Avangrid-PNM merger could get 2nd review by New Mexico’s restructured Public Regulation Commission

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who supports the utility merger, in December announced the appointment of three new members to the Public Regulation Commission. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2023

The path to climate resilience for the District of Columbia

Along with other city leaders, DCPSC Chairman Emile C. Thompson sets standards and ensures that D.C.'s clean energy transition is equitable, affordable and resilient.

Jan. 9, 2023

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

PG&E, Energy Vault plan largest US utility-scale battery, green hydrogen long-duration storage project

A city in California wine country that’s vulnerable to high winds and wildfires could switch to power held in a long-duration energy storage system relying on batteries and hydrogen.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 6, 2023

Power plant developer Competitive Power Ventures launches retail supply business

CPV Retail Energy is starting operations in PJM Interconnection states and plans to expand to New England and New York.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 6, 2023

Taking Charge: Exelon focuses on affordability, partnerships amid the energy transition — new CEO Butler

“What we will always consider as we go through this process is how our customers … can afford it,” Butler said. “We're going to be doing it in partnership with our regulators and our legislators.”

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 5, 2023

FirstEnergy agrees to pay $3.9M for failing to tell FERC about energy bill bribery payments

The utility company didn’t tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about $81 million it gave to Ohio officials to pass a bill that offered $1 billion to nuclear plants it owned, according to the agency.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 3, 2023

Avangrid asks regulators to dismiss 1.2-GW Commonwealth offshore wind contracts, says it plans to rebid project

Economic conditions have changed since the contracts were signed in April, making the project too expensive to build under the power purchase agreements, Avangrid told Massachusetts regulators Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 19, 2022

Lyft offers its ride-sharing drivers incentives to switch to EVs

The program is the latest in a series of moves Lyft has taken to fulfill its pledge to transition entirely to electric vehicles by 2030.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 13, 2022

Nuclear SMR developer X-energy to merge with Ares Management-backed SPAC, creating $2B company

X-energy says 67 GW from SMRs will need to be installed by 2040 in the U.S., Canada and U.K. to offset the retirement of coal and other fossil fuel plants and meet expected increases in demand.

By Stephen Singer • Dec. 7, 2022

Public power, cooperative utilities face ‘deteriorating’ outlook amid financial pressures: Fitch

“Sustained cost pressures and slower economic growth through 2023 will result in the most challenging operating environment the public power sector has faced in many years,” Kathy Masterson, Fitch senior director, said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 7, 2022

Wind energy industry struggles to find qualified workers: NREL

The wind industry is struggling to find experienced workers to fill open roles, while applicants report barriers to entry-level jobs that would provide that experience.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 1, 2022

Exelon, Duke, Southern, PG&E still the top utilities on Fortune 500; most show revenues up but rankings down

The utilities on the 2022 Fortune 500 list generated 13% more revenue in 2021 than they did five years earlier, but the sector remains small relative to retail, tech and healthcare giants.

By Stephen Singer • Nov. 30, 2022

ESG score hurts credit rating for 20% of organizations: Moody’s

More than half of organizations that issue speculative-grade debt faced a negative impact on their credit rating after a sustainability assessment.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 29, 2022

AEP’s Public Service Co. of Oklahoma proposes buying 995 MW of wind, solar from Invenergy for $2.5B

PSO expects the renewable energy facilities will produce $1 billion in tax credits and increase rates by 2.1%.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 21, 2022

SDG&E partners with General Motors to study electric vehicle bidirectional charging potential

The collaboration will focus on three bidirectional capabilities: the ability for vehicles to support home energy needs, send energy back to the grid or participate in a virtual power plant.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2022

Dominion Energy launches ‘top-to-bottom’ review of businesses

No option will be off the table as the Richmond, Virginia-based company seeks to create “significant long-term value for our shareholders,” President and CEO Robert Blue said Friday.

By Rod Kuckro • Nov. 7, 2022

Duke Energy greenlights sale of $4B commercial renewable energy unit amid ‘robust’ interest

Proceeds from the sale will help the company reduce debt and lower costs associated with decarbonization amid rising interest rates, CEO Lynn Good told investors on Friday.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 7, 2022

DTE Electric proposes $9B spend on 5.4 GW renewables, 760 MW storage, coal-to-gas power plant switch

The Detroit-based utility aims to exit coal in 2035, with carbon capture and small nuclear reactors as replacement options.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 4, 2022

Exelon CEO Crane to retire at year end under accelerated succession plan

Exelon Chief Operating Officer Calvin Butler Jr. will succeed Crane, who moved up his retirement plans after learning of “significant” health issues.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 3, 2022

PG&E launches vehicle-to-grid export rate for commercial electric fleets to help meet peak demand

The new three-year pilot will cost ratepayers up to $1.52 million.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Nov. 2, 2022

Tesla revamps EV production schedule to ease logistics strains in its delivery network, Elon Musk says

The EV maker is transitioning to a more evenly spread schedule throughout the quarter to avoid logistics capacity strains.

By Kate Magill • Nov. 2, 2022

NextEra says FPL’s speedy Hurricane Ian recovery could cost customers $1.1B

The company also plans to acquire $1.1 billion in renewable natural gas assets. Similar investments are likely to grow under the Inflation Reduction Act, executives said Friday morning in a third-quarter earnings call.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 31, 2022

Electric utilities aren’t doing enough to address inequities in today’s power system, advocates say

How are companies, regulators, NGOs and others ensuring that the energy transition is equitable?

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2022

ESG backlash unlikely to derail SEC climate risk rule

SEC Chair Gary Gensler faces growing resistance to the agency’s proposal that companies provide detailed disclosures on carbon emissions.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 28, 2022

Engie buys 6-GW solar and storage development portfolio from Belltown Power

The deal for projects in PJM, ERCOT and other markets comes as Consolidated Edison, American Electric Power and Duke Energy move to sell their unregulated renewable energy businesses.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 28, 2022