Texas House weighs Senate-approved plan to incentivize new gas plants as grid faces dicey summer

The legislation would create a state-backed fund to offer zero-interest, 20-year loans to companies building primarily gas-fired power plants.

By Robert Walton • May 9, 2023

PNM proposes non-wires battery pilot to address overloaded feeders at solar facilities

The pair of 6 MW battery resources “matches the lowest cost option for solving the overloaded feeders,” PNM Resources President and Chief Operating Officer Don Tarry said.

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Reliability

A curated selection of recent stories that explore advances in policy and technology to address reliability, as well as the reliability risks the U.S. power system is facing.

By Utility Dive staff

Why contracts among cooperative G&T owners ensure equity and fairness

Central to the success of the cooperative G&T model are the promises each member makes to work together with their fellow members to secure a reliable, affordable and responsible power supply for the communities they together serve.

By Dave Frick, General Manager, Morgan County Rural Electric Association • May 8, 2023

10 reasons why investing in a battery monitoring pilot program is essential

Discover why investing in a pilot BMS program is not only a good idea; it is imperative.

By Eagle Eye Power Solutions • May 8, 2023

VPPs provide same resource adequacy as gas peakers, large batteries, at up to 60% less cost: study

The study, conducted by The Brattle Group and funded by Google, found that virtual power plants could save consumers billions and are just as dependable as more traditional means of resource adequacy.

By Patrick Cooley • May 5, 2023

FERC commissioners tell senators of major grid reliability challenges, with some blaming markets

Power plants are retiring faster than they’re being replaced, according to FERC Commissioner Mark Christie. “The arithmetic doesn’t work,” he said at a Senate hearing Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • May 5, 2023

Dominion Energy projects adding up to 9 GW of gas-fired capacity in Virginia to bolster reliability

The plan, filed Monday with state utility regulators, calls for adding more natural gas and renewables to Dominion’s portfolio, along with up to 4.2 GW of small modular reactors.

By Diana DiGangi • May 4, 2023

Southwest Power Pool study could inform Texas efforts to shore up reliability: PUCT commissioner

A Southwest Power Pool working group is studying development of a reliability standard based on expected unserved energy, with varied requirements for at least two different seasons.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2023

California regulators approve PG&E, Energy Vault green hydrogen and battery microgrid

The microgrid’s planned use of green hydrogen fuel cells and batteries marks a departure from PG&E’s earlier practice of using diesel generators for backup power during outages.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 1, 2023

Let’s not forget about how renewables will impact the distribution grid

As many more zero-carbon generation sources connect to the grid, the urgency of grid modernization programs will continue to increase. Discover how the rise of renewables will drive the need for upgrades on our distribution systems.

By Luke Ezell, PE, Account Manager, Burns & McDonnell • May 1, 2023

Extreme weather risks should be considered in transmission planning, SPP concludes, after Elliott review

A review of the Southwest Power Pool’s response to Winter Storm Elliott in 2022 found room for improvement in areas of operations, transmission planning, communications and compliance.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2023

Xcel launches microgrid-based resiliency service for large Minnesota commercial, industrial customers

In Wisconsin, where the Empower Resiliency program was already offered, Xcel reached a deal to develop energy assets to power the Bayfield County jail and courthouse. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2023

Texas legislators should consider alternatives to strengthen grid reliability before gambling on PCM

The proposed performance credit mechanism would not guarantee the development of any new generation capacity but would impose guaranteed new costs on Texas consumers.

By Zoe Parker • April 26, 2023

Outage duration, frequency and magnitude: Texas PUC staff backs ERCOT’s reliability framework

The Public Utility Commission of Texas is developing a grid reliability standard, and staff has recommended measuring a range of metrics while also keeping an eye on costs.

By Robert Walton • April 25, 2023

FERC approves incentive framework for voluntary cybersecurity investments

In the final rule, the federal agency dropped a proposed 2% return on equity from the incentives utilities can get for certain cyber investments.

By Ethan Howland • April 24, 2023

NREL, UL publish requirements for a new distributed energy resource cybersecurity standard

UL Solutions has published testing and certification requirements that will be converted into standard UL 2941 after review by the company’s standard technical panel.

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2023

Ransomware is a major threat to smaller utilities, manufacturers and health care providers: report

Median losses associated with a successful ransomware attack could threaten 30% of a small utility’s operating income, according to the new research.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2023

NYISO: Transmission security margins sufficient for the state, but NYC faces reliability risks

“Potential heatwaves of various degrees pose risks throughout the next 10 years, especially in 2025,” NYISO said.

By Stephen Singer • April 17, 2023

NERC opposes expanding physical security rules for critical substations following Duke, PSE, other attacks

The scope of physical security rules for critical substations “appropriately focuses limited industry resources,” but other approaches may be considered, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Friday.

By Robert Walton • April 17, 2023

PJM asks FERC to help resolve LS Power, 7 other complaints about $1.8B in Winter Storm Elliott penalties

“There is value to a prompt resolution of these heavily contested non-performance charges … in a manner that does not lead to market disruption, defaults, bankruptcies and the physical loss of assets,” PJM said Friday.

By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2023

After months of Russian attacks, Ukraine’s grid resumes electricity exports to EU. How did it survive?

Despite its efforts, Ukraine lost approximately 10 GW of generation and 43% of its high voltage transmission network was destroyed in Russian attacks from October to February.

By Robert Walton • April 12, 2023

ABB plans $40M New Mexico plant to fortify US electric grid

The expansion comes as more electric utility providers embark on grid hardening initiatives.

By Megan Ruggles • April 11, 2023

Puerto Rico’s utility requests $8.2B in federal investment for grid reliability projects: LUMA

Federal funding will help LUMA develop clean energy microgrids and install grid automation technology to improve reliability, officials said.

By Robert Walton • April 7, 2023

Physical attacks on North American power grid rose more than 10% last year: NERC

The electric system is a "hyper complex risk environment," NERC President and CEO Jim Robb said. Software vulnerabilities are being discovered "at an unprecedentedly high rate."

By Robert Walton • April 6, 2023

California’s grid operator calls for $9.3B in transmission investments over next decade

The state’s forecasted electricity needs have been rapidly increasing, accelerating the pace at which new transmission infrastructure needs to be developed.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 6, 2023