Sustainability requires new thinking

GIS is not just about making maps, but uncovering secrets buried in data that improve sustainability.

Aug. 29, 2022

Florida Power & Light unveils plane-sized drone for post-storm inspections

The drone can travel into storm-force winds and should be operational this year, according to the utility.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 19, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Reliability

Rising peak demand, extreme weather and other factors are raising power outage risks in the U.S., but FERC and other stakeholders are pursuing multiple actions to address reliability concerns.

By Utility Dive staff

DOE to support development of ‘next-generation cyber tools’ to protect grid

The agency announced $45 million will be available for up to 15 “next-generation” cybersecurity research, development and demonstration projects.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2022

California unveils proposal to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open with $1.4B loan to PG&E

The draft legislative language would direct regulators to keep the plant’s two units online through 2029 and 2030 while also exploring the option to operate Diablo Canyon until 2035. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 16, 2022

A different look at GIS substation technology

GIS is proving to be an attractive solution outside of urban environments for its reliability, reduced maintenance, and smaller environmental impact.

Aug. 15, 2022

Hawaiian Electric braces for bill increases amid high oil prices, coal plant retirement

At the same time, the company sees a lot of potential upside from the Inflation Reduction Act, executives said during an earnings call Monday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 8, 2022

How “grid hardening” will be redefined

Increasingly extreme weather events are forcing utilities to find new ways to ensure resiliency.

Aug. 8, 2022

Luxembourg energy supplier Encevo hit by ransomware attack

The group behind the attack threatened to leak more than 150 gigabytes of sensitive data on Monday.

By Matt Kapko • Aug. 2, 2022

Energy storage is changing the grid. Here’s how to navigate the new dynamics.

To continue providing reliable, affordable electric service, utilities and other power providers need robust electricity market data to understand many aspects of storage systems.

Aug. 1, 2022

‘The clock is ticking’: PG&E exploring possibility of keeping Diablo Canyo open to boost reliability: CEO

State regulators in 2018 approved a settlement to close the plant, but some experts are now questioning whether it should be shut down.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2022

Biden executive order on power system cybersecurity leaves critical operations vulnerable, experts say

From mysterious electronics in Chinese transformers to sensors without password protections, analysts see growing vulnerabilities in U.S. power system operations.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 25, 2022

Is 2-second control of your assets fast enough?

The power industry relies on SCADA systems, which are typically slower than inverter-based assets.

July 25, 2022

TSA revises cybersecurity requirements for oil and gas pipelines

The agency released performance-based requirements after extensive industry debate following the May 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.

By David Jones • July 22, 2022

Texas Uri disaster weighs on FERC, state regulators as they debate boosting interregional transmission

Some members of a FERC-NARUC transmission task force argued for requiring regions to be able to transfer minimum amounts of electricity between themselves to bolster reliability.

By Ethan Howland • July 21, 2022

Hawaiian Electric proposes $190M of resiliency spending in first phase of climate adaption push

The utility plans to strengthen transmission lines, help with flood monitoring at substations, and move certain overhead distribution lines on Oahu underground, among other measures. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 20, 2022

Lack of investment and innovation adds to worries of grid failure and outages

If we want to get off this endless loop of seasonal failure warnings, outages, and crises, a major effort needs to be made to invest in this grid of the future, the author writes.

By Landon Stevens • July 18, 2022

Texas narrowly avoids rolling blackouts after 2nd conservation plea by ERCOT this week

Gas and coal outages were higher than the Texas grid operator had anticipated. “The thermal fleet is not as reliable as people would have you think,” said Grid Lab Executive Director Ric O’Connell.

By Robert Walton • July 14, 2022

California ISO moves to enhance reliability, economic prospects for utility-scale energy storage

One proposed revision would protect the federal tax credit for batteries co-located with solar plants to keep them from being charged by the grid. Another aims to help storage projects replace local gas plants.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • July 12, 2022

New Jersey has adequate natural gas pipeline capacity, utility regulator tells FERC amid Transco pipeline review

The debate over New Jersey’s gas needs comes amid a broad argument over the future of existing and planned U.S. natural gas infrastructure.

By Ethan Howland • July 12, 2022

DOE opens application window for $2.3B grid resilience grant program for states, tribes

The funding comes as the U.S. is seeing more frequent and longer power outages, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2022

Hawaii poised to close the door on coal despite delays to clean energy projects

The state is turning to a mix of demand response efforts, distributed energy resources and utility-scale renewable energy projects to keep the lights on after its last coal plant retires in September. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 6, 2022

Switching to efficient, electric HVAC appliances could save Oregon $1.1B through 2050, study finds

Selling only zero-emissions heating and cooling appliances by 2030 could nearly halve climate pollution by 2035, the study finds.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 6, 2022

Upheaval in utility regulation emerging nationally as Hawaii validates a performance-based approach

Hawaii’s hard work on a PBR framework that protects utilities, consumers and the environment is paying off, but other states’ shortcuts could undermine success, advocates worry.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 5, 2022

California passes legislation to avoid blackouts, create ‘insurance policy’ for the grid

“Yeah, it’s a lousy bill, but it’s the best hope we have for keeping the lights on,” one lawmaker said Wednesday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 1, 2022

Department of Energy rethinks cyber resilience in strategy to secure the grid

The agency wants to help the energy sector incorporate more cybersecurity safeguards during the design phase and better withstand attacks. 

By David Jones • June 23, 2022