EEI presses FERC for faster, streamlined PURPA review

Reforming the 1978 law is a top priority for utility trade group Edison Electric Institute, according to their head of regulatory affairs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 6, 2019

Puerto Rico proposes largest solar, storage buildout in US with 20-year draft resource plan

Adding over 2,220 MW of solar and 1,080 MW of battery storage over the next two decades, PREPA would also phase out its use of coal and bunker oil, expensive energy fuels the island imports.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 6, 2019

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

Moving beyond business as usual to a resilient power system for California

PG&E's bankruptcy provides an opportunity for new legislation that would shift our energy system to one that doesn't rely on remote power generation requiring thousands of miles of expensive, inefficient and dangerous transmission lines.

By John Sarter • Feb. 4, 2019

Deloitte: Nation states, organized crime and angry employees threaten utility cybersecurity

The electric utility sector faces growing threat of cyber attacks as technology and a more distributed grid increase access points, according to a new report.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 1, 2019

Shell buys charging company Greenlots as oil majors prep for rise of EVs

With the number of EVs on U.S. roads expected to reach 7 million by 2025, the deal could signal a wave of coming investment by large oil and gas companies to diversify, say electrification experts.​​

By Robert Walton • Feb. 1, 2019

As solar-plus-storage surges, can smart devices help overcome deployment barriers?

As utilities move to reap the benefits of solar-plus-storage, manufacturing and interconnection barriers threaten to impede growth.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 29, 2019

Vermont regulators advance first of 3 Green Mountain Power solar-plus-storage projects

The utility seeks to use these projects to lower regional system costs and forward capacity market costs in the ISO-New England region.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2019

Tendril grows its load monitoring operations to help shift peak demand

With its latest acquisition of nonintrusive load monitoring technology to process data from advanced metering infrastructure, the company wants to help utilities flatten their loads without help from their customers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 24, 2019

DistribuTECH: Next-gen smart meter takes grid intelligence to new dimensions

Efforts to implement efficient billing has pushed smart meter innovations over the last couple of years. What will the next wave of smart meters bring the industry?

Jan. 24, 2019

Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage

A report studies Minnesota's options for 70% renewable penetration and finds surprising results regarding energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2019

Pepco electrification plan anti-competitive, DC ratepayer advocate argues

The Office of the People's Counsel for the District of Columbia says the utility's proposal would be "detrimental to the competitive [electric vehicle] market" while also arguing the utility failed to justify why ratepayers should foot the bill.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2019

Navigating utility business model reform: A practical guide

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide a guide to modernizing the electric utility business model. 

By Dan Cross-Call, Cara Goldenberg and Mike O’Boyle • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators defer to legislature on utility ownership of energy storage

The state's market for energy storage is in limbo since regulators dismissed a request by AEP Texas last year to install two battery storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 18, 2019

Colorado Gov Polis' first executive order advances transportation electrification

The benefits of vehicle electrification will only increase as the state moves toward establishing a 100% renewable energy mandate, Polis said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 18, 2019

PGE demand response pilot offers $1/kWh incentive, targets 10X customer participation rate

Portland General Electric proposed the residential demand response program as part of its Smart Grid Test Bed project, which will also test opt-in approaches to direct load control programs offered with different rates.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 16, 2019

Maryland scales back EV charger program nearly 80%

The Maryland Public Service Commission approved the deployment of 5,000 EV chargers, a significant drop from the 24,000 envisioned in the original proposal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2019

4 common missteps to derail a utility's digital transformation effort

There are compelling reasons for utilities to transform their operations and systems with digital technologies, which can produce significant gains in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance.

By James McClelland • Jan. 16, 2019

Lowering bills for low-income households with community solar: Partnering on regs, tech

A Minnesota-based non-profit applied its expertise to help shepherd an Energy Assistance provider's 100-kW project in southeast Vermont.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

Global lithium-ion battery market expected to exceed $60B by 2024: report

The report tracks various li-ion chemistries, touting the batteries for their "better capacity, longer lifecycle, and improved efficiency when compared to available alternatives."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

'Unlayering' peak demand could accelerate energy storage adoption

A new approach to the peaker-storage debate could help energy storage better meet peak demand and lower emissions.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 15, 2019

Tri-State members increasingly unsatisfied as the rise of distributed resources upends the G&T model

Given the increasing affordability of renewable energy, "the very reason G&Ts were created is less valid every day," Chris Riley, president of Guzman Energy, told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2019

2019 Power Sector Outlook: Top trends to watch

We talked to utilities, analysts and technology providers on what to expect in the year ahead for storage, solar, demand-side management and more.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

Networking and communications for smart grids and utility applications: A $100B opportunity

The connectivity needs of — and options available to — power utilities are rapidly expanding, writes Navigant's Richelle Elberg.

By Richelle Elberg • Jan. 14, 2019

PUC order keeps Minnesota ahead of the curve on performance-based rates

The order, the culmination of a process that began in September 2017, establishes procedures and goals for developing metrics for performance-based rates by the fall.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 11, 2019

APPA releases smart city roadmap for power utilities

The white paper from the American Public Power Association addresses topics including utilities' role in a smart city and cybersecurity.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 9, 2019