ConEd reaches settlement on $200M rate increase, boosts efficiency spending

The deal has support from environmental advocates, including $99 million for new energy efficiency programs over the next three years.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 22, 2016

How Southern California Edison's new rate case would transform the grid

SCE wants to spend $2.3 billion to ready its grid for distributed resources. Here's what that money would buy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 21, 2016

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

Environmentalists wary of Congress' rush to pass energy bill

Lawmakers are hoping to produce a broad energy bill this session, but environmentalists warn more than two dozen provisions could trigger backlash or a presidential veto.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2016

Will utilities fully unlock the value that rate change offers?

Innovative rate designs have the potential to create significant value for the utility industry and its customers by building new avenues for improving customer satisfaction.

By Gavin Novotny • Sept. 16, 2016

New York agency earmarks $10M for industrial efficiency programs

Combined, the two programs are expected to save a total of $12.9 million annually.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2016

Greening demand response: California mulls big changes for DR to meet climate goals

A new proposal at the CPUC would limit fossil fuel resources in demand response, but big questions remain about the utility's role in administering DR programs. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2016

A two-way street: Scaling up demand response requires a nimble management system

Scaling up utility DR management systems could help DER integration on the grid. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2016

Uncle Sam's battery bank: ARPA-E spurs commercialization of innovative storage technology

The DOE is touting the success of its ARPA-E program for funding advanced technologies: $1.3 billion funded; $1.2 billion raised from private sources.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2016

After tariff changes, storage to play larger role in CAISO demand management

FERC's approval for storage and demand response tariffs highlights California's efforts to integrate more DERs. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2016

Confidence in collaboration: Rhode Island targets a common perspective on DER values

Facing an impasse over DER rate design, Rhode Island regulators have initiated a new proceeding to find common ground on measures and expectations for distributed energy programs.  

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 6, 2016

Despite sluggish demand growth, Duke Energy plans more solar, natural gas in IRP

After taking into account energy efficiency measures, Duke Energy Carolinas expects about 1% annual growth over the next 15 years, according to its recent IRP filed in North Carolina. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2016

Facing stricter climate goals, California passes 4 bills to boost energy storage

The bills require the state to consider pumped hydro storage, add 500 MW to the state's storage mandate and double California's self-generation program.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 2, 2016

California targets clean transport, urban greening for $900M in cap-and-trade funds

After some lawmakers pushed back on an extension of greenhouse gas goals last month, Gov. Jerry Brown struck a last-minute deal to dole out funds from the state's carbon auctions. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 2, 2016

The kilowatt you never use: How National Grid plans to save customers $3.6B through efficiency

National Grid has created a standalone team solely focused on efficiency innovation to meet Massachusetts' aggressive efficiency targets. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Location matters: Utilities focus on charger placement to drive electric vehicle adoption

EV pilot programs from Avista and Kansas City Power & Light demonstrate that just building charging stations isn't enough.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Higher fixed fees in play as Nebraska public utilities cut demand growth forecasts

A new report shows Nebraska utilities expect demand growth of just 0.29% across the next two decades.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Utilities deliver value to the customer through real-time mobile engagement

Mobile technologies are impacting utilities by enabling effective customer engagement, improving service levels and delivering critical business insights through big data analytics.

Aug. 30, 2016

Austin Energy, greens reach settlement in rate case

The deal includes development of pro-solar policies and a financial plan to pay for closing the Fayette coal-­fired power plant.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2016

No time to think: How utilities are handling the deluge of grid data

The growth of smart grid technology is outpacing the ability to analyze all its findings, but recent advances in predictive technology and cloud computing may offer solutions for utilities. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2016

FERC approves CAISO tariff changes for demand response, distributed storage

Federal regulators approved California Independent System Operator tariff changes that tweak how non-generator resources bid into markets.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2016

ACEEE: Energy efficiency lands spot as 3rd largest power resource in the US

Energy efficiency has averted the need to build the equivalent of 313 power plants since 1990, according to a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2016

Pay As You Save: Co-ops are reaching new customers with a novel way to pay for efficiency

Opt-in tariffs are an increasingly popular way for cooperative providers to finance efficiency upgrades. Why aren't investor-owned utilities following their lead?

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2016

Report: South Dakota failed to enact tighter building codes for stimulus money

The state got almost $24 million in 2009 stimulus money as the economy flailed. In return, it was supposed to enact more efficiency building codes, but didn't.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2016

PJM approves grid's largest efficiency project as part of $636M transmission investment

The $320 million market efficiency project is expected to save almost double that amount over 15 years.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 11, 2016

Massachusetts Gov. Baker signs wind, hydro bill into law

The law calls for long-term contracts for 1,600 MW of wind power and 1,200 MW of hydropower or other renewables.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 10, 2016