Distributed Energy
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Virginia rejects Dominion's $752M smart meter plan, other grid mod proposals
Regulators penalized the company for failing to justify costs to deploy advanced metering infrastructure, after Dominion failed to submit a broad time-of-use rate plan.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 27, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Distributed storage could see growth in demand amid COVID-19 pandemic, analysts say
The circumstances of the outbreak and the raft of restrictions that states have implemented to prevent its spread could spur interest in resources that provide resilience and self-reliance, analysts say.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 26, 2020 -
Deep Dive
PG&E, SCE abandon big microgrid plans for temporary emergency measures as wildfire season nears
Regulators' push to implement a law requiring microgrid rollouts is being frustrated by the costs of traditional generation and clean energy complexities.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive
A red state template for 100% renewables? Utah bill unites Rocky Mountain Power, cities and activists
An 80% Republican legislature has approved HB 411, which will move more than a third of the state’s electricity load to 100% renewables by 2030.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 17, 2020 -
Florida, Utah, Washington approve bills to boost EVs, including $50M Rocky Mountain Power charging plan
Washington lawmakers passed a bill to adopt California's zero emission vehicle mandate while Utah and Florida legislators approved bills to bolster charging infrastructure in their states.
By Robert Walton • March 16, 2020 -
Outdated business models are holding back greater renewables, DER integration: Enter DSOs
Decoupling ownership and operation of the distribution grid would advance deployment of non-wires solutions, a DER planning manager at Exelon said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 13, 2020 -
Adobe Stock
Deep DiveGreen Mountain Power's pioneering steps in transactive energy raise big questions about DER's value
Peer-to-peer energy transactions could meet policy goals and system needs, if software platforms resolve the complexities of value and reliable operation.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 04, 2020 -
Duke settles with Chargepoint, expanding options for $76M North Carolina EV pilot
To address competitive concerns from ChargePoint, Duke will allow customers and site hosts greater flexibility in charging equipment.
By Robert Walton • March 03, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Green hydrogen gets real as utility business models and delivery solutions emerge
The fuel may be the only way to meet power system needs in zero emissions scenarios and the market signals to produce and use it are finally clear.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 02, 2020 -
Engie
As Massachusetts solar installs plummet, stalled interconnections, land use questions are key hurdles
Last year, solar installments slowed and jobs disappeared in Massachusetts. Now, developers are trying to overcome regulatory barriers and local opposition to land development.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 27, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Utility Dive
State of the Electric Utility 2020
Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.
By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020 -
How distributed resources fit into Mountain West's game plan
There's room for utilities to co-exist, and even thrive, with added distributed generation, panelists at the Solar Power and Energy Storage Mountain West conference said Monday.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 25, 2020 -
Opinion
Utilities vs. grid edge upstarts: Turf battles in an increasingly DER-centric world
Utilities believe they are best positioned to manage the grid if they own and control the data directly, without intermediaries, but Tesla, SunRun and others want to collect and manage the data for their own platform benefits.
By Dan Goldman • Feb. 21, 2020 -
Getty Images
Deep DiveSlowed pay-off from billions in AMI investment puts the technology's future in doubt
Regulators have approved billions for utilities to roll out advanced metering infrastructure, but they expected new customer and system benefits, not just lower utility operation costs.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 20, 2020 -
Oregon approves Portland General's transportation electrification plan, setting stage for 1M EVs
The utility expects up to 1 million electric vehicles in its service territory by 2050, and now has a broad strategy focused on limiting costs to meet the associated demand.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2020 -
Connie Zhou Courtesy of KPF
ConEd developing $13M curbside EV charging program with AddEnergie
Dozens of chargers will allow drivers to charge their electric vehicle while parked in the utility's New York City service territory — though they will likely pay more than equivalent gasoline costs.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2020 -
APS partners with clean energy business group to reach 100% carbon-free target
The utility will work with Advanced Energy Economy and 13 companies to develop clean energy solutions that include electrifying transportation, grid flexibility and expanding low-carbon generation capacity.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2020 -
Sustainability tops utility concerns, as SEU survey sees discrepancies on cybersecurity, stranded assets
Some 50% of utility respondents to Utility Dive's State of the Electric Utility Survey expect their organization to significantly increase the amount of grid-scale solar by 2030, a stronger forecast than for any other resource.
By Larry Pearl • Feb. 12, 2020 -
Ameren's hourly pricing program could reduce EV charging costs 50%, study finds
The dynamic pricing program, based on day-ahead prices in the Midcontinent ISO, has already saved Illinois residential consumers more than $12 million, according to the utility.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 11, 2020 -
ChargePoint commits $1B to expand EV charging as Ocasio-Cortez, others unveil bills for a national network
Last week, U.S. lawmakers and the developer of the largest electric vehicle charging network in the nation separately announced large-scale initiatives to grow the nation's emissions-free transportation infrastructure.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2020 -
Pepco's proposed EV charger incentive puts environmental and consumer groups at odds
Regulators in Washington, D.C., will need to make a decision on the proposed $500 rebate, knowing that some consumer advocates remain opposed.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2020 -
Reimagining the grid: How PGE, SCE and others are prepping for transportation electrification
There's no question that electric vehicles can provide a net benefit to the system, according to Portland General Electric President and CEO Maria Pope.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 04, 2020 -
Getty Images
State regulators need cyclical reviews to get the most out of utility performance incentive mechanisms: Report
Upending utility business models is more easily done with complementary state policies and continuous improvement of incentives, according to Energy Innovation and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 04, 2020 -
National Grid
How ConEd and National Grid are experimenting with energy storage in New York
Consolidated Edison is in the middle of several major projects to advance the state's distributed grid, while working to add 300 MW of energy storage by 2023.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 03, 2020 -
Q&A
Q&A: GE CTO on adapting to the clean energy transition
Utility Dive caught up with GE Grid Solutions' Chief Technology Officer Vera Silva to discuss the shifting technology space in the utility industry, as well as short and long-term solutions for decarbonizing the power grid.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 03, 2020
