Texas expands industrial demand response program as grid goes to the brink of rolling outages

The state’s Emergency Response Service was deployed on Wednesday to reduce grid stress and a “substantial” portion of its budget was used, regulators said.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2022

DOE awards weatherization, efficiency funding to address 'critical gap' in federal assistance

Experts say about half of low-income households struggle to pay their power bill, and expansion of the federal government’s Weatherization Assistance Program can help lower energy burdens.

By Robert Walton • July 13, 2022

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

High energy prices, Ukraine war and rising demand response potential spur energy efficiency efforts

New energy efficiency as demand response opportunities can meet customer and system needs as well as set the EU and the world free from both Russian energy and stopgap coal burning, International Energy Agency leaders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 11, 2022

How to meaningfully consider wider storage capabilities in long-term utility resource planning

Focusing on the highest value applications for a particular market can clarify and improve analysis of where storage fits best.

By Matt Harper, CCO at Invinity Energy Systems • July 11, 2022

Connecticut approves 3-year, $708M energy efficiency plan with focus on equity, affordability, decarbonization

The state’s 2022-2024 Conservation and Load Management Plan is expected to generate more than $1.7 billion in cumulative benefits.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2022

Voltus presses FERC to end state opt-outs from aggregated retail demand response in wholesale markets

Removing the opt-out could help the Midcontinent Independent System Operator meet its capacity shortfall, according to Voltus.

By Ethan Howland • July 6, 2022

Energy sector job growth outpaces overall US economy, with strength in transportation, renewables: DOE

The number of jobs in the U.S. energy sector grew 4% in 2021, outpacing 2.8% growth in overall domestic employment, according to the agency.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2022

House bills would require demand response-enabled water heaters, strengthen weatherization program

There are some privacy concerns regarding the demand response requirements, but water heater manufacturers are on board with the proposal.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2022

A third of Texas energy efficiency budgets could go to pay utility performance bonuses: Sierra Club

Efficiency goals mandated by the Texas legislature have not been updated in more than a decade and are too easy to meet, say conservation advocates.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2022

3 Rs of utility emergency management

GIS helps to prepare for and deliver services during and after an emergency.

By Bill Meehan • June 6, 2022

MISO industrial customers petition FERC to avoid sky-high capacity charges if they cut electricity use

The proposal would help the Midcontinent Independent System Operator address a projected power supply shortfall this summer, according to a May 26 complaint filed with federal regulators.

By Ethan Howland • May 27, 2022

Invest federal funds in energy efficiency, dozens of groups, companies urge state officials

Buildings account for roughly 40% of global energy usage, a "figure that is projected to rise," according to Ryan Dalton, director of state policy and external affairs at SiemensUSA.

By Robert Walton • May 26, 2022

Building the connected utility of the future

Today's utilities bear little resemblance to the utility companies from decades ago.

May 23, 2022

DOE's manufactured home efficiency rule disappoints conservation advocates, manufacturers

New rules governing the energy efficiency of manufactured homes include a tiered approach, with stricter standards for multi-section manufactured homes than for single-wide structures.

By Robert Walton • May 20, 2022

DOE finalizes rules to phase out older light bulbs, estimates consumers will save $3B annually

The ban on older bulbs will take more than a year to fully implement. Manufacturers say they appreciate the flexibility, while efficiency advocates want retailers to act more quickly.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2022

Global corporate funding for storage rises to $12.9B despite supply chain squeeze: Mercom

Potentially higher interest rates, as well as the Department of Commerce's anti-dumping circumvention investigation into solar cells, could have implications for the industry down the road, however, Mercom's CEO said.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 19, 2022

New Hampshire regulators approve new EV charging rates for Unitil, Liberty and cut demand charges in half

Advocates for electric vehicle infrastructure are split on whether the lower demand charge will help to expand public charging stations in the state.

By Robert Walton • April 12, 2022

For the Building Performance Standards Coalition to be effective, the White House must think bigger

The former head of the U.S. Green Building Council weighs in on how federal, state and local government partners can go beyond just reducing building emissions as they pursue decarbonization.

By Mahesh Ramanujam • April 11, 2022

House climate committee hearing on efficiency delves into pipeline policy, gas bans, China and Putin

At a Thursday hearing, efficiency advocates pressed lawmakers for additional support to reduce energy use while Republicans turned their attention to domestic gas pipelines and global affairs.

By Robert Walton • April 8, 2022

UN highlights potential of broad electrification as it stresses the role of cities in tackling climate change

Cities must push harder to decarbonize buildings and transform transportation norms, the report suggests, as the next three years are critical if the world is to change the course of global warming.

By Maria Rachal • April 6, 2022

DOE unveils new efficiency standards for federal buildings

Major retrofits and new buildings constructed by the federal government must meet the standards beginning next April, which the Department of Energy estimates will save $4.2 million in operating costs in the first year.

By Jennifer Goodman • March 30, 2022

New best practices are unlocking demand-side management value in utility online marketplaces

Utility marketplaces are expanding their contribution to distributed energy resource adoption and diversified utility revenue streams, according to a Guidehouse Insights analyst.

By Daniel Talero • March 29, 2022

Maryland lawmakers set low-income energy savings target in 'crucial' equity, efficiency legislation

Maryland's EmPOWER program has been improving the state's energy efficiency for more than a decade, but it has underinvested in low-income communities, say critics.

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2022

Consumers Energy to expand low-income efficiency programs under Michigan-approved agreement

The expanded gas and electric efficiency programs are "a critical step towards fighting energy inequality" in the state, Earthjustice Senior Attorney Chinyere Osuala said.

By Robert Walton • March 21, 2022

Fullerton, California, to fund smart city projects with energy savings

The $8.4 million energy efficiency project is expected to save the city $12.1 million and support the implementation of technology like LED streetlights. 

By Cailin Crowe • March 8, 2022