The flip side of FERC's landmark storage order: A call for states to take action

State action will be essential to reach the full potential of FERC Order 841, The Brattle Group says in a new report.

By Peter Maloney • March 6, 2018

California utilities offer $10K rebate on new BMW electric vehicle

The hefty rebate will help the state meet its goal to put 5 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Utilities' traditional reliance on large power plants is shifting to a model that includes distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, battery storage and even electric vehicles.

By Utility Dive staff

Tackling the perverse incentive: Utilities need new cost recovery mechanisms for new technologies

If utility regulators change key accounting rules, utilities could ratebase contracted cloud computing and DER services, cut customer costs and benefit stakeholders.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 6, 2018

IRS: Residential storage eligible for ITC when charged by onsite solar

The ruling applies only to an individual storage facility, but shows how the agency may interpret home battery eligibility for the 30% solar investment tax credit.

By Gavin Bade • March 5, 2018

Time-travel, utility-style: Outlines of the utility of the future appear

Rocky Mountain Institute experts identify price, data and interconnection as the keys to success for the utility of the future, whether it's an expanded monopoly or a distribution system platform.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 5, 2018

Do new rooftop solar price projections mean 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' for utilities?

A thought exercise from Department of Energy researchers suggests the price of rooftop solar could fall low enough to impact “the evolution of the U.S. electricity system.”

By Herman K. Trabish • March 1, 2018

Illinois regulators greenlight ComEd's microgrid 'cluster' project

Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, the project will be one of the first microgrid "clusters" in the nation.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2018

Five energy industry trends of tomorrow impacting companies today

Energy is a long game, and all stakeholders have made a long-term affirmation that we are headed toward a more renewable future, REC Solar Senior Vice President Alan Russo writes.

By Alan Russo • Feb. 28, 2018

SEU 2018 survey: Utilities shaken, not moved, by Trump policies

Utility Dive's fifth annual State of the Electric Utility survey shows a sector committed to the clean energy transition, but wary of policies coming out of Washington.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 27, 2018

Make, buy, or partner: New business model innovation for U.S. utilities

Discover three new business model innovation paths that can help your utility optimize opportunities.

Feb. 27, 2018

Team of rivals: Utilities, enviros unite to push electric vehicles

Old adversaries from the rooftop solar fights are finding common ground on transportation electrification.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 26, 2018

Sonnen integrates EVs into virtual power plant in Germany

The new sonnenCharger will integrate with the company's sonnenCommunity battery network, which aims to utilize as much clean energy as possible.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2018

California energy agency predicts rising power demand

The California Energy Commission on Feb. 21 released its updated demand forecast, which sees higher consumption driven by electric vehicles and climate change. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2018

Ameren tries again to increase EV charging equipment in Missouri

The company's previous application to install chargers in the state was rejected by the Public Service Commission, but this time it is not seeking to own the equipment.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2018

Siemens, Tesla in petition pushing New York for faster action on electric vehicles

Forty companies and advocacy groups have asked the state Public Service Commission to accelerate action on EVs, which could result in $18 billion in savings by 2050. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2018

ConEd's hybrid service model for large microgrid could become standard

The utility worked on a giant multi-use real estate project to deliver power the way developers wanted.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2018

FERC order opens 'floodgates' for energy storage in wholesale markets

The commission directed grid operators to develop rules that would allow storage to participate in the wholesale energy, capacity and ancillary services markets and could put it on equal footing with other resources.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 20, 2018

Massachusetts AG proposes to invest Volkswagen settlement in electric vehicles, clean energy

Attorney General Maura Healey proposed accelerating the state's shift into clean energy and electrified transportation, including new rate plans, electric buses and more aggressive goals for zero-emission vehicles on the roads.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 20, 2018

FERC issues storage, reliability orders, calls conference on aggregated DERs

The commission directed grid operators to design rules that allow storage to provide energy, capacity and ancillary services, as well as set wholesale prices as buyers and sellers. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 2018

How solar owners' post-hurricane demand for batteries could impact utilities

Extreme weather is driving customers to solar-plus-storage as backup power, but they can use it to cut back on electricity use, too

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 15, 2018

California regulators first to allow multiple revenue streams for energy storage

The state has approved rules that increase the ways for energy storage systems to make money, for example, through frequency regulation, capacity or spinning reserve services.        

Feb. 13, 2018

Is the third pillar of electricity delivery preventing the building of the first two?

Utilities and distributed energy resource advocates agree the grid needs new technologies to serve 21st century demand, but they differ over what upgrades should come first and what they should cost.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 13, 2018

Trump budget would gut EPA, DOE renewables office

The budget would cut the DOE renewables office by 65% and eliminate ARPA-E and the agency's loan programs. EPA would be cut by nearly a quarter. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

Is PURPA done? New bill takes aim at law's mandatory purchase obligation

The law has been under fire for much of its 40-year history, but changes proposed in November could be the most significant yet.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 12, 2018

Energy tax credits included in Senate budget deal

Tax credit extensions for nuclear plants and a number of natural gas and renewable energy technologies are in the Senate package, but are likely to face opposition in the House.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018