A single, unified Western power market will deliver affordability, reliability and climate benefits

The expansion of the Western Energy Imbalance Market with a day-ahead market and a new independent governing authority can open major opportunities for customer benefits and increased grid reliability.

By Lauren McCloy, Ben Otto, Diego Rivas and Fred Heutte • April 24, 2024

APS, others plan 1-year delay in fines for Western Resource Adequacy Program capacity shortfalls

Supply chain problems, unexpected load growth and extreme weather are challenging efforts to ensure adequate power supplies in the West, according to Avista, Calpine and other program participants.

By Ethan Howland • April 23, 2024

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

DOE cites cost, reliability concerns for new gas plants as it details how to meet surging power demand

Rising electricity demand will require a portfolio of resources, including energy storage, hydropower, nuclear, grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management, DOE said.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2024

China, Russia ramping up cyber activities against energy, water and other critical sectors: FBI director

“We’re seeing hostile nation states become more aggressive in their efforts to...target our critical infrastructure, export their aggression to our shores and front and center is China,” Christopher Wray said Tuesday.

By David Jones • April 12, 2024

The Future of AI will require an energy breakthrough. The answer is a fusion moonshot.

Skeptics contend that fusion has long promised much but failed to deliver. Historically, that has been true. But there is reason to believe this moment is different.

By Ylli Bajraktari • April 12, 2024

Regulators: Don’t panic and rush to gas amid cries we’re out of power

Proposing new gas plants to serve growing demand does not occur in isolation. It is a decision that implicitly rejects alternatives as either infeasible, expensive or unconsidered.

By Mike O’Boyle and Eric Gimon • April 11, 2024

What federal officials want to see in critical infrastructure cyber incident reports

Federal rules to implement the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act will be on the books in 18 months. Here are some of the main asks.

By Matt Kapko • April 8, 2024

Geopolitical turmoil has ‘significant ramifications’ for North American electric grid: NERC

Conflicts around the world and a slate of hostile nation-states mean additional efforts must be taken to secure the electric grid, officials said.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2024

Grid reliability’s core challenge is governance, not a changing resource mix

An outdated and parochial oversight system is the biggest threat to U.S. grid reliability.

By Alexandra Klass, Josh Macey, Shelley Welton and Hannah Wiseman • April 4, 2024

Monday’s eclipse could cut US solar output by 40 GWh. Here’s how 5 grid operators are preparing.

Grid operators are not expecting any reliability issues during the eclipse but say forecasting energy demand will be complicated. Monday “will not be a typical spring day,” MISO noted.

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2024

CISA issues notice for long-awaited critical infrastructure reporting requirements

The proposed rule under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act will require covered entities to promptly disclose major cyber incidents and ransomware payments.

By David Jones • April 1, 2024

MISO seeks FERC approval for new capacity accreditation process to bolster grid reliability

“The changing resource mix combined with extreme weather and shifting load profiles have created what the NERC has characterized as a ‘hyper-complex risk environment,’” MISO said.

By Ethan Howland • March 29, 2024

Efficiency, clean energy are options for meeting demand growth before gas generation: Energy Innovation

Texas has met its 2.6% annual demand growth with wind and solar, highlighting how clean energy can handle rising electric use, per the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

By Ethan Howland • March 28, 2024

A new era of price-based demand response emerges, but utilities and regulators need proof of its potential

New load flexibility from price-based demand response programs could be invaluable if reliability and cost-effectiveness is confirmed in real-world operating conditions, stakeholders agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2024

ERCOT to survey customers about cost of power outages

Responses will help regulators estimate the value of lost load and ultimately set a reliability standard for the Texas grid.

By Robert Walton • March 27, 2024

ISO/RTO Council urges FERC to nix NERC’s proposed cold weather reliability standard

The proposal includes “glaring exceptions” and “vague requirements,” threatening grid reliability, major grid operators told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • March 25, 2024

Senators press FERC nominees on climate, natural gas, transmission cost allocation

Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee focused on the issue of fuel neutrality and whether the nominees would uphold it.

By Diana DiGangi • March 22, 2024

California regulators approve new program to expedite power line undergrounding

The program allows utilities with at least 250,000 customers to submit a 10-year undergrounding plan to the California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, which must approve or reject it within nine months.

By Robert Walton • March 11, 2024

Lessons from the UK: Transforming the US Market

The US has a unique opportunity to capitalize on grid-edge flexibility by using distributed energy resources (DERs) to balance the grid. 

By Amaani Hamid — Senior Policy Manager, Kraken • March 11, 2024

Why EPA can cut carbon pollution from power plants without sacrificing grid reliability

Entities that focus on reliability have a toolkit to manage the energy transition, and EPA has incorporated key flexibilities into its GHG pollution-reduction rules to support their efforts.

By Dena Adler and Jennifer Danis • March 7, 2024

DOE awards $45M for grid security research focused on machine learning, artificial intelligence

The Electric Power Research Institute will receive more than $22 million to lead five projects in collaboration with Consolidated Edison, Ameren, Southern Co. and others.

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2024

NERC to file inverter-based resource rule revisions with federal regulators

“System events over the past six years have shown that these resources are impacting the reliability of the bulk power system,” said Howard Gugel, NERC vice president of compliance assurance and registration.

By Robert Walton • March 4, 2024

DOE, NARUC publish cybersecurity ‘baselines’ for utilities, distributed energy resources

The recommendations “provide a common starting point for cyber risk reduction activities,” said NARUC Executive Director Greg White.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2024

SPP proposes renewable, thermal resource accreditation reforms aimed at bolstering reliability

The Southwest Power Pool’s current accreditation for wind, solar and storage fails to account for their reliability value decreasing as more are added to the grid, according to the grid operator.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2024

Is software the untapped hero to unlock the potential of the grid and help us reach net zero?

Discover how innovative software promises to revolutionize grid management, turning DERs from burdens into assets and paving the way for a future of autonomous grids.

Feb. 26, 2024