Grid Security & Reliability


  • High voltage power lines in the winter.
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    Polina-Petrenko via Getty Images
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    Record 13% of Eastern Interconnect capacity failed in Winter Storm Elliott: FERC, NERC

    FERC commissioners called on Congress Thursday to name an agency for gas reliability oversight as commission and NERC staff issued cold-weather recommendations.

    By Sept. 22, 2023
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    RoschetzkyIstockPhoto via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP

    Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.

    By Sept. 20, 2023
  • Trendline

    Cybersecurity of the Grid

    While cyberthreats to the power sector are expanding, so are the tools to address them. But a key question remains — are companies doing what's needed to reduce the risk?

    By Utility Dive staff
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    RoschetzkyIstockPhoto via Getty Images
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    Virginia SCC strikes down Dominion’s interconnection rules for distributed solar

    An alliance of distributed solar developers and supporters argued Dominion Energy’s interconnection rules created unreasonable barriers to small-scale solar.

    By Sept. 19, 2023
  • Several vehicles lined up along a curb are blurred while in the foreground a white and silver electric vehicle charger is in focus.
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    Permission granted by Enel X Way North America
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    Opinion

    We’re asking the wrong question about EVs and grid resiliency

    The U.S. has already passed the tipping point for mass electric vehicle adoption. Grid modernization must quickly follow, writes Chris Baker, the head of Enel X Way North America.

    By Chris Baker • Sept. 19, 2023
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    stock.adobe.com/Tierney

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    Sponsored by ev.energy

    New York’s utilities lead the way to net zero emissions

    This week, international leaders from business and government converge in New York City for the 15th annual Climate Week NYC summit.

    By Joseph Vellone, Head of North America, ev.energy • Sept. 18, 2023
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    istockphoto.com/lovelyday12

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    Sponsored by Ampacimon

    Unlocking grid potential: Paving the way for renewable energy

    Unleash Grid Potential and Boost Renewables: PPL's $23 Million Savings Story with DLR and AAR Technologies Revealed!

    Sept. 18, 2023
  • Anne Neuberger deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technologies, speaks at the Billington Cybersecurity Summit with Brad Medairy, EVP, Booz Allen.
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    Courtesy of Billington CyberSecurity Summit
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    White House mulls rating system to boost cybersecurity for critical infrastructure

    The administration has been working with various cabinet agencies to bolster cybersecurity in water, rail, aviation, energy and other sectors. 

    By David Jones • Sept. 12, 2023
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    Permission granted by Honeywell
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    Honeywell strengthens smart meter cybersecurity with Quantinuum tech, randomized encryption keys

    Facilities managers looking to implement this technology can designate a security administrator and proactively monitor security events, a Honeywell executive said.

    By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 11, 2023
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    Patterson, Richard. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Opinion

    Security by design’s shining moment: Cybersecurity for the energy transformation

    Strategic imperatives for today’s DER ecosystem — vendors, operators, integrators and utilities — could introduce a more secure and resilient grid tomorrow.

    By Danielle Jablanski • Sept. 11, 2023
  • Pike Electric service trucks line up after a snow storm on February 16, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas.
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    Ron Jenkins via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The elusive ‘value of resilience’: Why every utility is asking for it and why it’s so hard to pin down

    A cost-benefit analysis is crucial to most utility investment filings.Without the “value of resilience” metric, such analysis falls woefully short of giving regulators the insights to make a determination.

    By Mishal Thadani • Sept. 7, 2023
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    DOE
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    DOE announces $125M in grid modernization, power resilience grants

    Funding will go to nine states and five tribal nations for investments including battery backup systems, grid hardening and weatherization.

    By Sept. 6, 2023
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    Laurence Dutton via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Operant Networks

    Cyber-Informed Engineering and Secure by Design for the energy industry

    Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) and Secure by Design (SbD) are related concepts, but they have distinctive approaches and methodologies.

    Sept. 5, 2023
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    Permission granted by Invinity Energy Systems
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    Sponsored by Invinity Energy Systems

    How flexibility redefines utility battery investment strategies

    With renewable penetration and electrification on the rise, flexible assets that can adapt and shift duty cycles are getting utilities’ – and the DOE’s – attention.

    By Matt Harper, Chief Commercial Officer, Invinity Energy Systems • Sept. 5, 2023
  • Large electric power transmission lines and modern wind turbines generating electricity in central California.
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    phleum via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Amid record heat, CAISO’s day-ahead market is proving the value of a regional grid

    Establishing the Extended Day-Ahead Market is a significant milestone, but we need to get to a true regional grid, a Western Regional Transmission Organization, to achieve maximum benefits. 

    By Mona Tierney-Lloyd and Jack Wadleigh • Aug. 30, 2023
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    narvikk via Getty Images
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    American Clean Power asks FERC to hold conference on capacity accreditation

    Improving the patchwork approach to measuring the reliability value of power plants, energy storage and other resources would bolster the grid, according to the trade group.

    By Aug. 25, 2023
  • NARUC, NASEO issue microgrid policy framework to assist regulators

    Microgrids’ ability to provide energy resilience raises policy questions “particularly with regard to cost allocation,” say state regulators and energy officials.

    By Aug. 23, 2023
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    Fleem via Getty Images
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    NERC assessment identifies new risk to grid reliability: energy policy

    Grid transformation, extreme weather events, security and critical infrastructure interdependencies are also areas of risk, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp.

    By Aug. 23, 2023
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    mountinez via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Buried treasure: Building the business case for undergrounding

    Given the costs associated with storm-related outages, the question isn’t can we afford to underground more power lines but rather, can we afford not to?

    By Chris Watts • Aug. 21, 2023
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Texas grid weathers steamy week, 2 calls for conservation, as experts urge more efficiency investment

    Efficiency advocates say Texas continues to underinvest in demand-side solutions that could help to reduce grid stress and lower monthly power bills.

    By Aug. 21, 2023
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    istockphoto.com/cokada

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    Sponsored by Kraken

    The IT iceberg: Hidden challenges to realizing the energy transition lurking beneath the surface

    Utilities have ambitious clean energy goals, but existing IT infrastructure threatens to curtail progress — here’s how they can make moves.

    By Rajiv Shah, Head of US Policy and Markets, Octopus Energy Group • Aug. 21, 2023
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    DOE lab develops new models to address inverter faults, avoid grid disruptions

    Electromagnetic transient domain analysis may be key to stopping inverter-based resources from tripping offline or reducing output in response to grid events, according to research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

    By Aug. 18, 2023
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    Permission granted by Questline Digital
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    Sponsored by Questline Digital

    How utilities are improving residential customer satisfaction

    Energy providers ranked highest in customer satisfaction share the best practices behind their success.

    Aug. 14, 2023
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    Permission granted by Solstice
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    Deep Dive

    A community solar boom will test Xcel, other utility plans against developer, customer needs: analysts

    New state and federal funding and initiatives for community solar can bring equity and system reliability to the emerging energy transition, analysts say.

    By Aug. 10, 2023
  • Electric vehicles charging station on a background of a row of trucks. Concept
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    Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images
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    EPRI launches initiative to ready grid for increased EV loads, joined by Amazon, Xcel, ConEd

    “Utilities are going to need, in some cases, two to four years of heads-up time to react and to do planning,” said EPRI Director of Transportation Britta Gross.

    By Aug. 8, 2023
  • Construction workers using heavy equipment to install Helical piles
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    Permission granted by Burns & McDonnell
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    Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

    Helical piles improve cost, schedule and durability of substantial industrial projects

    Helical piles have secured their spot as one of the most resilient, cost-effective foundation choices.

    Aug. 7, 2023