Toyota to partner with world's largest electric car battery supplier

The partnership will help Toyota secure supply in an increasingly competitive race to scale up EV production in the next five to 10 years.

By Morgan Forde • July 17, 2019

Tendril targets utility customer care trend, merges into a new platform

The company shifted its strategy from acquiring market leaders to providing end-to-end service to customers through a more integrated load management platform.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 16, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

VW and Ford expand partnership on EVs, AVs

Volkswagen will invest $2.6 billion in Argo AI, signaling the latest collaboration between major automakers adapting to new mobility trends. 

By Jason Plautz • July 15, 2019

Arizona's new EV growth plan could save customers billions, groups say

State regulators on Thursday approved guidelines for electric vehicle pilot programs that include a focus on infrastructure, education and outreach as well as an analysis of where to locate charging stations.

By Robert Walton • July 12, 2019

US Green Building Council seeks proposals to strengthen new LEED standard

The council wants input on how to shape the next version of its rating system following the April release of v4.1. 

By Kim Slowey • July 12, 2019

Home Energy Reports: Still the 'biggest, baddest way' to drive customer behavior

Tweaking customer behavior is becoming more imperative and a combination of solutions basically tells customers, "You suck at using energy. Come buy a smart thermostat."

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2019

National parks get EV chargers through BMW partnership

One hundred EV chargers are being installed at parks across the country with industry-standard plugs for use across different brands.

By Jason Plautz • July 10, 2019

Demand response is dead. Long live Flexiwatts!

Load-shifting demand response is available to help with California's renewable integration, and can effectively mitigate the Duck Curve, but first it needs to be rebranded.

By Lillian Mirviss • July 10, 2019

Report: Volkswagen pursues joint ventures with suppliers to secure EV production

Automakers looking to transition to electric vehicles face challenges sourcing the lithium and cobalt they need to produce a sufficient quantity of batteries.

By Morgan Forde • July 9, 2019

Siemens finds 75% carbon emissions reduction potential for Pittsburgh by 2030

The company's City Performance Tool found the city could exceed its climate goals by expanding district heating systems and implementing electric buses and car-sharing, among other initiatives.

By Cailin Crowe • July 9, 2019

DOE gas furnace, water heater efficiency proposal will cost consumers billions, NGOs warn

The U.S. Department of Energy wants to issue an "interpretive rule" that opponents say will freeze standards for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters that use natural gas or propane.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2019

US mayors recognized for climate protection efforts focused on EVs, renewables

Los Angeles and Fayetteville, Arkansas took home top awards related to support for electric vehicles and solar power, respectively, while 10 other cities received honorable mentions at the 13th Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards.

By Jason Plautz • July 3, 2019

Xcel, Minnesota Power propose subscription services, lower demand charges to propel EV growth

Adoption of electric vehicles has been relatively modest in Minnesota so far, but sales grew by 103% in the state from 2017 to 2018.

By Robert Walton • July 3, 2019

Market transformation: Moving beyond traditional energy efficiency programs to cement change

Energy efficiency programs have been operating in various markets for more than 30 years, but their energy savings potential is shrinking, Navigant's Jan Harris writes.

By Jan Harris • July 3, 2019

Utah approves Rocky Mountain Power's 600-battery apartment project

The Public Service Commission approved three demand-side management projects authorized by a 2016 law, focused on electrified transportation, storage and grid management.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2019

FERC rejects PJM tariff proposal to require year-round demand response resources

Demand response advocates say the decision "removes the sword that's been hanging over the market."

By Robert Walton • July 1, 2019

Volkswagen launches EV car-sharing program

WeShare consists of entirely electric vehicles, a rarity in car-sharing programs, and doesn't require users to drop off vehicles at fixed locations.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 1, 2019

Canada aligns with California on clean car standards

Canada previously aligned with the U.S. on vehicle emissions rules, but is re-evaluating that after the Trump administration moved to weaken standards.

By Jason Plautz • June 28, 2019

Tesla receives tariff exclusion on Japanese aluminum imports, amid concerns over battery production

The decision is a victory for the company, which uses aluminum to manufacture electric vehicle batteries. 

By Morgan Forde • June 27, 2019

As Trump administration pursues wide-ranging changes on energy efficiency, states, others fight back

A Department of Energy proposal would ease the ability of manufacturers to temporarily avoid testing to determine whether their products meet federal efficiency standards.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019

California regulators propose 2 GW new peak capacity to address reliability concerns

The state's Public Utilities Commission has launched a procurement track that could include renewables, storage, demand response and other resources, while limiting imports.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019

Rocky Mountain Power leverages home energy reports to save 41 GWh

The utility used AI-driven home energy reports from Bidgely, which the software company says can deliver energy savings at 25% lower cost compared with conventional reports.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019

Arizona, New Jersey homes costliest to cool in summer, Sense finds

New data from the smart home energy monitoring company shows Arizona and New Jersey paid $476.83 and $326.65, respectively last summer, more than twice the national average of $147.82.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 25, 2019

Should EV charging stations be regulated as utilities? Kentucky joins majority in saying no

The state's EV market is small, but interest is growing — and providing regulatory certainty can encourage more deployment, say proponents.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2019

US power sector carbon emissions rise as natural gas outpaces renewables: Ceres

Non-emitting resources rose to the top for the first time in 2017 among the 100 biggest power generators in the U.S., but rising power demand met increasingly by natural gas caused overall carbon levels to increase.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2019