Report: CPUC launches PG&E, SCE probes after 3 deadly fires

Lawsuit threats loom after two of the state's largest investor owned utilities alerted regulators to transmission issues near ground zero of blazes that started last week.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 13, 2018

Duke, Dominion issue $1.3B in green bonds

Dominion plans to use the bonds to reimburse for its solar investments while Duke said it would use bonds to fund solar and energy projects.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

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

Greenlots and Volvo to partner on charging infrastructure for electric trucks

The project in Southern California is supported by a $44.8 million state grant and will include both DC fast chargers and level 2 chargers.

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 12, 2018

NantEnergy acquires Sharp Electronics energy services, storage business

Sharp's energy systems business has an active project pipeline exceeding 60 MW of commercial and industrial solar-plus-storage installations in the United States, the companies said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2018

Storage will replace 3 California gas plants as PG&E nabs approval for world's largest batteries

Installation of more than 2,200 MWh of storage will be the first time a utility directly replaces multiple major fossil fuel generators with batteries.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 9, 2018

Exelon, PSEG have highest business risk among 34 utilities in Moody's report

All things being equal, the ratings agency says utility holding companies converge at a lower medium grade credit rating. But all things are not equal.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2018

Ballot initiative flops mask strong election for clean energy

The failure of high-profile ballot initiatives in Arizona and Washington came amid wins for renewable energy supporters in key gubernatorial races.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 7, 2018

Investment firm Ullico buys 24% stake in 1.3 GW renewables portfolio

The firm is nearly doubling its wind and solar portfolio with its investment in sPower, co-owned by AES and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 7, 2018

GE to sell energy efficiency business amid power division restructuring

The company expects a slew of other transactions to close as part of a $20 billion sell-off program, in addition to Current, which will continue operating under the GE brand.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 7, 2018

Texas generators, utilities square off at PUC over storage ownership

The Texas regulatory docket will determine which companies get to own battery storage and other non-traditional grid technologies in the state. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 6, 2018

PG&E defends planned outages as 'last resort' tool to prevent wildfires

The utility has incurred more than $2 billion in costs related to wildfires this year and faces billions more in potential liability, putting a premium on efforts to avert such disasters.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2018

Vogtle in sight as money pours into Georgia regulator race

Competition for two Public Service Commission seats has become increasingly heated as Republican incumbents garner support from individuals affiliated with Southern Company.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 2, 2018

GM calls for national EV sales program

The automaker said a mandate could get more than 7 million on the roads by 2030, although environmentalists derided the plan as "trying to gaslight the American people."

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 30, 2018

GE to restructure power division amid expanded SEC, DOJ probe

The company took a $22 billion write-down last quarter related to its power business — a charge federal investigators are now scrutinizing. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 2018

US on pace for record coal retirements in 2018, IEEFA finds

The U.S. will retire 15.4 GW of coal capacity this year, the clean energy think tank reported, "easily" exceeding the previous record of 14.7 GW of coal shutdowns in 2015.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 2018

Dominion proposes to buy SCANA with larger rate cut, no up-front refunds

South Carolina Electric & Gas customers would see greater bill reductions under the plan, but not the $1,000 refund Dominion pushed in the wake of efforts to recover spending on the V.C. Summer nuclear project.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2018

NextEra: Wind will be competitive after PTC sunset due to price declines

"Taller towers, longer blades, better electronics" will help wind prices continue to decline over time, according to Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2018

Virtual contracts drive a boom in corporate renewables procurement

As options for renewable energy purchase agreements grow, more businesses are coming into the market voluntarily.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 23, 2018

The 2018 Top 40 Utility PowerBrands

PowerBrands assess more than 200 measures of utility brand strength, categorized in four dimensions: brand identity, corporate narrative, customer experience and employee experience.

Oct. 23, 2018

Report: Expected ruling on Summer cost recovery could imperil Dominion-SCANA merger

SCE&G wants to recover about $5 billion from ratepayers for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project through the Base Load Review Act, which a judge is expected to overturn for being at odds with the state's constitution.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 23, 2018

Oracle Utilities boasts industry-leading 20 TWh of savings for consumers

The company says its products have led to seven times the energy savings of the second ranking home energy savings company, Tendril, which had saved consumers 2.7 TWh by May.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 22, 2018

Even in Indiana, new renewables are cheaper than existing coal plants

Eliminating coal generation by 2028, and replacing it with renewables, storage and demand management, will be cheaper than keeping the plants online or converting them to gas, says Northern Indiana Public Service Co.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 25, 2018

As Dominion plans 3 GW of new wind and solar, it surveys customer renewables goals

The utility issued a request for information on its nonresidential customers' clean energy goals weeks after Virginia released its 10-year energy plan. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 19, 2018

Emails show Arizona regulator Olson copied utility talking points on rooftop solar

The revelation comes as Olson runs for reelection and utility spending booms in the fight over a 50% renewable energy standard.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Utility spending on major Republican groups outpaces Democrats over 2:1, EPI finds

NextEra Energy led utility contributions in 2017-2018 for three Republican organizations, spending $1.9 million, while PSEG Services, the top contributor on the Democratic side, gave $297,500.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 18, 2018