Supreme Court to hear FERC Order 745 case over demand response rules

The highest court in the land will hear the case — but not for another 5 months at least. 

By Davide Savenije • May 4, 2015

If you stick an "E" in DR, what do you have?

Dan Delurey explains why we need to talk about demand response when we talk about DERs.

By Dan Delurey, CEO, Association for DR and Smart Grid • April 29, 2015

How Fort Collins, CO plans to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050

The city of Fort Collins believes it can be carbon-neutral by 2050 (and save billions along the way).

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2015

Why NERC thinks the EPA Clean Power Plan could threaten grid reliability

The federal non-profit in charge of reliability says the plan may not allow enough time to build new generation and transmission.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 28, 2015

Oregon utilities prepare for demand spike from marijuana legalization

Oregon's electric industry is looking ahead to July 1, the date marijuana will become legal for recreational use.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2015

CA tribe plans hybrid microgrid with wind, solar, storage

The tribe aims to use the JLM system to reduce demand from a community center during peak hours.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2015

VA governor signs 6 energy bills, including boosts for solar, efficiency

The bills are designed to help grow solar energy- and efficiency-related jobs in the state.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2015

Tesla's new home battery will have a lease option: report

 A $1500 payment, followed by $15 monthly payments for 10 years will get you a battery system to integrate with your rooftop solar array, the Guardian reports.

By Gavin Bade • April 27, 2015

Michigan Dems file bills to double renewable energy, efficiency standards

The package of bills is designed to bolster the state's growing green energy economy.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2015

ISO-NE delays demand response integration due to FERC Order 745 uncertainty

Demand response may not be fully integrated in the Northeast until 2018.

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2015

National energy efficiency bill passes Congress, heads to President Obama's desk

If signed into law, the legislation would help protect an important resource for rural electric cooperatives: large electric water heaters. 

By Gavin Bade • April 22, 2015

How a smart grid project is pushing Northwest utilities to innovate

As the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration winds down, participants are focusing on implementing their experiments.

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2015

Report: Efficiency efforts cut New England winter power prices 24%

Acadia Center's analysis also showed demand would have been 14% higher without the region's efficiency efforts.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2015

New Hampshire lawmakers nix utility solar ownership bill, approve decoupling study

A proposed legislative study would find ways to fund utilities’ pursuit of energy efficiency.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2015

Oncor microgrid gives a peek into the future of distributed energy

The utility's new microgrid can power one of its essential control centers "nearly indefinitely."

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2015

New polls: Americans love solar more than any other type of energy

Support for a future based on renewable energy generation and enhanced efficiency cuts across generations and demographic divides.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 15, 2015

Why utilities need to change the way consumers think about efficiency

Research is showing that customers want to make efficiency investments, but they need a little bit of pushing to choose it over other spending options.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2015

SolarCity partners with Google's Nest to integrate smart thermostats with rooftop solar

A pilot project of 10,000 Learning Thermostats will show how homes with 'brains' can use solar most efficiently.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2015

Uncertainty is the new constant for demand response markets

Federal regulators rejected a stop-gap proposal to allow demand response to participate in PJM's upcoming auction, meaning the industry is still unsure of which and how providers will be allowed to participate.

By Robert Walton • April 8, 2015

Report: Global demand response market to grow over 20% annually thru 2025

The global smart demand response market could be valued in excess of $50 billion by 2025, the report found.  

By Robert Walton • April 8, 2015

Illinois Gov. signs law extending smart grid cost recovery

The law allows Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to continue recovering costs associated with grid improvements through 2019 without regulatory approval.

By Robert Walton • April 7, 2015

What's next in the energy storage boom, and what utilities need to know

Storage is growing fast, but where and how depends on the right mix of regulations and utility involvement.

By Gavin Bade • April 2, 2015

PJM may consider hourly pricing as generators lobby for market changes

PJM Interconnection is the only major market to not allow hourly pricing of physical generation.

By Robert Walton • April 2, 2015

Maine lawmakers debating fix for mistaken efficiency funding cut

The word "and," inadvertently left out of a 2013 Maine energy bill, could cost ratepayers $38 million.

By Robert Walton • April 2, 2015

Opower research: By leveraging 'moments that matter' utilities can drive satisfaction and savings

Power customers don't want to spend more time dealing with their utility. So utilities must take advantage of customer interaction that can be leveraged to bring about change, according to new research.

By Robert Walton • April 1, 2015