Google's Nest buys Dropcam for $555M

The company is buying the home security firm smart in a bid to grow its foothold in the growing smart home market.

By Claire Cameron • June 24, 2014

Omaha power district to retire, retrofit coal units

Energy efficiency and demand response programs are expected to meet the lost 300 MW of capacity. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 24, 2014

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

Report: Traditional utilities more reliable than competitive markets

A new report finds serious resource adequacy issues in competitive markets.

By Claire Cameron • June 23, 2014

Southern CEO: Grid security fearmongers 'don't know what they're talking about'

As opposed to the dire predictions made by leaked reports in the Wall Street Journal, Tom Fanning believes the industry is in good shape to deal with security threats.

By Claire Cameron • June 23, 2014

Did Duke Energy ignore warnings ahead of the Dan River coal ash spill?

Engineers warned the utility nearly 30 years ago. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2014

Candidates suspect APS influence in election for Arizona utility regulators

The candidates have asked Arizona Public Service to confirm or deny the allegations.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2014

Rocky Mountain Power to buy 320 MW of solar

Rocky Mountain Power boosts renewables portfolio in Idaho and Utah after striking new deals with FirstWind.

By Claire Cameron • June 22, 2014

PG&E to spend $100M to harden substations against attacks

The armed attack on PG&E's Metcalf substation has brought grid security back into the national spotlight.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2014

Duke Energy is top utility for women

Duke and Sempra Energy made the top five of Ernst & Young's rankings of power companies for gender diversity.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 20, 2014

Louisiana utility Cleco for sale

A Canadian infrastructure firm's unexpected bid has led Cleco Corp. to put itself up for sale for the second time in two years.

By Claire Cameron • June 20, 2014

AES sells part of solar portfolio to SunEdison for up to $207 million

SunEdison will own 50% of 336 MW of solar. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 19, 2014

Report: 50% of U.S. homebuilders to offer rooftop solar for single-family homes by 2016

Solar is becoming an increasingly standard offering for homebuilders.

By Claire Cameron • June 19, 2014

Decisions loom on aging U.S. coal plant fleet

With environmental regulations looming large, utilities must decide what to do with their oldest, most inefficient coal plants.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2014

San Francisco proposes competing with PG&E for electricity customers

The city Board of Supervisors has proposed selling hydropower from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to customers. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2014

SolarCity buys Silevo to become 4th U.S. vertically integrated solar giant

The acquisition will assure adequate module supply as the company expands installation capacity to “tens of gigawatts per year” through the next ten years.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2014

Public power chief eyes 'substantial challenges' ahead

At the American Public Power Association's annual meeting, CEO Sue Kelly criticized the EPA and warned of significant challenges ahead for public utilities.

By Claire Cameron • June 18, 2014

Reliant launches all-you-can-use electricity plan

Texas customers will be able to enroll in Reliant's unlimited electricity contract with monthly flat fees calculated according to customer needs.

By Claire Cameron • June 18, 2014

MISO may double number of power plants pulled out of retirement

In an effort to maintain grid reliability, MISO expects to continue ordering power plants to keep operating even when they are inefficient and unprofitable. 

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

Xcel to invest $557M in transmission in Texas, New Mexico

New high-voltage power lines are coming to meet growing demand in the Southwest.

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

ACEEE: 10% electric sales decline won't cause utility death spiral

Though mass customer defections are unlikely, new revenue sources are needed to sustain the profitability of electric utilities, according to a new report.

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

Elon Musk opens up all of Tesla Motors' patents

Tesla Motors have made their patented electric vehicle and charger technology open to the public domain in an attempt to boost electric vehicle production.

By Claire Cameron • June 16, 2014

Arizona substation attacked with bomb

A "really crude" homemade bomb was placed next to a 50,000-gallon diesel storage tank.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 15, 2014

Minnesota introduces statewide off-peak EV charging rate

Regulators have required utilities to offer a discounted, overnight refueling rate.

By Claire Cameron • June 13, 2014

NRG to refuel NY coal plant with natural gas

New York's Dunkirk coal plant has been given a second lease of life after state regulators approved a plan to refuel it with natural gas.

By Claire Cameron • June 13, 2014

62% of Americans want to cut emissions even if energy costs increase

EPA's plan to reduce CO2 emissions will likely raise electric rates; turns out most consumers are fine with that.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 12, 2014