Facing credit downgrades after firing CEO, FirstEnergy board launches further internal investigation

The company received credit downgrades recently and is the subject of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, its new management team told analysts Monday.

By John Funk • Updated Nov. 5, 2020

FirstEnergy fires CEO, 2 other top executives in wake of $61M political bribery scandal

Thursday's dismissals came on the same day as guilty pleas from two of four lobbyists charged in a federal racketeering probe related to Ohio's nuclear and coal plant subsidy bill.

By John Funk • Oct. 30, 2020

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 says it could face significant liability due to September Zogg Fire

State fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire, which has not yet been determined.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 30, 2020

GE Renewable Energy reports $5M profit in Q3 despite falling wind turbine orders

CEO Larry Culp predicts a "steep market decline" for the rest of 2020 and "a likely multi-year recovery," with GE's hopes for a turnaround riding on a recovery in the company's renewables and power divisions.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 29, 2020

DTE Energy's gas unit spinoff advances electric sector shift from non-utility assets

"All-in-all, this transaction offers greater appeal to investors focused on the strategic and financial characteristics of a pure-play utility," said DTE President and CEO Gerardo Norcia.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 29, 2020

Battery constraints preventing ramp up of electric truck production, Tesla says

The Semi requires "five-ish times" more cells than a passenger vehicle, according to CEO Elon Musk, which makes it challenging to scale manufacturing of the Class 8 electric truck.

By S.L. Fuller • Oct. 27, 2020

AVANGRID-PNM merger seen as step forward for New Mexico's untapped renewable potential

By purchasing New Mexico's largest utility, the Iberdrola subsidiary can bring its access to capital to bear to invest in renewables and transmission in the state and region.

By Matthew Bandyk • Oct. 23, 2020

AVANGRID, PNM Resources announce $8.3B merger to create 'one of biggest clean energy companies' in US

The combined entity would own 10 regulated utilities in six states, and would have renewable energy operations in 24 states.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 21, 2020

Amazon tests electric last-mile vans for consumer deliveries

Electrification is key to Amazon's Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon in its own operations by 2040.

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated Feb. 4, 2021

NextEra merger may be too attractive for Duke, regulators to ignore, analysts say

With its recent approach of Duke Energy regarding a possible tie-up, NextEra continued its 20-year quest to acquire a major utility.

By Ted Jackson • Oct. 15, 2020

PG&E probation judge demands details after utility equipment seized in wildfire investigation

The Zogg Fire began in late September and has since caused four fatalities and burned more than 56,000 acres.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 13, 2020

Taking Charge: How Austin Energy simultaneously managed COVID-19 and a new carbon price adder

Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent discusses "crazy times," and how the utility is protecting employees while cutting emissions on the road to carbon-free status.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2020

2 contractors chosen for Tesla's $1.1B Texas factory project

The electric car maker, which recently purchased additional land, has said that two unnamed general contractors have been selected for its Austin, Texas, Cybertruck facility.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 7, 2020

National Grid sees hydrogen as a linchpin, joins utilities targeting net zero carbon by 2050

The company intends to continue studies and pilots to blend hydrogen into its existing gas network, viewing the renewable gas as a "lynchpin" between its networks, according to a spokesperson.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 5, 2020

Virginia regulatory staff project $800 annual customer bill increase for Dominion to meet clean energy law

Plans proposed by the utility, ranging from around $44 billion to $84.3 billion, did not include a least-cost compliance option, according to staffers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 1, 2020

NextEra's $60B Duke merger proposal has some strong upsides but significant obstacles, analyst finds

NextEra is still eager for a deal, but obstacles to a union are formidable. Nevertheless a deal would create a $200 billion utility behemoth, the biggest ever.

By Ted Jackson • Oct. 1, 2020

NextEra, Mountain Valley Pipeline developers receive 2-year extension from FERC

Regulators lifted a work-stop order on Friday on all but a 25-mile segment including a national forest. Developers were previously aiming to bring the pipeline in service by early next year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Oct. 13, 2020

Ameren pledges net zero carbon by 2050, 3.1 GW new renewables by 2030, keeping coal into 2040s

Pending negotiations over securitization legislation in Missouri could encourage the utility to retire its coal assets faster, according to stakeholders.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020

Citing slow, overcrowded market, GE exits coal industry, raising questions about next steps

The company's stock prices plummeted following the announcement because the transition plan lacked detail, according to one analyst. But staying in the coal market would have been much worse.

By Emma Penrod • Sept. 24, 2020

Nikola CEO exits electric truck maker amid reports of SEC, DOJ investigations

Trevor Milton and Nikola attacked a critical report by Hindenburg Research, which claimed the company did not have a working model of its electric truck and relied on outsourced technology.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 22, 2020

Ohio regulators launch probe into FirstEnergy's political and charitable contributions

The new inquiry by the Public Utility Commission comes with FirstEnergy already the target of two federal investigations and a potential state attorney general examination.

By John Funk • Sept. 18, 2020

S&P lowers outlook for California IOUs in light of unprecedented wildfires, regulatory risk

None of the roughly 25 wildfires burning in the state seem to have been caused by utilities, but environmental factors increase "the likelihood that a California investor-owned electric utility could potentially be the cause of a catastrophic wildfire."

By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 18, 2020

Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond

Welcome to "Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond," a podcast series dedicated to further understanding how the utility industry can overcome the several challenges brought out by COVID-19 with technology and smart planning. 

By Utility Dive's Brand Studio • Sept. 18, 2020

How to participate in the 2020 Utility Dive Awards

Industry Dive is gearing up for the 2020 Dive Awards. We want to hear your ideas on the executives, utilities and policymakers that stood out.

By Utility Dive Editors • Updated Sept. 28, 2020

Walmart, Schneider Electric team up to help suppliers transition to renewable energy

The initiative aims to educate suppliers and help them through conversion — a process Walmart's Senior Director of Sustainability said can be daunting.

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 16, 2020