Load Management, Efficiency & Demand Response

White House forms coalition with local governments to pursue building performance policies

In a federal show of support for locally led decarbonization and retrofitting efforts, the coalition will cover nearly 20% of the U.S. building footprint and aims to advance legislation or regulation over the next two years.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 25, 2022

2022 Utility Dive Outlook

Utility Dive examines priorities, expectations and trends for three key subjects — FERC, rate design and renewable energy — along with a broader roundup of some of the U.S. power sector trends to watch in the year ahead.

Jan. 24, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Electrification and EVs

The trend toward increased electrification in transportation, buildings and other sectors continued to increase in 2020, but while momentum is growing, various challenges lie ahead.

By Utility Dive staff

2022 Outlook: Top US power sector trends to watch

The Biden administration entered 2022 with some key strengths and significant challenges to implementing its clean energy agenda, but states, companies and others are continuing to advance the energy transition.

By Kavya Balaraman, Ethan Howland, Robert Walton and Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2022

New Hampshire legislators, conservation advocates fight PUC decision gutting efficiency program

The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed legislation to restore funding to the NHSaves program, and advocates are preparing appeals to the state Supreme Court.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2022

Stem, ENGIE North America partner to integrate storage management and EV charging platform

The partnership reflects customers' growing interest in adopting EV charging, solar generation and storage all at once, according to Stem officials.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 6, 2022

Duke, SCE, other grid modernization proposals faced big cost questions, more regulator scrutiny in 2021

Regulators facing new climate and reliability urgencies and nearly 500 grid modernization proposals are more often favoring phased advances toward a smarter system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 4, 2022

US smart meter penetration hits 65%, expanding utility demand response resources: analysts

The smart meter installed base grew by more than 9% between 2017 and 2020, according to Guidehouse. But tens of millions of older meters remain on the grid.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2021

North American Energy Standards Board to tackle gas-electric coordination in 2022

The industry forum wants to improve coordination between natural gas and electricity markets following disruptions in Texas during Winter Storm Uri.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2021

Component shortages hit EVs as Class 8 orders plummet

While a traditional truck needs up to 500 semiconductors, an electric one could require up to 5,000.

By Amanda Loudin • Dec. 14, 2021

Overcoming challenges in integrating multiple systems with meter programming

Meter programming may never be the same thanks to a new tool developed by Itron and EnSight+.

Dec. 13, 2021

New York's landmark Reforming the Energy Vision framework remains both vital and unfinished, analysts say

New York's REV initiatives have given full value to distributed energy resources, but the utility business model transformation must be finished, regulators and other stakeholders agreed.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 9, 2021

Nuclear and carbon capture companies seek $20B as DOE revives loan program

DOE loan office head Jigar Shah said he would like the office to issue at least $2 billion in loans for key emerging sectors, such as battery recycling and "green" hydrogen.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 8, 2021

DOE proposes tougher light bulb efficiency standard, finalizes testing waiver rule

Advocates say the U.S. Department of Energy is continuing to undo damage done by the Trump administration to the agency's appliance efficiency program.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 7, 2021

Improving outcomes for everyone: Enthusiasm builds for broader Western electricity market

At issue is how we go about making our electricity cleaner, more reliable and more affordable, according to the CEOs of Southern California Edison and Pacific Power.

By Steven Powell & Stefan Bird • Dec. 6, 2021

Education is top predictor of efficiency program enrollment, LBNL finds, pointing to equity issues

Researchers examined 11 demographic and household characteristics, and experts say their findings point to wider inequities in the energy transition.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 3, 2021

Weaker efficiency standards for manufactured housing could 'threaten grid reliability,' says California agency

Proposed stronger energy efficiency standards for the nation's most affordable housing stock have pitted manufacturers and rural cooperatives against the California Energy Commission and conservation groups.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2021

DOE undoes Trump era hurdles to setting appliance efficiency standards, finalizes process rule updates

Manufacturers warn the changes will reduce transparency and hurt consumers, while efficiency advocates say there are even more revisions needed to improve standards for a range of appliances.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2021

Energy-efficient infrastructure projects hold a key opportunity for contractors

For builders that incorporate sustainable systems into their projects, the $1.80-per-square-foot 179D tax deduction can quickly climb to millions of dollars.

By Dean Zerbe • Nov. 22, 2021

Advocates vow to fight 'outrageous' decision rejecting New Hampshire efficiency program

"This should provoke outrage and concern everywhere in the country," said New Hampshire Consumer Advocate Don Kreis about a decision to reverse rate increases to fund efficiency upgrades. 

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 18, 2021

EVs hit 1M sold, are now California's top export as energy transition drives economy: CEC chair

States and local governments are leading the energy transition, and climate solutions have been "really good for California's economy," said David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2021

FERC approves ISO-NE's request to strip proposed Connecticut gas-fired power plant of capacity contract

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Monday decision means NTE Energy's Killingly project won't be in ISO New England's capacity auction next month.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Jan. 5, 2022

Duke Energy eyes offshore wind, advanced nuclear, to meet NC decarbonization goals

Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good told analysts Thursday the company is exploring an array of options to meet North Carolina's new decarbonization goals.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Nov. 8, 2021

California proposes demand response, other measures to shore up summer grid reliability

The Public Utilities Commission is also proposing that the state's utilities collectively procure between 2,000 MW and 3,000 MW of new resources.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 2, 2021

How to make commercial refrigeration a hot demand response resource

With the combination of technology advances and incentives from utilities, commercial refrigeration is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the elevated role of demand response.

Nov. 1, 2021

APS vows legal action after Arizona regulators deny cost recovery for $215.5M coal plant upgrades

Regulators approved the utility’s first rate decrease since 1996, while voting against full cost recovery for APS' investment in upgrades to a coal plant being closed earlier than initially planned.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Updated Nov. 3, 2021