9 US power sector trends to watch in 2024

The U.S. march toward a decarbonized electric system will continue in 2024 as policymakers and others work to balance, climate, reliability, affordability and other goals.

By Robert Walton, Ethan Howland, Diana DiGangi, Larry Pearl, Kavya Balaraman and Emma Penrod • Jan. 10, 2024

PJM triples annual load growth forecast to 2.4% driven by data centers, electrification

The PJM Interconnection’s fastest-growing zones include ones served by Dominion Energy and FirstEnergy’s Metropolitan Edison and Jersey Central Power & Light utilities, per the grid operator’s load forecast.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 9, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency continues to be the ‘low-hanging fruit’ for reducing emissions. While the Biden administration is working to advance efficiency on multiple fronts, state and utility progress can be uneven.

By Utility Dive staff

NIPSCO, Linde to pay $66.7M to settle charges for gaming MISO demand response program

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-approved settlement agreement marks the second recent enforcement action involving MISO’s demand response program.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 8, 2024

DOE finalizes energy efficiency standards for residential refrigerators, freezers

Energy efficiency standards advanced by the Biden administration will save consumers almost $1 trillion over 30 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 3, 2024

$530M in building code technical assistance grants available from DOE

The grants will support a wider range of energy code and building performance standards activities, including workforce development, by state, local and tribal governments.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 20, 2023

Gas industry sues DOE over new furnace efficiency rule, citing cost and other concerns

The new rule will require gas furnaces to be 95% efficient, but the American Gas Association and other stakeholders say it effectively bans a product class and will drive prices higher for many consumers.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2023

To be truly net-zero, buildings must buy 100% renewable energy, global council says

A globally consistent definition of net-zero buildings is needed, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development says, while analysts note current carbon compliance ambiguities.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 19, 2023

New survey highlights reliance on real-time data, suggesting increased momentum for remote energy management in 2024

Users report maintaining or even increasing their use of Sense’s real-time home intelligence, despite changes in their routines.

Dec. 18, 2023

Seattle requires large buildings to zero out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

As building performance standards gain traction nationwide, Seattle’s policy is the city’s most ambitious plan ever to reduce building emissions, the City Council said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 13, 2023

Ford, Resideo launch joint vehicle-to-home energy management project

The two companies will study how Ford’s future electric vehicle batteries can supply power to homes to help reduce energy costs.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 12, 2023

HUD announces new building decarbonization efforts at COP28

As the U.S. pledges to make near-zero-emissions buildings the “new normal” by 2030, the housing agency is teaming up with other departments for access to the best available data and research.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 11, 2023

A 4-step technology guide to unlocking growth and profitability for energy providers in 2024

Energy providers gear up for a dynamic 2024 amid rising costs, regulations and technological advancements, intensifying competition and squeezing margins. Meeting demands for affordable, sustainable energy remains crucial.

Dec. 11, 2023

Achieving grid reliability with communicating fault circuit indicators

Research shows that overhead line sensors can reduce outage minutes by 20%-37%, saving utilities between $200k and $1m per minute and dramatically improving customer satisfaction.

By Brian Berry, Chief Product Officer, Ampacimon • Dec. 11, 2023

UN report proposes energy efficiency, other measures to slash cooling emissions up to 96% by 2050

Passive cooling, higher energy efficiency and a quicker phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants could save $1 trillion by 2050, according to the report released during the COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 8, 2023

Xcel balks at regulator’s timeline for Colorado virtual power plant, eyes summer 2025 launch

Developing a virtual power plant that includes “robust” participation by third-party vendors could take about a year longer than the Colorado regulator overseeing the docket has indicated he wants, Xcel Energy said.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 7, 2023

AI-driven approaches can expedite building decarbonization: McKinsey

Machine learning, artificial intelligence and physics-based models can accelerate net-zero efforts, providing a more than 100-fold increase in the pace and scale of decarbonization, according to the consulting firm.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 4, 2023

Why is it becoming harder to cancel utility demand response programs than it is to cancel cable?

As innovative DR solutions continue to emerge and mature, fostering a robust DR marketplace in which customers can easily sign up for these new opportunities will be crucial for advancing the distributed energy economy.

By Collin Smith • Dec. 4, 2023

China, other regions drive slowdown in global energy intensity improvement: IEA

Energy efficiency efforts around the world must double to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 29, 2023

Puget Sound Energy, AutoGrid aim to develop a 100-MW virtual power plant by 2025

With plans to add about 15 GW of resources by 2045, including about 3.7 GW of demand-side and distributed resources, Puget Sound Energy aims to scale up its VPP over time.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 28, 2023

Colorado regulators want to move quickly on Xcel virtual power plant

The utility, however, has cautioned that a proposed timeline may be too aggressive for the complicated project.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 22, 2023

DOE grants aim to expand clean energy workforce, enhance building efficiency

The $40 million-plus funding will add new building training and assessment centers and industrial assessment centers, which provide technical assistance to commercial and institutional buildings and some manufacturers. 

By Joe Burns • Nov. 20, 2023

How to finance the world’s growing cooling needs? Blended public-private funding solutions.

On a massive scale, we need third-party private sector financing solutions and targeted funding from international development and government agencies to spur investment in higher efficiency cooling equipment.  

By Bob Hinkle • Nov. 20, 2023

ERCOT drops plans to add 3 GW for winter reliability after ‘zombie’ power plants fail to bid

Looking ahead, the grid operator said it believes there is “tremendous potential in expanding demand response capabilities” to help keep the Texas grid reliable.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2023

PSE&G proposes 6-month, $306M extension of successful energy efficiency offerings

Plans for a second, 2.5-year cycle of the Clean Energy Future-Energy Efficiency program will be filed in December, the utility said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2023

Energy efficiency measures could save buildings more than 31% annually, study finds

The nine Atlanta commercial buildings in the Joulea pilot project combined can reduce their energy use by 19.7 million kilowatt hours and save $2.2 million per year, the company said.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 13, 2023