Michigan utilities face growing lineman shortage

A rise in retirements and sluggish hiring has left Michigan struggling to find enough workers to maintain its electric power distribution grid.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Exelon delays decision on Illinois nuke after MISO announces potential market changes

The Midcontinent ISO last week acknowledged the need for market changes in the southern Illinois area, giving new hope to Exelon's struggling Clinton nuclear facility.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 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

Austin Energy, First Solar ink deal for 119 MW of solar

The project is due  to come online before the end of 2016 to qualify for the 30% tax credit.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2015

NextEra grows renewable portfolio, weighs sale of Texas merchant generation

NextEra CEO James Robo said the company reviews all their assets each year and determines whether it makes sense to keep them. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2015

3 US companies make rankings of world's top 20 greenest utilities

A Spanish conglomerate focused on renewables took the top slot, while NextEra Energy was the highest-ranked U.S. utility. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2015

How utilities are getting in on the transmission building boom

New renewables generation under the Clean Power Plan will require thousands of miles of new transmission, and increasingly utilities are getting in on the race to build it.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 29, 2015

NextEra, HEI ask PUC to exclude merger intervenors pushing for public utility

Utilities argue the proceeding should only be about the $4.3B merger and not about public utility alternatives.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 29, 2015

Rocky Mountain Power unveils clean energy proposal, but skeptics remain

The Salt Lake City-based utility wants to offer a new, lower tariff for expanding businesses and split residential bills into use and access charges in a plan aimed at cutting emissions. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

Good news for Exelon: DC regulators vote to evaluate Pepco merger settlement

The PSC voted Wednesday to consider a settlement Exelon reached with the DC mayor after it rejected an initial merger proposal in August.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 28, 2015

Duke CEO: Piedmont deal heralds new focus on natural gas industry

In the future, gas infrastructure investments will be a growing focus for Duke Energy, according to CEO Lynn Good.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

Plans to expand Texas nuke plant by 2 units pass NRC safety tests

Nuclear regulators have completed a Final Safety Evaluation Report examining a Texas nuclear expansion, concluding the developer is technically and financially capable of moving ahead with the South Texas Project in Bay City.  

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

From theory to practice: The challenges in moving to 'Utility 2.0'

Executives from four major utilities spoke at ESNA 2015 about the trials and tribulations of putting more new technology on their grids. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 27, 2015

Xcel CEO: Wind is a better long-term buy than natural gas

Wind's 20-year PPA price of $25/MWh compares favorably with the economics of gas generation, CEO Ben Fowke said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 27, 2015

Florida Power & Light tapped as nation's most reliable utility

PA Consulting Group called the Florida utility "an incredibly focused organization that is embracing technology and innovation."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2015

Exelon threatens to walk from Pepco deal if DC doesn't move quickly

It's been 18 months since Exelon proposed purchasing Pepco Holdings, and now the company is warning regulators in the District of Columbia that it will walk away within five months if they don't reach a final decision.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2015

SCE reaches $400M settlement with nuclear insurer on San Onofre closure

The settlement stems from a radioactive leak on Mitsubishi equipment that led to the closure of the nuclear plant.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 26, 2015

Duke Energy to buy Piedmont Natural Gas for $4.9B

Duke will pay a 42% premium on Piedmont's stock price for a deal that would add about 1 million new gas customers for the utility giant.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 26, 2015

Wind industry installed over 1,600 MW of capacity in Q3 2015

As the industry notches its second-best third quarter ever, last year’s federal tax credit extension continues to buoy installers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 23, 2015

Virginia regulators order Dominion to open solar build to competitive bids

Dominion wants to build the first utility-scale solar in Virginia itself, but critics and regulators are concerned about the price.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 23, 2015

What comes after net metering: Hawaii's latest postcard from the future

Hawaii regulators offered two new remuneration schemes for rooftop solar in a landmark decision last week, along with new guidance on time of use rates.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 22, 2015

Electrical workers union is first intervenor to back NextEra-HECO merger

A local union of electrical workers had favored the deal, then opposed it due to a lack of support from NextEra, but now is back on board after assurances from the company.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 22, 2015

Stem, HECO partner on 1 MW battery storage pilot in Hawaii

Installations will be aimed at cutting commercial-industrial scale customers’ peak demand charges and providing grid support services.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 21, 2015

NextEra-HECO filing reveals merger origin, compensation details

Hawaiian Electric Industries CEO Connie Lau defended her $11.6 million compensation package to utility regulators, which is contingent on the sale to NextEra Energy being completed.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 20, 2015

How digital power plant tech can help utilities get the most from their assets

GE says its new plant technology can yield up to $230M in annual benefits for a gas plant and $100M for a wind farm.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 19, 2015

Will Exelon's merger settlement push the Pepco deal past its final hurdle?

Energy stakeholders in DC disagree on whether Exelon has sufficiently addressed regulators’ merger concerns, but in the end its political clout may see its proposal over the finish line anyway.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 15, 2015