Southern Co. unit forms alliance with Advanced Microgrid Solutions

Southern will bring its experience at designing and building distributed generation solutions, mostly to commercial and industrial customers, to the partnership.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2017

As gas plants struggle, California seeks new flexible capacity strategies

With up to 6 GW of gas plants at risk of closure in the coming years, energy stakeholders are scrambling for new compensation techniques and zero-carbon alternatives. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 27, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Efficiency

With hostilities between the U.S., Israel and Iran driving up global energy prices and a surge in domestic electricity demand from large-load data centers, manufacturing and electrification, efficiency could play a key role in meeting that demand as economically as possible. 

By Utility Dive staff

US mayors pass resolution to target 100% renewable energy by 2035

Leaders of more than 250 U.S. cities said they are committed to holding up their end of the Paris climate agreement, despite President Trump's decision to withdraw from the pact. 

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2017

Italian company Enel makes $300M bid for EnerNOC

Enel Green Power North America will purchase the demand response company for $7.67/share in an all-cash deal.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2017

DC Court of Appeals rejects challenges to PJM capacity rules

Nine groups had challenged the new PJM rules, which require resources to be available year-round.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2017

Arizona business groups clamor for efficiency funding after TEP pulls commercial program

Last month, Tucson Electric Power halted its commercial energy-efficiency programs for the rest of the year after running out of funds.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2017

Utilities in hot water: Realizing the benefits of grid-integrated water heaters

Water heaters offer storage capabilities at a fraction of the cost of batteries. The challenge is getting everyone a piece of the returns. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2017

Utility customer engagement goes digital

Utilities find the best engagement experience involves meeting customers where they are — online and on mobile devices. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 19, 2017

SMUD's holistic DER planning process could set new standard for utilities

Even solar advocates are praising the distributed resource planning done by Sacramento's municipal utility.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2017

CAISO finalizes proposed storage, DR rules

The goal is to lower barriers to energy storage and distributed resources participating in the California ISO market.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2017

Heat waves: Demand response's time to shine

Efficiency and demand response can keep hot weather from turning into a price spike for individual customers and the larger grid. 

By Robert Walton • June 14, 2017

Massachusetts bill would compel utilities to consider non-wires alternatives

Under H. 1725, utilities would have to submit any plans for system upgrades to a newly created Grid Modernization Board, which would evaluate the viability of NWAs.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • June 14, 2017

2017 Utility Customer Study: Evaluating the reliability of utility providers

Reliability has been a table stake for utilities for decades, but being ‘out of sight’ has led to being ‘out of mind’ among many utility customers. 

June 13, 2017

US could lag on battery research if Trump's proposed budget clears, researchers warn

Budget cuts to the Department of Energy could result in an outflow of U.S. research talent to countries with better-funded programs, such as China, Japan and South Korea. 

By Peter Maloney • June 13, 2017

KCP&L thermostat program shows how regulatory design can make or break DSM

In the utility's Missouri service territory, its partnership with Nest is going strong. But in Kansas, regulators are wary of the program's costs.

By Robert Walton • June 7, 2017

New York will sink $1.5B into renewable energy projects to spur clean energy jobs

The "unprecedented investment" of $1.5 billion in major renewable energy projects is part of an effort to attract 40,000 jobs to the state by 2020. 

By Robert Walton • June 5, 2017

Low carbon prices hang over RGGI as June auction approaches

In the March auction, CO2 allowances sold for $3/short ton, the lowest price in more than three years.

By Peter Maloney • June 1, 2017

What's the future for demand response under PJM's new capacity and aggregation rules?

Vendors blame new market rules for diminished DR capacity in a recent auction, but some see ways forward for the resource. 

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2017

More than 30 states embrace grid modernization, new policy tracker finds

A new quarterly report from the folks who brought you "50 States of Solar" aims to chronicle grid modernization initiatives across the U.S.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2017

El Paso Electric opens first demand response pilot

The utility's first demand response program will be available to 3,000 residential and small commercial customers in Texas and New Mexico.

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2017

DOE lab embarks on two projects to help California hit 'zero net energy' residential goal

The state wants all new residential buildings to be energy-neutral by 2020.

By Robert Walton • May 30, 2017

PSEG CEO wants regulatory reforms to boost efficiency, renewables in New Jersey

The state has strong goals for renewable energy, but PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo said "We have only taken baby steps in the area of energy efficiency."  

By Robert Walton • May 25, 2017

Cheap natural gas pushes utilities toward more sophisticated demand-side management

Idaho Power and SoCal Edison are among utilities testing new tactics to prevent customers leaving demand response programs. 

By Robert Walton • May 24, 2017

PJM capacity auction: 2 Exelon nukes fail to clear as DR reels from new performance rules

New capacity performance standards helped push demand response offerings down 17%. Meanwhile, the Quad Cities and Three Mile Island plants continue to struggle. 

By Robert Walton • May 24, 2017

The state of US wholesale power markets: Is reliability at risk from low prices?

Robbie Orvis from Energy Innovation explores why generator revenues are shrinking and how the decline isn't a problem for reliability. 

By Robbie Orvis • May 22, 2017