How the e21 Initiative is building smarter utility business models in Minnesota

Minnesota policy wonks, utility execs, and environmentalists prove collaboration can produce big new ideas.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2015

Co-op offers renewables only EV charging, highlighting new opportunity for utilities

Great River Energy will be the first U.S. utility to provide renewables-generated electricity at no extra cost and will use the plan to drive the transition to electric driving.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 17, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Connecticut AG: Regulators should condition Iberdrola-UIL merger on plant cleanup

The companies say the proposed merger is not the appropriate venue to consider how best to handle lingering environmental issues at the English coal facility, which dates to the 1920s.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2015

California IOU rates found to be twice the cost of muni power

Munis say low prices are from reinvesting profits, while IOUs say regulations and renewables are to blame.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 17, 2015

Maryland greens, consumer advocates appeal approval of Exelon-Pepco merger

An environmental group as well as the Maryland Office of People's Counsel have challenged regulators' decision to approve the merger.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2015

New Vermont law mandates 75% renewables by 2032, targets residential emissions

Signed last week, the new law also hopes to clear up utility problems with renewable energy credits.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2015

Hunt-led group of creditors could upend NextEra bid for Oncor

Hunt Consolidated has teamed up with a group of creditors in a bid to acquire Oncor Electric Delivery from its bankrupt parent Energy Futures Holding.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2015

NC Supreme Court gives Duke until 2029 to finish coal ash cleanup

Justices overruled a lower court's decision that would have required Duke to act immediately.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 15, 2015

Report: Driven by carbon, reliability rules, energy service companies poised for growth

New analysis from Navigant predicts the U.S. market for energy service companies will reach $11.5 billion by 2024.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2015

8 utilities partner to stockpile emergency power transformers

The new company, for a fee, allows transmission owners access to emergency equipment in the event of physical attacks, cyber intrusions and environmental disasters.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2015

Regulators put the brakes on companies seeking to abandon Nevada Power service

State regulators will not allow Switch to switch power providers, but the company will be allowed to reapply in the future.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2015

How utilities are finding new revenue streams to combat stagnant load growth

Physical assets and customer relationships offer great opportunities outside power generation & delivery.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2015

Minnesota city goes 100% renewable with subscription to community shared solar

The SunShare-developed project will save the city $1.1 million for schools and policing.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 15, 2015

DTE Energy asks Michigan regulators to lower rates due to low cost of wind power

The utility joined Consumers Energy in eliminating a monthly renewables surcharge.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 12, 2015

Hawaii Electric shareholders approve $4.3 billion NextEra acquisition

Many state activists still doubt out-of-state control and threaten grid defection or want a public utility takeover.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 12, 2015

NextEra leads pack of bidders for Texas utility Oncor

CenterPoint Energy Inc., Berkshire Hathaway and Hunt Consolidated have all been mentioned as potential suitors for the Texas utility, but Bloomberg reports NextEra may be the frontrunner.

By Robert Walton • June 12, 2015

SunEdison approved to build 50 MW Oahu solar array for HECO

The solar project is first progress for HECO’s eight proposals to increase Oahu’s solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 11, 2015

Inside Georgia Power's move into the residential solar market

The utility says it will offer solar through an unregulated business, but installers fear possible anticompetitive behavior.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 11, 2015

New job initiative aims to bolster veteran ranks in the utility industry

The Edison Electric Institute is partnering with the federal government to recruit and train military veterans to work in the utility industry.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2015

Experts warn of escalating grid security issues after PG&E break-in

After a PG&E substation was vandalized in March, federal law enforcement began investigating and security experts are warning the utility grid is vulnerable in a variety of ways from cyber intrusions to physical break-ins.

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2015

Hunt Consolidated in talks to acquire Texas utility Oncor

A real estate investment trust managed by Hunt told the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission it is in talks to acquire the Texas utility.

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2015

Stock market gives Talen Energy, PPL's merchant generation spinoff, a lukewarm welcome

The company debuted on the New York Stock Exchange at $20/share but has traded lower since its opening.

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2015

Power industry spending on federal lobbying declines

Data shows a decline in the amount major power players are spending to lobby federal lawmakers.

By Robert Walton • June 8, 2015

PNM seeks more time to complete San Juan coal plant deals

PNM needs time to buy all 4 units and complete a coal deal for the 2 units it will keep running. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 5, 2015

SDG&E forming coalition to back proposal for 550 car charging stations

The necessary stakeholders, including automakers and environmentalists, are becoming aligned for the utility's big EV charging rollout.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 5, 2015