'America's Greece' and its insolvent electric utility

Former Puerto Rico Sen. Ramón Luis Nieves calls for an energy revolution to transform the island's ailing utility.

By Ramón Luis Nieves • April 11, 2017

'Enabler of the smart city': CPS Energy's CEO on democratizing distributed energy

Electric utilities have a central role to play in spreading the energy technologies that make smart cities possible, Paula Gold-Williams, CEO of San Antonio's municipal utility, told Utility Dive. 

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, battery storage and electric vehicles, are experiencing significant growth in the U.S. as the power sector evolves to a cleaner, less centralized future.

By Utility Dive staff

Edmunds: EV sales to crash when federal credits expire

When a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for purchase of an electric vehicle expires, analysts at Edmunds.com believe the market will tank.

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2017

Chicago to power city-owned buildings with 100% renewable energy

Chicago will purchase renewable energy credits, buy wind and solar from utilities and invest in on-site generation to offset power demand from 900 buildings. 

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2017

Generators, business groups line up against Ohio nuclear bill

Arguments against a bill to support at-risk FirstEnergy nuclear plants are similar to those animating legal challenges against generation subsidies in other states. 

By Peter Maloney • April 11, 2017

Vermont bill would direct PUC to draw up energy storage recommendations

Sponsor Rep. Laura Sibilia (I) says she is concerned Vermont could fall behind neighbors like Massachusetts, which is implementing a storage target for utilities. 

By Peter Maloney • April 11, 2017

Why utilities say grid security is the most pressing sector issue of 2017

The successful hack of Ukraine's electric grid in late 2015 got the sector's attention, Utility Dive's recent survey shows.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 10, 2017

California PUC approves doubling of SGIP funding, tilted toward storage

Utilities will allocate $83 million annually for three years to help fund customer-sited storage and renewable energy generation.

By Peter Maloney • April 10, 2017

California solar spike leads to negative CAISO real-time prices in March

CAISO real-time prices routinely dropped into negative territory last month as solar power spiked. 

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2017

North Carolina approves Duke's renewable microgrid project in the Smoky Mountains

The solar and battery microgrid will power a remote communications tower in the national park currently served by an overhead transmission line.  

By Peter Maloney • April 10, 2017

Missouri solar industry hopes to stop fixed fee bill in Senate

While the measure passed with strong support in Missouri's lower chamber, renewables advocates say it is unlikely to be approved by the Senate.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2017

Report: FPL parent drafted rooftop solar rules Florida lawmaker added to pending bill

A Florida lawmaker added consumer protection language drafted by FPL parent NextEra Energy to a solar energy bill just days after receiving a financial contribution from the company, The Miami Herald reports. 

By Robert Walton • April 7, 2017

Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to support FirstEnergy's nuclear plants

The Zero Emission Nuclear Resource program follows similar proposals in New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut.

By Peter Maloney • April 6, 2017

How New York is incentivizing utilities to interconnect DERs under REV

Regulators want to reward utilities for better performance on key tasks like DER interconnection — the question is how.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 6, 2017

Battery, tech companies urge Congress to include storage in infrastructure plans

The Energy Storage Association joined more than 50 other companies and groups in signing the letter to lawmakers. 

By Peter Maloney • April 6, 2017

Michigan regulators plan EV conference after utility withdraws 800-charger plan

Consumers Energy, car companies and charging station developers will work together this summer to devise a charging plan that works for both the utility and the private market. 

By Robert Walton • April 6, 2017

Indiana House approves bill to phase out retail net metering

The bill now returns to the Senate, which passed an earlier version in February, for final considerations. 

By Robert Walton • April 6, 2017

Report: Connecticut nuclear support legislation would cost $300M a year

A report commissioned by a generator trade group argues the Millstone plant has been "highly profitable" and is not at risk of early retirement.

By Peter Maloney • April 6, 2017

Greensmith software updates AEP storage facility to sell frequency regulation

A 14 MWh battery previously only used for backup power was reconfigured to sell into PJM markets. 

By Peter Maloney • April 5, 2017

New NREL report provides missing metric for valuing solar+storage facilities

The report uses NREL's solar cost methodology to identify a single benchmark for paired resources.

By Peter Maloney • April 4, 2017

Tesla patent application outlines design to scale battery systems to 1 GWh

By isolating small blocks of cells, the company says it could build battery systems that use cells of different types, ages, voltages or chemistries.

By Peter Maloney • April 4, 2017

Missouri House nears vote on bill allowing utilities to raise rooftop solar fees

The bill, slated for a vote next week, would allow monthly fees to be increased as much as 75% for solar customers. 

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2017

Primer: Technology, consumer sentiment push utilities to new business models

The move to a cleaner, more distributed energy system is pushing wholesale changes to how utilities make money and plan their power grids. 

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2017

The top 5 states for utility grid modernization and business model reform

From expansive sector redesigns to step-by-step DER dockets, states across the nation are rethinking the grid and how utilities make money off it. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 3, 2017

Pushed by REV, ConEd tests new utility business models in New York

The nation's largest city is the proving ground for a slate of REV pilot projects aimed at modernizing operations and diversifying revenue.

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2017