Two barriers to utility and customer savings with flexible loads and how regulators can help

Utilities, regulators and load flexibility authorities say better distribution system control technologies and compensation are needed to increase the use of flexible customer-sited resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2021

Top Utility Trends of 2020

Amid significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the power sector's transition to a cleaner, more distributed future continues.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 5, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

New England begins work on FERC Order 2222 compliance, but system impact is unclear

ISO New England has between 7 and 8 GW of distributed resources on its system and has begun to develop plans to allow greater participation of DER aggregators in regional wholesale power markets.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2021

The search for the next net metering policy takes center stage in California

California’s utilities and solar advocates agree a forward-looking successor tariff must use the state’s nation-leading rooftop solar penetration to address its increasingly dynamic system needs with storage.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 23, 2020

Northeast states, DC sign MOU to reduce transportation emissions

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, are the first jurisdictions to implement the Transportation and Climate Initiative's cap-and-invest program.

By Kristin Musulin • Dec. 23, 2020

What Pete Buttigieg would bring to the Transportation Department

A $1 trillion infrastructure plan, including billions in funding for EV charging, that Buttigieg unveiled in January as part of his presidential campaign hints at what could be the agency's future priorities.

By S.L. Fuller • Dec. 16, 2020

Amazon subsidiary Zoox gives first look at its autonomous electric robotaxi

The company said the vehicle is built for "dense, urban environments" and can reach up to 75 miles per hour in both directions.

By Chris Teale • Dec. 16, 2020

Electric vehicle models expected to triple in 4 years as declining battery costs boost adoption

Electric vehicles are approaching cost parity with traditional gas-powered vehicles, but experts disagree on just how much further battery prices must drop.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2020

Regulator of the Year: Neil Chatterjee, FERC

It's hard to imagine an agency that has had more effect on the power sector this year than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and it's impossible to divorce that impact from its now-former chairman: Neil Chatterjee.

By Utility Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

The Utility Dive Awards for 2020

The winners exemplified leadership in a time of crisis by working toward economic means of transitioning the power sector.

By Utility Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

Thousands of California homes to be linked for 550 MW virtual power plant, North America's largest

The planned plant, as well as Southern California Edison's plans to procure an additional 590 MW of battery energy storage, are expected to play important roles in bolstering grid reliability.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 8, 2020

'Very small silver lining' of COVID-19? An extra 2.5 years to reduce power sector emissions: report

BloombergNEF's New Energy Outlook shows the gas sector will never fully recover from the economic downturn in 2020.  

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 8, 2020

Illinois rejects Ameren move to abandon full retail net metering for new home solar arrays

The Illinois Commerce Commission is giving Ameren 21 days to restore its net metering tariff and give rebates to customers who have installed solar since Oct. 2. 

By John Funk • Dec. 7, 2020

Central Hudson expands distributed energy resource capabilities

New York utility advances renewable energy transformation.

Dec. 7, 2020

North Carolina OKs Duke's scaled-down $25M EV pilot, as experts see momentum for bigger programs

Regulators have authorized Duke Energy to move forward with its electric vehicle pilot, originally proposed by the utility at $76 million. Observers say the investment portends big things for the region.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 1, 2020

Boston roadmap details 10-minute EV access for all

The roadmap hinges on three key goals: widespread adoption of electrification, affordable and convenient access to charging infrastructure, and electrification of Boston's municipal fleet.

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 25, 2020

Making the case to the C-suite for electric trucks

Fleets have work to do before electric Class 8 trucks hit the mass market — and company culture is part of that.

By Heather Larson • Nov. 25, 2020

​From Maryland to California and beyond, rate design innovations are boosting the energy transition

Success with time-of-use rates can allow utilities to start integrating more variable and distributed generation, leading to more sophisticated time-varying rates that allow for the further expansion of such generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 25, 2020

Climate progress in power, 5 other sectors too slow to limit global warming: report

The World Resources Institute and ClimateWorks said efforts to bolster electrification and renewable energy must accelerate, while deforestation and agricultural production raised red flags.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 23, 2020

EV industry optimistic for expanded tax credits, other policy wins under 'car guy' Biden

Electric vehicle advocates are tracking several pieces of legislation they say could be passed under a Joe Biden administration to boost transportation electrification efforts.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2020

Fleets lack motivation to invest in electric trucks

Many fleets are waiting for the market to mature, and unknowns make it difficult to calculate the total cost of ownership.

By S.L. Fuller • Nov. 19, 2020

New FERC Chair Danly cancels Chatterjee electric vehicle roundtable, nixes media briefings

The move to shut out press is a significant departure from previous commission chairs, according to former FERC staff, though some former and current FERC leaders defended his decision.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 18, 2020

California begins to shape vehicle-grid integration strategy, considers using EVs during power shut-offs

A proposed decision to create a framework is the biggest tangible action that regulators have taken on vehicle-grid integration, an attorney said ahead of CPUC approval.  

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Dec. 21, 2020

FERC Order 2222 should be a watershed moment — grid operators can help ensure that

The interconnected smart devices that help our homes and businesses save energy can become flexible resources for our grids, the authors write.

By Paul Hines and Allison Bates Wannop • Nov. 4, 2020

Election 2020: Xcel Energy, municipalization advocates face off in Boulder

On Nov. 3, voters in the Colorado city must choose whether to trust Xcel’s commitments or the promise of a municipal utility.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2020