Colorado regulators press forward with Black Hills TOU pilot

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission directed Black Hills Energy to develop a time-of-use rate pilot and file a proposal this fall.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2018

NextEra's renewables backlog grows to 7.4 GW as customers anticipate lower costs

The company's record backlog includes many energy storage and solar projects slated for years in the future, as prices are expected to drop in the 2020s.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 27, 2018

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

Utilities embrace data-driven, intelligent enterprise approach

As technology options grow, utility companies can use services such as the cloud to optimize efficiency, improve safety and develop new business models, according to SAP utilities director James McClelland.

By James McClelland • July 25, 2018

Report: SCANA, Dominion offered $1,500 refunds to escape Summer rate cut

The utilities wanted to increase support for their proposed merger and retain the ability to charge customers for the canceled V.C. Summer nuke, but lawmakers rejected their plan by wide margins.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2018

Russian hackers infiltrated utility control rooms, DHS says

The hackers breached isolated utility networks thought to be secure and "got to the point where they could have thrown switches," Homeland Security officials said Monday.

By Gavin Bade • July 24, 2018

IPL rate deal largely avoids fixed charge hike

The utility had requested a $10 increase to fixed charges that opponents said would reduce distributed solar and harm elderly and low-income ratepayers. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 23, 2018

Peak Reliability to call it quits in 2019

The reliability coordinator for the majority of the Western Interconnection will begin to wind down after a year of providing services.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2018

Borrowing from Europe to reinvent co-ops' business model

Power sector transition is often dominated by 'shiny new objects' like solar + storage, and the chance to serve customers more comprehensively can be overlooked. One way to change this is the European "chauffage" contract.  

By Peter Kelly-Detwiler and Ken Colburn • July 19, 2018

Report: Dominion aims to sell pair of gas-fired plants for $1.5B

The company wants to improve its balance sheet. With the potential sale of two plants in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, it could reduce its exposure to power markets along the way.

By Robert Walton • July 17, 2018

Duke nixes 500 MW wind buy over transmission cost concerns

A request for proposals for wind projects capable of supplying energy for 20 years has been abandoned, said Duke, after proposals came in at too high a cost.

By Robert Walton • July 17, 2018

Duke's Piedmont plans new $250M LNG storage facility

The company announced a new liquefied natural gas facility to serve its customers in times of high natural gas demand.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 16, 2018

Duke region hits South Carolina net metering cap

As other utilities move toward the 2% limit on distributed energy resources, Duke Energy Carolinas will allow customers to sign up for the net metering program through the end of July.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 13, 2018

Utilities: Time to sharpen your product management skills

As they diversify into distributed energy, blockchain, online marketplaces and other innovative energy solutions, utilities will want to expand their product management competencies, writes Austin Whitman of FirstFuel Software.

By Austin Whitman • July 13, 2018

Incoming PREPA CEO, majority of board resign over executive pay

Unless a replacement is named, the bankrupt Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority will be without a leader by the end of the week.

By Gavin Bade • July 12, 2018

PREPA CEO Higgins steps down after 4 months on the job

Higgins said he's resigning over compensation and family health issues, but a source close to the utility said the CEO failed to gel with senior management and communicate effectively with the Puerto Rican public.

By Gavin Bade • July 12, 2018

In a rush to modernize the grid, utilities are finding new ways to innovate

U.S. utilities are working together to rethink the electric grid — but as competition spreads, how long will this model last?

By Robert Walton • July 11, 2018

Dominion threatens Millstone closure if plant shut out of support program

Connecticut passed a law last year to provide financial relief for the nuclear plant, but the state energy agency could bar it from participating for five years.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2018

Energy & utility leaders: How to transform with little to no room for error

From repairing and replacing decades-old infrastructure, to innovating new ways of providing clean energy, the utility industry is facing a powerful set of circumstances with high risk, writes David Carder of Kotter.

By David Carder • July 9, 2018

As California customer choice expands, are reliability and affordability at risk?

Many say the disruption from multiplying power providers in California could also put the state's decarbonization achievements at risk.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 9, 2018

Surging heat fuels power demand records in 3 US markets

PJM, NYISO and ERCOT hit July power demand records in the past week, but the real test for the Texas operator will come later in the summer, when demand is forecast to approach its reserve margin. 

By Gavin Bade • July 5, 2018

FERC rejects ISO-NE Mystic waiver, orders quick fuel security reforms

Regulators said ISO-NE's waiver request was too broad, but directed it to file a short-term cost recovery proposal for the natural gas plant, as well as broader market changes. 

By Gavin Bade • July 3, 2018

Sempra to sell 2.6 GW renewable portfolio, gas storage assets

The divestitures mark the start of a three-phase effort to "optimize" the company's business portfolio and come amid increasing pressure from activist investors.

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2018

Tesla plans to pare back residential solar business, Reuters reports

Internal company documents show plans to shutter more than a dozen solar installation facilities around the country.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 25, 2018

Utility bankruptcy concerns rise as bill comes due for 2017 California fires

Some 394 wildfires at the end of 2017 could cost California's IOUs tens of billions, but there are ways to mitigate the financial impact.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 25, 2018

Daimler facility stores batteries for EVs while providing storage to grid

Daimler and Mercedes-Benz Energy are providing grid service from an energy storage facility in a former German coal plant.

By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2018