As states differ on the benefits of Bitcoin, is there a solution to its climate and power-system impacts?

Bitcoin miners’ 24/7 electricity need and financial focus raise red flags for climate activists about increased fossil fuel use, but some miners are starting to see a new solution in clean energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 8, 2023

Virtual power plant grid participation can grow with new business models, market rules: Guidehouse

Growth of virtual power plants will require system operators and regulators to develop supportive market frameworks, according to Guidehouse.

By Robert Walton • June 7, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Efficiency and Demand-Side Management

In addition to using traditional customer-facing incentive programs, utilities are increasingly harnessing distributed energy resources, including virtual power plants, which can draw on everything from smart thermostats to large-scale batteries.

By Utility Dive staff

US residential heat pump sales pass gas furnaces for first time as interest in efficiency tech surges: IEA

The International Energy Agency also said in its report, Energy Efficiency - The Decade for Action, that electric vehicle sales in the U.S. rose 55% last year.

By Robert Walton • June 7, 2023

California’s 7 GW load shift goal is ‘starting gun’ for dramatic expansion in flexible demand

The goal is “essentially the counterpart to the renewable portfolio standard” for load flexibility, according to Cisco DeVries, CEO of OhmConnect.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 6, 2023

3 steps to improving demand response participation for income-qualified customers

Clean energy is necessary for all communities, addressing energy equity is crucial for utilities.

June 5, 2023

Bipartisan group of senators warns DOE not to make transformer shortage worse with new efficiency rule

The Department of Energy is “open to exploring both supply- and demand-side solutions to encourage further manufacturing of distribution transformers,” an agency spokesperson said.

By Robert Walton • June 2, 2023

Treating power demand like supply in wholesale markets could boost grid reliability, lower prices: ESIG

Aligning grid needs with demand will become more important as renewable penetration increases and widespread electrification occurs, according to the Energy Systems Integration Group.

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2023

As Texas eyes new gas power plants, ‘probably the most important bill for grid reliability is effectively dead’

The likely failure of a bill to expand energy savings targets for investor-owned utilities is a “significant disappointment,” said Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter.

By Robert Walton • May 22, 2023

South Carolina could save electricity customers up to $362M a year by joining RTO: The Brattle Group

The current Southeast Energy Exchange Market is limited in benefits compared to a regional transmission organization, the consulting firm said in a report to a legislative committee.

By Diana DiGangi • May 15, 2023

Efficiency, demand response could cut Texas winter peak loads 23.5 GW, save billions over new gas: ACEEE

The cost of the programs would be “substantially below” a Texas Senate plan to construct 10,000 MW of new gas-fired capacity, the report concluded.

By Robert Walton • May 12, 2023

New efficiency standards for electric motors will save consumers $8.8B over 30 years, DOE says

Along with finalized standards for electric motors, the U.S. Department of Energy announced proposed standards for new dishwashers that are expected to save consumers almost $3 billion.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2023

Hawai’i leads the way on advanced rate design with default time-of-use rates, fixed charge innovations

Hawai’i’s planned granular cost study still must prove to other states that the new TOU rates, fixed charge framework and new way of defining costs will allocate costs accurately, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 9, 2023

Insulation vital to electrification effort but ‘DOE completely ignoring’ new tax credits: manufacturers

Insulation manufacturers say the federal government must do a better job educating consumers about the value of multiple-measure efficiency improvements.

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2023

Florida regulators reject adding new cost test to state’s energy efficiency goal-setting process

“There hasn't been a material change” to the state’s energy efficiency goal-setting process in almost 30 years, Andrew Giles Fay, Florida’s top utility regulator, said before the PSC vote.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2023

Affordable, all-electric and energy-efficient housing gets $15M boost from NYC initiative

The initiative “will demonstrate to the affordable housing market a highly replicable new construction solution,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 3, 2023

EnergyHub, Synop partner to expand revenue opportunities for commercial EV fleets

The partnership will offer utilities a “full, vertically integrated solution” to manage load associated with electric vehicle chargers, said Mark Braby, chief commercial officer at Synop.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2023

Rep. Casten, ex-FERC chairs eye DERs, more power sector competition to achieve net zero goals

"We're not going to get to where we need to go with a zero-carbon electric grid unless we have distributed demand-side resources supporting what we need to do on the supply side,” said former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff.

By Diana DiGangi • April 27, 2023

Xcel launches microgrid-based resiliency service for large Minnesota commercial, industrial customers

In Wisconsin, where the Empower Resiliency program was already offered, Xcel reached a deal to develop energy assets to power the Bayfield County jail and courthouse. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2023

Multifamily buildings: An untapped opportunity for managing load shifts

Hear how utilities like LADWP, Austin Energy, Seattle City Light and Alliant Energy are successfully engaging with this underserved audience.

April 24, 2023

EPRI launches 3-year initiative to address grid constraints, develop tools to serve coming EV loads

EVs2Scale2030 will develop a timeline of anticipated electric vehicle charging loads, down to the distribution circuit level, said EPRI Director of Transportation Britta Gross.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2023

With looming EV load spikes, PG&E, Duke, other utilities adopt new rate design and cost recovery strategies

New dynamic time-varying rates and demand charge adjustments from California to the Carolinas could align customer usage with utility costs to make EVs a system benefit, rate design experts said

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2023

How to rescue TOU from no man’s land — and make it more useful

Utility companies can take full advantage of the energy savings TOU provides to their grids by integrating consumer retail signals and wholesale value provided by aggregators like ecobee — and help customers save.

April 17, 2023

Climate, consumer groups request Florida PSC hearing to modernize utility efficiency rules

The groups want an “interactive process” for discussing the modernization of the state’s energy efficiency rules, said George Cavros, an energy policy attorney and director with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2023

Beyond thermostats: Why behavioral load management will be essential for successful energy decarbonization

As the energy transition drives a need for greater load flexibility, behavioral strategies can be among the most scalable and equitable approaches to demand management.

By Essie Snell • April 10, 2023

TVA and other Southeastern utilities underinvest in energy efficiency, but federal funding could help: SACE

The report, by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, calls out Tennessee Valley Authority’s lack of efficiency investment in particular. The utility says its programs “have achieved a proven track record of results.”

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2023