Distributed Energy

Real-time pricing, new rates and enabling technologies target demand flexibility to ease California outages

Price signals linked to power market needs through smart technologies could make distributed energy resources that are aggregated and automated by third parties an answer to California reliability threats, industry observers said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2022

Why it might be simpler to address the challenge of managing DER with DERMS than you think

Integration of DER into planning, operations and markets presents massive challenges and opportunities but the DERMS journey for utilities is achievable and has clear starting points.

By Erik Felt, Smarter Grid Solutions • Aug. 29, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Electrification and EVs

The trend toward increased electrification in transportation, buildings and other sectors continued to increase in 2021, but while momentum is growing, various challenges lie ahead.

By Utility Dive staff

Inflation Reduction Act has ‘direct impact’ on California net energy metering modeling, utilities say

The new law comes as California regulators consider reforming their existing net energy metering framework. A previous proposal received sharp criticism from the solar industry.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 24, 2022

PG&E, Tesla virtual power plant delivers 16.5 MW to California grid amid calls for energy conservation

In a tweet, PG&E Corp. CEO Patti Poppe said that “the world’s largest distributed battery sure did put on a show!”

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 23, 2022

MISO can improve reliability before building transmission

Well before MISO builds out its recently approved $10 billion transmission portfolio, it can avoid blackouts by boosting its operating reserves rather than keeping a singular focus on planning reserves, the authors write.

By Rao Konidena and Allison Bates Wannop • Aug. 15, 2022

Texas regulators developing aggregated DER pilot project to boost reliability

The effort is part of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas’ larger work to ensure reliability in the wake of Winter Storm Uri.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 8, 2022

NextEra’s ‘game-changing’ Real Zero emissions goal spurs questions about hydrogen, demand-side management

NextEra, the world’s biggest IOU by market cap, wants a “real” reduction of all carbon emissions by FPL, its regulated subsidiary, with solar, batteries and green hydrogen, but it will go without much help from the demand side.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2022

New Bloom Energy fuel cell factory expected to produce over 1 GW a year amid rising reliability threats

The $200 million facility will help Bloom meet the growing demand for its fuel cells to provide power during outages and periods of intense demand on the grid.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • July 26, 2022

ENGIE, clean energy groups press FERC to approve ISO-NE plan for state review of DER interconnections

The proposal would remove major barriers to distributed energy market participation in New England, the supporters said.

By Ethan Howland • July 22, 2022

New Mississippi rule requires utilities to pay low-income customers up front for solar installations

Mississippi Power Co. will offer up to $5 million a year in rebates and Entergy Mississippi will have a $10 million budget for rooftop solar rebates, of which 50% must go to low-income customers.

By Emma Penrod • July 14, 2022

High energy prices, Ukraine war and rising demand response potential spur energy efficiency efforts

New energy efficiency as demand response opportunities can meet customer and system needs as well as set the EU and the world free from both Russian energy and stopgap coal burning, International Energy Agency leaders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 11, 2022

Midcontinent ISO defends plan to wait until 2030 for distributed energy aggregations

Dismissing arguments by state regulators, the grid operator on Friday said it needs time to handle other priorities.

By Ethan Howland • July 11, 2022

Idaho Power kicks off process to consider net metering study

Regulators must assess the study as a “credible and fair” analysis before the utility proposes changes to net metering, but environmental advocates see the effort as a path for Idaho Power to restrict distributed solar. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated July 7, 2022

Upheaval in utility regulation emerging nationally as Hawaii proves a performance-based approach

Hawaii’s hard work on a PBR framework that protects utilities, consumers and the environment is paying off, but other states’ shortcuts could undermine success, advocates worry.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 5, 2022

Making EV charging a reality across the nation

Most utility industry experts agree that electricity is well-positioned to take the lead as the fuel of choice for automotive transportation.

By XENDEE • July 5, 2022

PG&E, Tesla launch program to use customers’ Powerwall batteries to tackle California reliability concerns

A pilot program to turn Tesla’s distributed energy storage systems into a virtual power plant as part of a state program to address reliability concerns may be hampered by its short life, warns a storage advocate.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • June 29, 2022

California moves to simplify interconnection rules for distributed energy resources

The new approach will potentially allow more projects to pass through the fast-track process, which means they could get interconnected in a matter of months versus many months to a year or more.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 27, 2022

Tests show fuel-flexible linear generators can use both hydrogen and ammonia

The generator currently represents a potential low- or no-carbon alternative to backup power generators, according to its manufacturer.

By Emma Penrod • June 22, 2022

Utilities, solar industry square off as California reopens record in net energy metering process

Stakeholders disagree on, among other things, how the state should transition customers from the existing net energy metering framework to a new one — what regulators are calling the “glide path.”

By Kavya Balaraman • June 15, 2022

4 effective ways to meet US decarbonization goals

How can the US achieve meaningful decarbonization goals without sacrificing reliable, stable energy?

June 13, 2022

State utility regulators urge FERC to move up MISO's proposed 2030 start date for aggregated DERs

MISO may miss out on reliability and cost benefits by waiting to integrate groups of distributed resources, according to the Organization of MISO States.

By Ethan Howland • June 8, 2022

Rethinking California distribution system operations and grid services markets for a high-DER future

California wants a cost-effective, reliable and equitable power system with well-compensated distributed resources to balance the bulk power system and meet local needs.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 7, 2022

As contentious net metering debates persist across the US, Connecticut and Hawaii show a way forward

Hawaii and Connecticut are exploring technical and economic solutions, which California, Florida and others can learn from and improve upon, the author writes.

By Patrick Murphy • June 3, 2022

'Dramatic shift' in utility regulations, better pilot designs needed to propel energy transition, DOE report finds

Electric industry players call for innovations in the way regulators handle pilots of new utility and private sector technologies and system operations in a new Department of Energy paper.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2022

The 4 universal truths of a successful TOU rate transition

Increasing adoption of TOU rates depends on these universal truths of successful programs.

By Brad Langley, VP of Marketing, GridX • May 31, 2022