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

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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

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

America's cyber chiefs have a long to-do list

The federal government wants to lead by example and communicate the urgency of the moment. First, it needs to get its security affairs in order. 

By Matt Kapko • June 14, 2022

'Not backsliding on clean energy': Officials say California's proposed 5 GW reserve could be heavy on gas

The electricity reserve is a $5.2 billion proposal from state officials to ensure electric reliability at times when the grid is especially stressed.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 13, 2022

4 effective ways to meet US decarbonization goals

How can the US achieve meaningful decarbonization goals without sacrificing reliable, stable energy?

June 13, 2022

Biden invokes Defense Production Act to boost domestic manufacturing in clean energy, grid sectors

The White House also aims to spur up to 100 GW in solar purchases via federal, state and local joint procurement.

By Ethan Howland • June 7, 2022

3 Rs of utility emergency management

GIS helps to prepare for and deliver services during and after an emergency.

By Bill Meehan • June 6, 2022

Austin's new chief resiliency officer talks equipping communities in face of extreme weather, violence, injustice

Former Houston official Laura Patiño talks about lessons learned from Winter Storm Uri, the push to enact "resilience hubs" and the potential for a national chief resilience officer. 

By Maria Rachal • June 1, 2022

Pacific Northwest plan calls for 3.5 GW of renewables, more energy efficiency by 2027

The plan recommends that the region add between 750 and 1,000 average MW of energy efficiency to its portfolio by the end of 2027, and expand that to at least 2,400 average MW by the end of 2041.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 1, 2022

The 4 universal truths of a successful TOU rate transition

Increasing adoption of TOU rates depends on these universal truths of successful programs.

By Brad Langley, VP of Marketing, GridX • May 31, 2022

California drought could halve summer hydropower generation, leading to more natural gas, EIA finds

The increase in natural gas generation, in turn, could contribute to higher wholesale electricity prices and carbon emissions, the analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration found. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 27, 2022

Oil and gas industry pledges cybersecurity cooperation at World Economic Forum

Energy companies and industrial cybersecurity firms are working collaboratively to protect critical infrastructure in an evolving threat environment.

By David Jones • May 27, 2022

Cybersecurity threat extends to utility credit ratings: Fitch

Electric utilities face a growing cyber threat, and poor security practices "could result in negative rating actions," according to a special report from Fitch Ratings.

By Robert Walton • May 25, 2022

Snoop Dogg and resource adequacy reality meet head on as summer approaches

We find ourselves today without appropriate evaluation structures for resource adequacy because everyone is looking to somebody else, the authors write. It's something the "D-O-double-G" told us about long ago. 

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • May 23, 2022

How the Colonial Pipeline attack instilled urgency in cybersecurity

The federal government and private sector are still coming to terms with how to protect operational technology in an increasingly volatile threat environment.

By David Jones • May 23, 2022

Gridspertise's advanced digital solutions for a smart and resilient grid

The new subsidiary of Enel Group will be at Distributech in Dallas to present its innovative solutions that enable a sustainable, flexible, resilient, smart and safe grid infrastructure.

May 23, 2022

California OKs 497 MW of storage for SCE, eyes hydrogen funding amid ongoing grid reliability push

The approved storage contracts will help California ensure grid reliability during net peak hours, when electricity demand is still high but solar production is waning, according to regulators.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 20, 2022

FERC commissioners respond to elevated power outage risks across two-thirds of US

Two commissioners pointed to the renewable energy shift as a key culprit in the "reliability crisis," while others called out extreme weather and drought.

By Ethan Howland • May 20, 2022

PJM sees need for thermal power plants to protect against blackout risks amid rising electrification

PJM said its study shows transmission, energy storage and emerging technologies will be needed to handle the evolving grid across its footprint.

By Ethan Howland • May 19, 2022

NERC sounds alarm on solar tripping in 'sobering' summer reliability report

Electric grid operators may struggle with resource shortages, droughts and extreme temperatures this summer, according to North America's grid watchdog.

By Robert Walton • May 19, 2022

ERCOT says grid is ready for summer, but extreme weather and generator outages could challenge reliability

Southwest Power Pool and PJM Interconnection have also indicated they expect sufficient energy resources to meet peak electricity demand, while the Midcontinent ISO anticipates a generation shortfall.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2022

California governor floats 5-GW, $5.2B 'reliability reserve' amid possible electricity shortfalls

“We also need to be mindful [that] we need to accelerate projects, particularly because we have been changing our modeling and we are now recognizing some new factors and challenges,” Newsom said Friday.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 17, 2022

After calls for conservation and generator failures, Texas' grid survived the weekend. It's still May.

Additional demand response resources should be put in place now, say experts who anticipate a difficult summer for Texas grid operations.

By Robert Walton • May 16, 2022

White House cyber executive order still has unfinished business

The Biden administration is up against key hurdles in its effort to raise software security standards and establish zero trust across federal agencies.

By David Jones • May 13, 2022