Corporate News: Page 2

PG&E to plead guilty on 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter ahead of bankruptcy court decision

At a hearing this morning, the Butte County, California, District Attorney will show photographs of all the people who died in the 2018 Camp Fire.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2020

Supreme Court lifts major hurdle to $7.5B Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Pipeline opponents say Duke and Dominion have many more barriers to overcome on the long-delayed project. Dominion requested a two-year extension on the project on Tuesday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: June 18, 2020 at 9:40 a.m.

As US reopens some pandemic responses may become permanent, public power CEOs say

After COVID-19 forced an unexpected experiment in teleworking, CEOs from multiple public utilities say some of their employees will continue to work from home — maybe permanently.

By Emma Penrod • June 11, 2020

Alabama regulators greenlight nearly 2 GW of gas for Southern, punt on solar+storage

Regulators said 400 MW in solar and storage facilities should be considered in a separate docket, but did approve 200 MW in demand side management programs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 10, 2020

Daimler, Volvo establish subsidiary for fuel-cell electric trucks

The German OEM has a two-pronged strategy on electric trucks, with differing approaches in Europe and the U.S.

By Jim Stinson • June 09, 2020

Opinion

Utility exec and consumer advocate: Arrearage management programs are a win for customers and utilities

These programs can be particularly useful when current utility shut-off moratoriums expire — it is estimated the residential electric sector alone may see a total increase in past due bills of more than $15 billion by early summer.

By Penni Conner and Charlie Harak • June 08, 2020

Victims blast PG&E bankruptcy plan, citing fire risk and payout concerns as approval deadline nears

Not confirming PG&E's reorganization plan could have "draconian" results, an attorney for the company told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali last week. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 08, 2020

Opinion

Renewables' potential depends on transparent and fair policies, not special interest giveaways

FirstEnergy spinoff Energy Harbor is receiving a $1 billion taxpayer bailout while also enriching its shareholders with an $800 million stock buyback. This is crony capitalism at its worst, the author writes.

By Michael K. Dorsey • June 05, 2020

Deep Dive

The 3 key challenges to expanding the West's real-time energy market to day-ahead trading

Driven by new Western state renewables and zero emissions mandates, the 11 active participants and nine new applicants in the Energy Imbalance Market are pushing to expand it to day-ahead trading.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 03, 2020

CPUC approves PG&E reorganization plan, paving way for bankruptcy exit

"We have put the guideposts in place, but PG&E needs to own its own transformation," CPUC President Marybel Batjer said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 29, 2020

Southern targets net zero carbon by 2050

CEO Tom Fanning said the company will achieve the new goal by continuing its energy efficiency investments and using carbon negative solutions, like planting trees and direct air carbon capture.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 28, 2020

PG&E enters last stretch of bankruptcy deadline as plan confirmation hearing begins

The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote on approving the utility's plan Thursday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 27, 2020

Green Mountain Power expands BYOD and Tesla battery programs as it targets fossil peakers

The utility claims to be the first in the country to offer rate discounts for the use of distributed energy storage to lower peak energy demand across its system.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 26, 2020

Column

Taking Charge: Coronavirus has disrupted much of ComEd, but some things don't change, COO Donnelly says

As the utility’s workforce ages, the Exelon subsidiary can’t pause its hiring and worker certifications during the pandemic, says President and Chief Operating Officer Terry Donnelly.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 26, 2020

Tax equity financing for renewables remains robust, but deal delays likely, Morgan Stanley, others agree

The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn have only created a slight headwind against the pressure for renewable energy projects to close financing as soon as possible in order to qualify for tax credits.

By Matthew Bandyk • May 26, 2020

Deep Dive

As utilities tackle immediate COVID-19 impacts, analysts stress need to focus beyond the pandemic

Power systems across the country need new approaches for today's shifting loads, but focusing on recovery and tomorrow’s resources can be even better, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 20, 2020

Con Edison commits $1.5 billion to energy efficiency

The pledge amounts to a tripling of the utility's current investment in such programs and will include customer incentives for ground and air-source heat pumps.

By Guy Burdick • May 20, 2020

Long-term demand propels renewable procurement during pandemic as buyers remain motivated

In some communities, data center construction and new renewable energy to power the projects are viewed as a critical effort to reinvigorate the local economy amid the economic downturn of the pandemic.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 20, 2020

PG&E says fire victims have accepted bankruptcy plan, with final vote count due this week

But multiple parties have filed objections to PG&E's reorganization plan, including a committee representing the interests of fire victims. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 20, 2020

Walmart blasts Virginia regulator's report on pricing, biomass in Dominion's proposed 100% renewable energy tariff

Tension is mounting in Virginia's regulatory proceeding that would block Dominion customers from leaving its service for clean energy and charge a premium for 100% renewable energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 14, 2020

Exelon downgrades 2020 earnings guidance as coronavirus, unfavorable weather take a toll

Each of the company's utilities is working with regulators on COVID-19 cost and bad debt recovery mechanisms where it doesn't have them, CFO Joseph Nigro said during Friday's Q1 earnings call.

By Larry Pearl • May 12, 2020

NV Energy crafts solar+storage subscription plan to keep large customers in its service

The utility said the new pricing structure would only affect large energy customers subscribing to the program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 12, 2020

AEP CEO expects Texas, Louisiana decisions soon on 1.5 GW North Central wind project

With approvals from Arkansas, Oklahoma and federal regulators, Nick Akins is confident the $2 billion project will move forward. But at what size?

By Larry Pearl • UPDATED: May 29, 2020 at 10:05 a.m.

Dominion steels itself for market volatility, anticipating slow economic reopening in Virginia, South Carolina

The electric utility anticipates a slow recovery from pandemic conditions through the late summer as the states plan to lift restrictions.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 06, 2020

Tesla delays electric semi truck delivery to 2021, citing battery supply issues

CEO Elon Musk said the production schedule slowed as the company needed to increase battery production to serve all its products. 

By S.L. Fuller • May 05, 2020