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

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

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

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

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

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 6, 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 5, 2020

Dominion jacks up renewables and storage in Virginia IRP, following landmark clean energy rule

In its newest plan for the state, Dominion would add between 11 and 40 GW of solar in the next 25 years and up to 5 GW of offshore wind in the next 15 years, while still keeping some natural gas in the system.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 5, 2020

'Tremendous demand for stationary storage' outstrips Tesla's 2020 supply capability, Musk says

In the first quarter of 2020, though, the company saw a 51% drop in storage deployments compared to the prior quarter. Energy deployments in general were limited due to shutdowns, according to CFO Zachary Kirkhorn.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 1, 2020

GE renewables takes Q1 revenue hit, but results more about execution than COVID-19, CEO says

Hammered by the pandemic's impact on its aviation division, GE has launched a corporate-wide restructuring to cut billions in expenses, arguing that even its renewable division will benefit from lean manufacturing.

By John Funk • April 30, 2020

FERC confirms Goldman Sachs ties to renewables company, opening door for push on corporate transparency

The intervenor on the Goldman Sachs application plans to use this ruling to press federal regulators into more regularly defining affiliate relationships, such as in his JPMorgan/El Paso Electric appeal.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 30, 2020

Dominion tries again on rejected AMI plan amid Virginia's new clean energy law

Regulators rejected the petition to reconsider the $752 million proposal for smart meters, which the utility deems important to meeting state clean energy goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated April 28, 2020

FirstEnergy's 'bullet-proof' pandemic strategy: $3.5B in liquidity, favorable rate structure

FirstEnergy has a strong liquidity position, continued access to capital markets and has implemented a pandemic operating plan developed years ago, the company said during Friday’s first quarter earnings call.

By John Funk • April 27, 2020