SolarCity ends support for watchdog group investigating Arizona regulators

The watchdog group Checks and Balances project had sought to expose communications between Arizona regulators, utility executives, and members of an outside political group. 

By Herman Trabish, Gavin Bade • April 21, 2016

Citing favorable policy climate, Sunrun expands operations in South Carolina

Solar supports put in place by 2014's Act 236 made the South Carolina decision an easy one, company officials said. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016

Former ACC chair leads push for Arizona ballot measure to protect solar

A new constitutional amendment pushed by solar installers would preserve retail rate net metering and prevent solar-specific rate changes through 2022.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016

Green groups sue Duke Energy for Clean Water Act violations from coal ash

The Roanoke River Basin Association and the Southern Environmental Law Center announced last Monday that they will sue Duke Energy for violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its Mayo Steam plant. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 20, 2016

3 Canadian munis propose merger, following consolidation trend in North America

Canadian municipal utilities Enersource, Horizon Utilities and PowerStream want to merge, following a consolidation trend in North American utilities. 

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

Hunt requests rehearing for Oncor deal

Stipulations for Hunt Consolidated's plan to purchase Oncor out of bankruptcy could sour the deal, the company told regulators this week.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

AES teams up with Panasonic for India's first utility-scale storage project

AES Storage and Panasonic are building a 10-MW storage facility in Haryana, India.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

SEIA President Rhone Resch steps down after 12 years

The national trade group for solar companies grew from 65 members to more than 1,000 under Resch's leadership.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016

Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Gas cancel LNG import terminal agreement

Hawaiian Electric wants to import gas as a cheaper alternative to fuel oil, but critics call it a distraction from efforts to get to 100% renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

Will LA's historic gas leak knock Hollywood's lights out this summer?

California's energy agencies are pushing a slew of measures to compensate for the Aliso Canyon gas leak, but the larger issue of the state's natural gas reliance remains.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

Concerns over Oncor deal linger as Texas teacher pension fund mulls investment in bid

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas intends to invest $250 million into Oncor's new Real Estate Investment Trust structure, but lawmakers question the wisdom of the move. 

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2016

Georgia regulators approve $12B Southern-AGL merger

The $12 billion deal, if completed, would create the second largest electric utility in the country. 

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2016

Video: NV Energy-backed group launches media campaign to keep solar net metering rates

A new statewide ad buy aims to counter efforts from solar installers to overturn lower net metering rates approved by regulators at the end of last year.

By Gavin Bade, Herman Trabish • April 15, 2016

Wind installed more capacity than any other generation source in 2015, industry says

Increasing buy-in from non-utility customers marked strong growth for the sector last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 14, 2016

Southern California Edison led utility solar installations with over 1.2 GW in 2015

New numbers from SEPA show which power providers installed the most solar last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 14, 2016

Maryland Pepco customers get 1st bill credits following Exelon merger

Beginning this week, Maryland customers of Pepco received the first of two $50 bill credits as part of a package of benefits to ease potential higher rates resulting from the Exelon-Pepco merger. 

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Idaho Power will be sixth utility to join CAISO's western Energy Imbalance Market

The market allows for real-time balancing of supply and demand across utility systems in the West, helping control costs and integrate more renewable energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2016

Utility-backed solar group raised over $7M to counter TPO proposal in Florida

While money troubles sunk the proposal that would have legalized third party ownership, the utility-backed measure created to counter it is cleared to appear on the ballot.  

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2016

How Minnesota is approaching grid modernization as a vertically-integrated state

A new PUC report outlines the state's vision for grid modernization and previews coming regulatory debates.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2016

Electric line workers listed among top 10 most dangerous jobs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrical powerline installers and repairers land on the list of top ten most dangerous jobs at 19.2 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 12, 2016

Minnesota report points to flaws in Xcel's community solar installations

An independent engineer appointed by the PUC says the utility mishandled cost estimates, interconnection processes, and cooperation with developers in a community solar project.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 12, 2016

Civil Rights Commission eyes North Carolina coal ash in environmental justice probe

The Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was at a hearing in North Carolina last week focused on the impacts of coal ash on predominantly low-income, minority communities. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 12, 2016

Initial bids for Kansas utility Westar Energy due this week

Canadian investment firms, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and rival utility Ameren have all been rumored as potential suitors for the Kansas utility, which has generated acquisition interest since last year.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2016

SolarCity taps ex-FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff as chief policy officer

SolarCity recently left Wellinghoff's home state of Nevada after regulators issued a decision to roll back net metering rates. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 8, 2016

SolarCity closes $150M securitization for commercial solar+storage

SolarCity continued a string of securitizations with a $150-million financing from Credit Suisse.

By Peter Maloney • April 8, 2016