Dominion's $752M smart meter plan, other grid mod proposals

Regulators penalized the company for failing to justify costs to deploy advanced metering infrastructure, after Dominion failed to submit a broad time-of-use rate plan.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 27, 2020

DTE updates resource plan blasted by critics for favoring coal and gas over renewables

The new plan complies with a demand by Michigan regulators that the company take another look at customer energy efficiency programs as well as the cost of building more solar and wind to move away from coal and gas.

By John Funk • March 24, 2020

Utilities beginning to see the load impacts of COVID-19 as economic shutdown widens

Demand for electricity is falling and experts say that could mean higher rates in some territories.

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2020

18 Senate Democrats call on Congress to include renewables in stalled stimulus package

A Friday letter recommends tax credit extensions or an elimination of the tax credit phase-out, direct payment, refunds, or safe harbor extensions, among other options.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 23, 2020

Opinion

Don't call it a Clean Peak Standard: Leveraging renewables to reduce customer costs during peak demand

The ancillary benefits of a low-cost peak program include reduced emissions, energy independence, resiliency, and hedged fuel-price risks, as well as the ability to retire uneconomic fossil fuel assets early, the author writes.

By Ronald DiFelice • March 20, 2020

Maryland efforts for low-income energy efficiency target stalled by COVID-19

Experts say the effort to set a statewide energy efficiency target for low-income electric customers is representative of a nationwide push, despite delays from the spread of the novel coronavirus.

By Robert Walton • March 19, 2020

Retail buyers may be key to clean energy procurement in ISO-NE, PJM, NYISO: Report

As states increasingly find capacity markets incompatible with their clean energy goals, a new report finds reform to the retail model is needed for those states to realize the competitive market's full potential.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 17, 2020

Opinion

Can smart technology shape rate design and drive consumer savings?

Whether they want to prioritize customer bill savings, peak demand savings or energy savings, insights from automation technology can help utilities design their rate structure to best address their objectives, the authors write.

By Nathan Shannon and Rob Kelter • March 16, 2020

Daimler Trucks experiment with integrating battery-electric trucks in large-scale fleet operations

The company wants to go fully electric. But first, the testing.

By Jim Stinson • March 11, 2020

DTE readies 'troubled customer pilot' to nearly double efficiency help for Detroit at-risk consumers

The program will focus on customers at risk of a service shut-off, offering new energy efficient appliances including water heaters, refrigerators, and window repair or replacement.

By Robert Walton • March 11, 2020

Duke, Dominion, Southern won't hit clean energy targets at current pace: Report

Slowed coal retirements and aggressive natural gas investments will leave the companies far behind their mid-century carbon goals, according to Synapse Energy Economics.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 10, 2020

San Jose, California, unveils 6 partners for Better Buildings program

The participants have committed to reducing emissions from their buildings by 10% over the course of the one-year program.

By Chris Teale • March 10, 2020

SDG&E, SCE say California transport electrification plan could freeze investment, jeopardize state EV goals

The two utilities, along with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and 19 other parties have asked the CPUC for a stay on the proposed framework and time to file alternative proposals of their own.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 10, 2020

Electric refuse trucks on the road or on the way in rising number of states

A recent event in Maine highlighted the presence of BYD, Lion and others in this quickly evolving sector. It was also a reminder that charging infrastructure remains a notable, and potentially expensive, startup factor.

By Cole Rosengren • UPDATED: March 9, 2020 at 10:59 a.m.

Comprehensive Senate energy bill draws industry, bipartisan support, but lags on tax credits, efficiency

The bill would include 17 demonstration projects for advanced nuclear, carbon capture, long duration storage and geothermal, moving away from the Trump administration's more research-focused funding approach.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2020

Duke settles with Chargepoint, expanding options for $76M North Carolina EV pilot

To address competitive concerns from ChargePoint, Duke will allow customers and site hosts greater flexibility in charging equipment.

By Robert Walton • March 03, 2020

NYC cracks down on building efficiency with new energy code

The 2020 NYC Energy Conservation Code is part of the city’s Green New Deal and will require new and existing buildings meet stricter efficiency standards. 

By Jason Plautz • March 02, 2020

SCE's novel energy efficiency deal with price 'premium' draws scrutiny, protest in Pacific Northwest

Southern California Edison wants to buy surplus hydropower from the Bonneville Power Administration. Although customers will pay a premium, NGOs say it may be a "groundbreaking" way to advance energy efficiency.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 26, 2020

Consumers Energy talks tree-planting, carbon capture, innovation with net zero carbon 2040 target

The Michigan-based utility set a "first-in-the-nation" net zero emissions goal to make up for the emissions of two gas units that will remain open past 2040.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2020

Massachusetts policies help Eversource, National Grid lead on energy efficiency while Southeast lags: ACEEE

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy updated their utility scorecard ranking 52 utilities, with Southern Company's Alabama Power finishing last.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2020

Transportation is 'climate enemy #1' — EVs and behavioral changes are the answers: report

The Environment America Research & Policy Center and the Frontier Group outlined three top strategies for decarbonizing the transportation sector.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 26, 2020

State of the Electric Utility 2020

Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.​

By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020