PG&E launches $5.2B in public offerings, targets July bankruptcy exit following judge's order

The company is still exposed to the risk of wildfires in its service territory, according to a former regulator.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated June 26, 2020

Could the aspirations of a small Memphis utility signal the beginning of the end for TVA?

Stymied by years of high prices that seem likely to increase, communities across the six-state TVA region are weighing the possibility of leaving the federally-owned utility.

By Emma Penrod • June 22, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Corporate carbon reduction targets get boost with new EEI, WRI utility emission rate tool

The database, now containing information from about half of the Edison Electric Institute's members, helps customers calculate more easily the emissions related to their energy use.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 22, 2020

Xcel to speed up $3B in clean energy spending in response to Minnesota prompt on COVID-19 recovery

The utility plans to aid the state's economic recovery through a variety of programs, including energy efficiency, renewables and storage, that would create an estimated 5,000 jobs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 19, 2020

Rocky Mountain Institute, Emerald Ventures join forces to address funding drought for energy startups

The U.S. nonprofit and the Swiss investment firm hope to transcend competition and encourage innovation in pursuit of sustainable success for all parties through two new initiatives.

By Emma Penrod • June 18, 2020

Guilty pleas, victim impact statements could have slew of implications for PG&E, stakeholders say

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali plans to issue an order Friday confirming the utility's reorganization plan, putting it on track to resolve billions of dollars in liabilities from wildfires it caused and emerge from bankruptcy.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 18, 2020

Lyft pledges all-EV fleet by 2030

The ride-hailing company said it would work with drivers to transition their cars to electric vehicles, a move it called a "radical shift in strategy."

By Chris Teale • June 18, 2020

SCE, Sunrun partner on solar+storage virtual power plant pilot to drive down peak demand

The utility hopes to encourage greater buildout of residential solar+storage through the initial 300 customer program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 17, 2020

Cleantech incubator Greentown Labs expands to Houston

The incubator will offer testing space to early stage, climate-focused companies in an effort to make Houston the "energy transition capital of the world." 

By Chris Teale • June 17, 2020

'A historic moment': PG&E pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter, as judge plans to greenlight bankruptcy plan

“I make this plea with great sadness and regret, and with eyes wide open to what happened and to what must never happen again,” PG&E Corp. President and CEO BIll Johnson said at a county court hearing. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 17, 2020

Six ways utilities can deliver the "care" in customer care

Set up your organization for long-term success by building loyalty and goodwill with customers.

By Michael Manfredo, Senior Principal, Customer Experience, West Monroe & Mike Patelski, Senior Manager, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe • June 17, 2020

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

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 9, 2020

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 8, 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 8, 2020

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 5, 2020

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 3, 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 • Updated Nov. 25, 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

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