California regulators approve 2nd SoCal Ed pilot to test DER over gas

The state's Public Utilities Commission authorized Southern California Edison to recover the costs of 19 contracts for preferred resources, including solar+storage.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2018

As corporate PPAs surge, consultants aim to bring lower prices

A lack of transparency and reliance on bilateral deals could mean corporations are leaving money on the table.

By Peter Maloney • July 16, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Duke region hits South Carolina net metering cap

As other utilities move toward the 2% limit on distributed energy resources, Duke Energy Carolinas will allow customers to sign up for the net metering program through the end of July.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 13, 2018

Hawaii opens microgrid tariff proceeding to spur customer adoption

The Public Utilities Commission opened the docket the same day Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed legislation focused on microgrids and how they can benefit the state's island communities.

By Robert Walton • July 13, 2018

Pennsylvania draft plan calls for 11 GW in-state solar

The Department of Environmental Protection issued a draft plan to expand solar resources to make up 10% of the state's retail sales by 2030.

By Robert Walton • July 12, 2018

In a rush to modernize the grid, utilities are finding new ways to innovate

U.S. utilities are working together to rethink the electric grid — but as competition spreads, how long will this model last?

By Robert Walton • July 11, 2018

Ohio regulator defines grid mod success through customer-side service

PUCO Chair Asim Haque supports greater transparency and data-access to really add value to customer services.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 11, 2018

EVgo reduces grid demand with used BMW batteries

Following a successful test program at University of California San Diego, EVgo has installed a used electric vehicle battery as stationary storage at a commercial charging station.

By Robert Walton • July 11, 2018

New York's energy storage target could end up at 3 GW by 2030

The state's target could go beyond the 1,500 MW goal, but the roadmap outlined key regulatory recommendations necessary to foster investment and deployment.

By Peter Maloney • July 10, 2018

As California customer choice expands, are reliability and affordability at risk?

Many say the disruption from multiplying power providers in California could also put the state's decarbonization achievements at risk.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 9, 2018

Future of Minnesota Power gas plant uncertain after ALJ ruling

Administrative Law Judge Jeanne Cochran found the utility did not give enough consideration to alternatives such as wind and solar power, energy efficiency or even a small gas-fired peaking plant.

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2018

Solar at New York brownfields, landfills could see boost from updated review process

The state's Department of Environmental Conservation adopted a package of rules allowing a few types of solar installations to forego further scrutiny.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 5, 2018

PG&E to replace 3 gas plants with world's biggest battery projects

The projects would eliminate the need to keep three Calpine plants running as reliability must-run resources and shore up congestion issues.

By Peter Maloney • July 3, 2018

As the power sector transforms, can utilities and customers find common ground on ratemaking?

Rates are based on rate case assumptions about a utility's revenue need, but different ways to calculate that can serve the utility or its customers.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2018

Powelson to leave FERC deadlocked on gas pipelines, grappling with resilience

Republican FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson said Thursday he will leave in mid-August, giving more weight to the two Democratic members' opposition of natural gas pipeline certifications.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 29, 2018

Can California avert new gas plants with distributed resources? SoCal Ed offers a test case

Regulators will soon decide between two paths regarding SCE's proposed pilot — one where DER remains secondary to natural gas and another where they move to transform the distribution system.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 28, 2018

Hawaii microgrid bill aims to keep the state a model for others

The legislation aims to remove several obstacles to microgrid development, including interconnection barriers and a lack of standard terms regarding the value of services exchanged between the microgrid operator and the utility.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2018

Dynamic Grid Systems will rebuild a small Maine utility from the ground up

Isle au Haut, Maine, has less than 150 electric subscribers but faces the same challenges as larger utilities when it comes to integrating stable, renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2018

SoCal Edison files $760M plan to significantly expand EV charging infrastructure

The proposal would expand SCE's Charge Ready pilot to add 48,000 charging stations to the 1,000 that have already been installed across the utility's service territory.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2018

GE streamlines focus on renewables, gas turbines and power services

The global conglomerate is searching for the sweet spot for its gas turbine business, intending to sell its distributed power unit and its interest in oil services.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2018

New grid transparency tools improve distributed generation siting

Two tools can help customers and project developers more quickly and cheaply identify grid locations for distribution generation projects, according to Mari Hernandez, regulatory program manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

By Mari Hernandez • June 26, 2018

US solar industry gets boost with new IRS guidance

The much-anticipated clarification allows developers to qualify for a 30% tax credit if they can prove that they invested at least 5% of the total expected installation costs by the end of 2019.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 25, 2018

Sprint to test robotic, self-driving EV chargers in NYC

Getting the robots from the testing stage to reality depends on a confluence of new technologies, including 5G, IoT installation and autonomous vehicle tech.

By Jason Plautz • June 22, 2018

Microsoft has big power needs and wants to harness the ocean to satisfy them

Cloud vendors are already using wind and solar solutions to conserve energy consumed by their servers. The next frontier, however, is in the ocean's waves. 

By Samantha Schwartz • June 21, 2018

DOE: Puerto Rico has plenty of options for new generation

A new report on options for rebuilding the island's grid recommends considering a wide range of renewables and alternative fuels, an expansion of liquefied natural gas imports, microgrids and energy storage.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2018