Stressed by falling gas and power prices, unregulated utilities get negative outlook from Moody's

The outlook for regulated utilities is stable, while unregulated power companies with coal and nuclear plants are facing significant challenges.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2015

Hawaii distributed energy and smart grid companies form new trade group

“It is not just about solar anymore,” says the a founding member of the Distributed Energy Resources Council of Hawaii.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 12, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

TPO showdown: Duke faces off against greens over NC church's solar array

NC WARN is testing the limits of North Carolina third party ownership law and Duke wants to put a stop to it.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 12, 2015

Moody's cuts Mississippi Power credit rating to near-junk status

The move comes after new members were elected to the Mississippi PSC, sparking concerns they will be less friendly to the utility in rate recovery proceedings for the Kemper coal facility.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2015

Boulder may build distribution assets to push through municipalization

After Colorado regulators tossed out a part of Boulder's plan to take over Xcel Energy's distribution system, the city is mulling options and potentially facing higher costs in its bid to form a municipal utility.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2015

Court rejects Dominion's move to block Sierra Club coal ash lawsuit

The Sierra Club lawsuit can proceed, the federal judge ruled, rejecting Dominion Virginia Power's claims that Sierra Club's arguments are illegitimate over potential coal ash water contamination from a Dominion power plant. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 11, 2015

Feds grant two offshore wind leases off New Jersey coast

Wind developers U.S. Wind Inc. and RES Americas Development won the auction to develop nearly 344,000 water acres.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 11, 2015

Stagnant load growth fueling US utility merger mania

New data expected to be reported by accounting firm EY will show utility deals in North and Sourth America reached $57 billion in the third quarter – a new 5-year high for the period, largely driven by two megamergers in the electric sector.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2015

Judge allows SolarCity lawsuit against Arizona utility SRP to move forward

An Arizona federal judge threw out SolarCity's claims for monetary damages and non-monetary relief but ruled that the lawsuit can proceed.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 10, 2015

DOE approves $1.2B transmission line for Canadian wind and hydro

The transmission line expected to import 1,000 MW of Canadian wind and hydro power to New England nears regulatory completion. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 10, 2015

What do utility customers want? There's an app for that

The energy app landscape is expanding fast as more vendors and utilities tackle energy efficiency and customer relationships via the mobile device. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 9, 2015

EPA suing Pepco for allegedly polluting Anacostia River

Pepco could face a minimum of $4.9 million in fines related to alleged violations between 2009 and 2014.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2015

NYISO: Closing NRG Huntly and Dunkirk coal plants won't threaten reliability

Lawmakers have already put a $19 million relief package together for communities, and both plants are scheduled to come offline in early 2016. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2015

Regulators reject part of Boulder muni bid, but case moves forward

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission determined some portion of the city of Boulder's plan to form a municipal utility ran afoul of the doctine of regulated monopolies, but the city will have a chance to amend its application.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2015

Fairness to creditors the focus as Energy Future Holdings bankruptcy trial begins

In what could be the final step to reorganization, a U.S. bankruptcy judge is being asked to approve splitting the company into two parts.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2015

Hawaii PUC allows public utility alternatives to be considered in NextEra merger case

As a part of the proceeding on the merger of NextEra and Hawaiian Electric, the commission will hear presentations on the feasibility of co-ops, munis, and LNG for state.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 5, 2015

Invenergy adds 31.5 MW battery to booming PJM frequency regulation market

PJM is now on track to reach an energy storage capacity of over 550 MW next year, with almost all of that providing frequency regulation, among other services.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 4, 2015

Duke urges regulators to deny TPO solar bid from green group, church

The utility says the protest act by activist group NC WARN is breaking the law and deserves $1,000 fine every day.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 4, 2015

Utilities pour money into startup Bidgely for home energy management

Exelon Corp. was one of three major utilities investing in the data analytics company to expand Bidgley's home energy management suite in the United States and Europe.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2015

California ballot initiative would eliminate IOUs, establish statewide public utility

The Secretary of State on Friday approved the petition's language, greenlighting efforts to get 365,000 signatures to form a statewide public utility.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 3, 2015

Ice, ice energy: The hot market for cooled liquid energy storage

Ice Energy and CALMAC are proving their value while newer technologies wrestle with cost.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 3, 2015

Maryland attorney general wants state to reconsider Exelon-Pepco merger approval

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh has thrown his support behind a bid to undo approval of the Exelon-Pepco deal, arguing the merger will hold back efforts to modernize the state's grid.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Duke's Piedmont deal forces restructuring ownership of Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Dominion Resources will remain the lead owner of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, but how the shares will be restructered remains to be seen.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Wisconsin Public Service seeks third fixed charge increase in three years

As WPS looks to add another $6 to monthly residential fixed charges, a state court tosses out an earlier fixed charge increase from We Energies saying it discriminates against solar owners.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 2, 2015

ITC sunset in sight, SolarCity shifts from growth to cost cutting strategy

With strong third quarter growth this year, the company is turning its attention to post-tax credit profitability. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 2, 2015