DC Council bill would establish US's first independent DER authority

The authority would have the power to review any utility investment over $25 million to see if non-wire alternatives could meet grid needs less expensively. 

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018

MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting

The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.  

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018

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

Residential storage faces sunny prospects this year

Pairing storage with rooftop solar could boom if interest translates into action.

By Peter Maloney • April 10, 2018

Updated: California muni shelves gas plant to consider renewable options

The Glendale community becomes the latest on the list of jurisdictions reconsidering gas plant investments. 

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

DOE offers $1.8B for new supercomputers at national labs

The next generation of exascale computing could assist utilities with grid management and infrastructure planning, DOE Undersecretary Paul Dabbar said.

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

The two key questions about going to 100% renewables in Los Angeles

The city council wants its municipal utility to reach the clean energy goal, and a new report says it can by 2030 — if the utility can learn new ways.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 5, 2018

PG&E to test price signals, load management strategies in EV charging program

As Pacific Gas & Electric begins to roll out electric vehicle charging stations, the utility is focused on how to manage that demand efficiently.

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2018

Unnecessary complexity? Assessing New York and California's landmark DER proceedings

New York and California have spent years opening opportunities for distributed energy resources with minimal real impact. Could they have done it differently?

By Herman K. Trabish • April 4, 2018

Western, Northeast states strike partnerships to boost electric vehicle adoption

The "Drive Change. Drive Electric." campaign will focus on new vehicle models, tax and purchase incentives, and the growing regional network of charging stations.

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2018

Electric vehicles to dominate Hawaiian roads by 2045, HECO predicts

The utility laid out its plans to boost electric vehicle adoption and use the new demand to lower system costs.

By Robert Walton • April 2, 2018

Market-based IRPs: A new paradigm for grid planning?

Instead of forecasts, utilities like Hawaiian Electric and Xcel are beginning to use real-world prices in their integrated resource plans, allowing them to better compare renewables and DERs to traditional grid investments. 

By Gavin Bade • April 2, 2018

EDF to invest nearly $10B in energy storage by 2035

The French utility giant is targeting the residential sector in France and Europe with a variety of self-consumption services that use batteries.

By Peter Maloney • March 29, 2018

Itron, Sonnen say battery partnership will let utilities maximize grid efficiency

The demand response-enabled system will store and discharge energy to keep electric bills low and maximize the use of solar energy, the companies said.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

Proposed Texas rule highlights storage's challenges in bridging competitive, regulated energy markets

Energy storage’s unique characteristics make it a difficult fit on the regulated side of Texas’ power market.

By Peter Maloney • March 27, 2018

Connecticut legislature poised to act as community solar collides with net metering

Connecticut’s utilities object to a new community solar policy while its advocates say proposed utility changes to net metering are unacceptable.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2018

Update: Arizona Gov. Ducey signs bill to undermine RPS ballot proposal

The measure will minimize financial penalties for utilities that fail to meet renewable energy targets, muting a ballot proposal pushing 50% renewable energy by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2018

On the duck's 10th birthday, here's how to keep it from eating the power system

Before anybody saw how fast solar would grow, researchers described what it would do to the grid and started working on solutions now being implemented.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 22, 2018

Time is not on their side: Utilities ill-prepared for EV demand, SEPA finds

Most utilities remain in the very early stages of preparing for a significant jump in demand, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance.

By Robert Walton • March 21, 2018

Project finance getting more viable for energy storage, Moody's says

New financing options could be available as declining costs and regulatory support spur energy storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • March 21, 2018

Nearly 1/3 of planned gas peakers at risk from energy storage, GTM finds

While it could take a while to compete with existing peakers, storage costs are dropping at a rate that could start making it competitive with new peaking plants in about five years.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

New business models may be the next frontier in lower energy storage costs

Often overlooked in discussions about the declining price of energy storage are business models that aim to lower capital expenses.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

CEC: California EV chargers will add 1 GW of peak demand by 2025

A new report from the California Energy Commission also details the "Dragon Curve" — expected electricity demand effects of electric vehicle growth. 

By Gavin Bade • March 20, 2018

California's dream of a regional power market faces the risks of a Trump FERC

California's proposed regional electricity market could could generate up to $1.5 billion in annual benefits and reduce GHG emissions up to 10%, but it could be subverted.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 20, 2018

A complicated calculus keeps the remaining coal fleet alive

The U.S. coal fleet is half the size it was 10 years ago. How are the remaining plants hanging on?

By Peter Maloney • March 19, 2018

Pennsylvania proposal could bolster EV charging infrastructure

The Public Utilities Commission is proposing to declare that electric vehicle charging is not considered resale/redistribution.

By Robert Walton • March 16, 2018