How California's biggest utilities plan to integrate distributed resources

New plans filed with state regulators show where DERs should go and how much they are worth to utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2015

Duke to upgrade 36 MW storage facility to better serve Texas grid

Duke plans to replace the lead acid batteries with lithium-ion technology next year.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 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

SolarCity adds Tesla battery to its new solar-plus-storage home product

The new offering will provide backup power now and be a grid services tool in the future, company officials say.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 6, 2015

ITC offering transmission rights for Lake Erie Connector line

Line would tranverse Lake Erie to exchange electricity resources between Canada and PJM markets

By Herman K. Trabish • July 6, 2015

HECO files with regulators to cut solar net metering rates in half

HECO also wants to up the minimum monthly bill to cover a cost shift it says costs $53 million per year.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2015

Austin Energy gets record low solar bids at under 4 cents/kWh

Solar bids are getting cheaper so quickly that the utility is asking its oversight arm to slow down approvals so it can get the best deal possible.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2015

Puerto Rico utility reaches deal with creditors as island struggles to service debt

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority funded a $415 million payment with a mix of cash and debt, while striking a deal on short-term bonds to get through the next months.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2015

What happened when NRG Energy disrupted its own business model

The country’s biggest independent power producer is going retail with rooftop solar, EV chargers, and connected consumer products.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

Georgia Power unveils rooftop solar installation offering

The utility will not yet offer leasing or loan financing and the solar arrays "will not be rate based assets," an executive told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

DOE-backed floating wind project may lose funding as utilities reject power prices

Utilities they can buy onshore wind at a quarter of the price of WindFloat’s ocean wind electricity.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2015

Study: More than half of large US businesses generate power on site

Businesses are increasingly focused on keeping down energy costs, and a growing number are generating some portion of their own electricity needs.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2015

With Minn. approval, Wisconsin Energy and Integrys complete merger

Minnesota regulators approved the deal last week, clearing the way for two companies to combine their assets under the name WEC Energy Group.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2015

How America's largest power company plans to become a leading renewables developer

As Duke Energy's renewables business grows, it presents unique challenges in balancing the interests of its utilities with those of its unregulated subsidiaries. 

By Gavin Bade • June 30, 2015

Grid Edge Live 2015: The trends behind the explosion in distributed resources

Billions will go to DERs in the next three years, driven by changing policies and new utility opportunities.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 29, 2015

Energy Future reaches deal to hand Oncor to creditors, but Hunt is still fighting

The agreement puts an end to the bidding war between NextEra and Hunt Consolidated.

By Gavin Bade • June 26, 2015

Google to build data center on site of retired coal plant, power it with renewables

The Widows Creek coal power plant is shutting down this fall, and Google is going to build its newest data center on the site.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2015

Illinois approves Wisconsin Energy-Integrys merger, contingent on rate freeze

Regulators in Illinois approved the deal, though they attached some 40 conditions.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2015

How utilities are leveraging new software to help customers go solar

A new Clean Power Research product helps customers choose the right size and rate for rooftop solar, and pick the right finance plan.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 25, 2015

Duke proposes full excavation of 12 North Carolina coal ash basins

The decision drew praise from environmentalists, but also calls to address coal ash at a dozen other sites around the state.

By Robert Walton • June 25, 2015

How California plans to integrate distributed resources into its ISO market

California’s ISO will be the first to open its market to rooftop PV, batteries and EVs, but there's much to do before the first bids can come in.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 24, 2015

Duke solar partner REC Solar buys commercial sector competitor Stellar Energy

With a 400 MW portfolio, Duke’s installer is getting ready to compete with sector giant SolarCity.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 24, 2015

Is FirstEnergy giving special deals to win support for Ohio subsidy proposals?

As the generator continues to push for help with struggling facilities, advocates worry a slate of new proposals amount to special deals for industrial consumers.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2015

SolarCity seeks utility partners for grid modernization programs

The biggest U.S. solar installer says it can work with utilities to smooth demand and regulate voltage. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2015

Why Tesla won't disrupt utilities

In this guest post, E Source fellow Jay Stein examines the impact of stationary storage technologies on the utility business model.

By Jay Stein • June 22, 2015

Inside Duke Energy's renewables strategy

The nation's largest utility is looking to renewables — both utility-scale and distributed — as potential sources of growth for decades to come.

By Gavin Bade • June 22, 2015