NYC mayor targets large buildings in proposed efficiency program

If approved, the program would require more than 14,000 buildings in the city to make significant retrofits by 2030.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 19, 2017

Illinois regulators approve lower efficiency goals for Ameren

The goals were set last year under the Future Energy Jobs Act, but the Illinois Commerce Commission will allow the utility to make changes to its savings plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

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

Bill to California governor would direct utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

SB 338 would compel utilities to include considerations for peak demand management with storage, efficiency and DERs in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 11, 2017

APS proposes 'reverse demand response' in new demand-side management plan

The utility wants to move non-residential loads of at least 30 kW to times of the day when renewable generation is abundant.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2017

Choosing the right grid infrastructure in the wake of the DOE grid study

Rocky Mountain Institute's Mark Dyson says the grid study failed to highlight the opportunities to boost resiliency with distributed energy resources. 

By Mark Dyson • Sept. 7, 2017

PJM considers tweaks to boost demand response in wholesale power markets

The grid operator's plans call for targeted deployment, more participation in ancillary markets and finding a place for summer-only resources. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2017

Rethinking the meaning of 'reliability' and 'resiliency' in the wake of DOE grid reliability study

Smart Electric Power Alliance's Tanuj Deora urges the DOE to consider all solutions when assessing grid reliability and resiliency. 

By Tanuj Deora • Sept. 6, 2017

PJM mulls capacity repricing strategies to tackle subsidy programs

Issues under debate include whether repricing should be triggered only when a subsidy occurs in a capacity delivery year and if retriggering would apply to carbon dioxide pricing schemes.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2017

Arizona Public Service goes beyond LEDs with new efficiency proposals

Priorities include incentives for smart thermostats, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy storage and water heater timers.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2017

Massachusetts utilities take divergent approaches to grid modernization

The state Attorney General's Office gave a qualified endorsement to National Grid's plan while roundly criticizing Eversource's plan. But approval of any plan is going to require a lot more work.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 6, 2017

Neither resilience nor reliability can justify the rescue of outmoded power plants

Advanced Energy Economy's Arvin Ganesan and Dylan Reed urge the DOE to use clean energy technologies to achieve the aims of its grid study. 

By Arvin Ganesan, Dylan Reed • Sept. 5, 2017

Ameren efficiency targets get no reprieve in draft Illinois order

By law, the utility must reach almost 10% in annual energy savings by 2021. Ameren's projections have it coming in far short.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 5, 2017

DOE grid study will shift and accelerate energy regulatory initiatives

R Street Institute's Devin Hartman analyzes the DOE's grid study's impact on regulatory agencies and nationwide energy initatives. 

By Devin Hartman • Aug. 31, 2017

Resilience or flexibility? DOE's grid report lays bare the struggle between past and future

Energy Innovation's Mike O'Boyle analyzes how the DOE grid study's recommendations could help flexibility.

By Mike O'Boyle • Aug. 30, 2017

Arkansas launches RFP for efficiency program contractor

The Arkansas Energy Office is soliciting program designs and a primary contractor to develop an energy efficiency financing program.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2017

PJM task force will examine value of summer-only DR outside capacity market

Summer demand response was the largest seasonal resource amount offered, but not cleared, into the grid operator's 2020/2021 Base Residual Auction.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2017

Michigan muni will retire coal plant in 2025

Lansing Board of Water & Light plans to replace the Erickson Power Plant with renewables, efficiency and natural gas.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2017

New Jersey regulators approve $69M in efficiency spending for PSEG

The utility will extend three energy efficiency programs and implement two new offerings.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2017

Xcel Energy taps Tendril for thermostat-enabled DR program

Tendril's Orchestrated Energy platform could reduce peak cooling loads by up to 50%.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2017

In search of the perfect rate: Portland General tests 12 pilots on DR rate design

In a partnership with AutoGrid and CLEAResult, the dual-peaking utility is leaving no stone unturned.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2017

Spotting network vulnerabilities and optimizing assets: the power of location intelligence

Infrastructure-based industries are changing. Make sure your utility company is focused on the right path to operational intelligence.

By Bill Meehan • Aug. 21, 2017

How rural co-ops are shifting to a cleaner power mix

Driven by wind credits, low gas prices and consumer demand, rural co-ops are finding new ways to boost renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2017

Grid modernization efforts heat up in Q2, but more are on the way

The latest quarterly report from the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center sheds light on policy debates surrounding efforts to boost grid reliability and new technologies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2017

TOU rates could spur energy and bill savings, but customer advocates urge caution

Utility regulators must ensure time-varying rates don't simply raise the bills of the most vulnerable customers, a new Brattle Group report says. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2017

Acquire the holy grail: increase grid reliability while adding distributed energy resources

Grid-outage recovery is only as fast and reliable as the technology supporting it. For many utilities, this is a growing infrastructure challenge.

Aug. 15, 2017