APS rate case sparks concern beyond mandatory demand charge proposal

Along with a rate structure overhaul, the Arizona utility also wants to cut net metering credits to its avoided cost rate.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 7, 2016

Successful DR integration in wholesale markets depends on location

Reforming regulations and seizing business opportunities could also help grid operators and utilities integrate demand response, a new study found. 

By Robert Walton • June 1, 2016

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Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Energy storage's role in decarbonization will depend on duration, cost cuts

For a clean grid, "storage is not a requisite if a diverse mix of flexible, low-carbon power sources is employed," according to a new study by Argonne Laboratory and MIT.

By Peter Maloney • May 31, 2016

Ameren supports Exelon's Illinois bill after changes to efficiency measures

Ameren Illinois is now supporting legislation to save Exelon's nuclear fleet, but environmentalists appear sharply opposed to the new efficiency targets the utility proposed.

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2016

SPP CEO: Regionalization, transmission help push renewables penetration near 50%

Southwest Power Pool CEO Nick Brown says he sees solar, storage and more footprint expansion coming in the next five years.

By Gavin Bade • May 26, 2016

Utility fund backs big data company AutoGrid in VC round

AutoGrid raises $20 million to deploy software designed to enable a variety of distributed resources.

By Peter Maloney • May 24, 2016

California boasts some of the lowest per-capita energy usage in the US, report says

The state ranks among the lowest in the nation for both per-capita energy consumption and per-capita energy spending, according to a new report from Next 10.

By Robert Walton • May 24, 2016

New York PSC enacts new revenue models for utilities in REV proceeding

Utilities in the Empire State have new options to earn revenue, though the traditional cost-of-service model was preserved by regulators as well.

By Gavin Bade • May 20, 2016

Gamification for the grid: Inside Bidgely's Australian demand response pilot

The company helped an Australian utility reduce peak demand 30% among participants by making DR look like a game.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2016

Navigant: Behavioral, data-driven demand management poised for growth

Driven by advanced metering and the smart grid, global spending on behavioral demand response could reach $2.5 billion per year.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2016

What SolarCity's new portfolio of grid services can do for utilities

The dominant residential solar installer is moving beyond the rooftop in a bid to become an essential partner for utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 16, 2016

French company takes 80% stake in battery developer Green Charge Networks

French energy firm Engie will not disclose the amount of its stake in Green Charge Networks, but the deal will grow the company's reputation in the energy storage space for C&I customers.  

By Peter Maloney • May 11, 2016

Ohio lawmakers seek further freeze on renewable, efficiency standards

Some lawmakers are pushing to permanently freeze the state's renewables and efficiency mandates as the end of the current, temporary two-year freeze looms large.

By Krysti Shallenberger • May 11, 2016

ComEd jumps on the demand charge train with new Illinois proposal

Residential demand charges have been most popular in the Southwest, but the Chicago-based utility features them prominently in a new legislative push.

By Peter Maloney • May 9, 2016

Updated: Exelon says 2 nuke plants on the line in sweeping new Illinois energy bill

The Next Generation Energy Plan, announced yesterday, would touch virtually every aspect of the state's power industry. Without it, Exelon plans to retire two challenged nuclear plants.

By Peter Maloney • May 6, 2016

SolarCity unveils new software services for utilities, grid operators

The solar developer wants to help utilities deploy fully-dispatchable renewable resources and control DERs on their systems. 

By Gavin Bade, Herman Trabish • May 5, 2016

Underwriting standards: The most important efficiency innovation you've never heard of

The biggest hurdle to large commercial efficiency projects is the cost of the due diligence, which can be greater than the project savings themselves.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2016

DR down under: Bidgely app delivers 30% peak load reductions in Australia

Bidgely's HomeBeat app helped an Australian utility average a greater than 30% load reduction for peak events last summer, the company claimed. 

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2016

Dominion maps out more solar, nuclear operating license extensions in IRP

Other parts of the utility's 15-year plan call for more gas as well as a demandside management program capable of reducing peak load by 330 MW.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2016

Oracle to buy Opower for $532M

This announcement brings an end to Opower's rollercoaster startup story.

By Davide Savenije • May 2, 2016

Diary of a Grid Defector: Scamming an efficiency competition and cows on the loose

Cornell University is the largest employer around the Ithaca area, and its efforts to manage energy use have helped keep costs stable even as its reach and research have grown. And a cow comes calling. 

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2016

FERC rules demand response, generation not subject to same operational requirements

Federal regulators rejected calls for demand response resources to face the same requirements as generation in the PJM market.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2016

How rate reform can help turn energy efficiency into a 'profit center' for utilities

Traditional ratemaking makes energy efficiency a burden to utilities, but smart regulation can create opportunities for both revenue growth and power conservation.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

For grid flexibility, utilities pushed to think beyond gas plants and storage

There are more cost-effective methods to enhance the power system's responsiveness, a new paper reports.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

Community Storage Initiative touts diverse backers, including EEI, NRECA, APPA

The group is calling for more information sharing and collaborative development of distributed storage solutions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2016