Distributed Energy
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Deep Dive2020 Outlook: New state action on customer empowering rate designs and business models
Regulators, utilities and stakeholders will pilot simple price signals and work toward agreement on a performance-based framework, but California may be in for a surprise.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond
2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: Utilities will be pushed to further embrace distributed energy resources
As net metering fades, some states will move ahead with new visions for DERs, while others are playing catch-up.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 17, 2020 -
How much — and how fast — will Colorado change its utility business model?
Xcel Energy's Colorado utility cautions that implementing performance-based regulation too quickly could "jeopardize" the state's progress toward clean energy.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Wind + solar expected to add 61 GW over next two years: EIA
Renewable energy is expected to grow quickly alongside steady natural gas growth as more capacity is needed to replace retiring coal.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Deep Dive
2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector
From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020 -
PJM: Electric vehicles could boost load 1.5 GW by 2035
One industry group says the forecast is likely too modest, as the addition of a plug-in vehicle can nearly double a household's electric consumption and adoption is expected to rise rapidly.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 07, 2020 -
Deep DiveMaking the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions
Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 06, 2020 -
Navigant predicts rapid growth in vehicle-grid integration revenues
Utilities are just beginning to consider how electric vehicles can help manage the grid, but Navigant Research anticipates a rapid increase in capabilities that will ultimately mean more dollars flowing back to customers.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2019 -
Deep DiveTax credit, net metering declines strike distributed solar, but falling costs, storage offer new hope
With tax credits and net metering threatened, previous withdrawals of financial support mechanisms show what the distributed solar industry may soon face.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 19, 2019 -
Deep DiveInvestigations of ComEd, Exelon lobbying threaten Illinois energy transition
Lawmakers and clean energy advocates vow to continue fighting for the state's landmark clean energy bill despite a "black cloud of corruption."
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2019 -
California moves to boost storage to combat safety-driven power shutoffs
A proposed decision by the Public Utilities Commission would expand the state's Self-Generation Incentive Program to benefit customers in high fire-threat areas.
By Kavya Balaraman • UPDATED: Jan. 16, 2020 at 1:58 p.m. -
Tesla's Australian virtual power plant propped up grid during coal outage
The company's virtual power plant of 50,000 houses is only 2% complete so far, but it proved its worth during a generator outage this fall.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2019 -
Utilities can profit from a DER-heavy future by transitioning from traditional business models: report
New industry research highlights a path to expanding the business models for distribution utilities as more rooftop solar and energy storage is added behind the meter.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 11, 2019 -
OpinionMinnesota pioneers integration of new interconnection standard expected to propel DERs
Integration of the IEEE standard will mean that distributed energy resources can automatically respond to certain grid conditions, enabling significantly higher penetrations on the grid, the author writes.
By Sara Baldwin • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
Project of the Year: Soleil Lofts solar+storage development
The virtual power plant outside of Salt Lake City underscores the role of utility involvement in emerging grid products.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
Executive of the Year: Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power
Powell is leaving her post at the end of the year, but created a new playbook for the investor-owned utility to continue to prioritize customer choice.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
Disruptor of the Year: Sunrun
The solar and storage developer has been pioneering new business models to increase aggregation of distributed resources.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 09, 2019 -
Dive Awards
The Utility Dive Awards for 2019
The annual awards highlight the biggest trends in innovation in the electric utility sector: from penciling out electrification efforts to pioneering new revenue streams for distributed resources.
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Despite changes, commissioners see traditional utility system dominating over next decade: NARUC
U.S. utility commissioners agree that traditional fossil fuel generation will be an important aspect of grid reliability over the next decade, according to a NARUC survey.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 26, 2019 -
OpinionFERC is on the right track with resilience. Republicans can help by upholding conservative principles
Republicans in Congress and the administration should affirm local control, while ensuring a high threshold to justify the government favoring any one energy resource or generation technology over another, the author writes.
By Charles Hernick • Nov. 25, 2019 -
SponsoredMaximizing the value of your green power programs
Well-designed green power programs provide many benefits to utilities. Be sure you extract the full value from your program.
By Amanda Mortlock, VP, Utility Partnerships, 3Degrees • Nov. 20, 2019 -
House clean energy tax bill sees broad industry support, but Senate path uncertain
The draft legislative package, introduced Nov. 19, adds energy storage and offshore wind, while extending solar and electric vehicle tax credits.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2019 -
OpinionDon't minimize the resilience role of microgrids. They're key to mitigating wildfire and PSPS risk
Community Microgrids are stacked with local renewables and staged for resilience, providing communities a trifecta of economic, environmental and resilience benefits, writes Clean Coalition's Craig Lewis.
By Craig Lewis • Nov. 18, 2019
