Regulation & Policy

NRG discloses nearly $1B hit from Texas grid collapse

The power producer is working to recover some of is losses from the devastating winter storm that wreaked havoc with the Lone Star State's electric grid and gas pipelines.

By Scott Voorhis • May 07, 2021

Arizona regulators toss 3-year effort for 100% clean energy mandate

A proposal to create an energy storage target, a 100% clean energy by 2050 mandate and a slew of other decarbonization priorities was rejected 3-2 by the Arizona Corporation Commission, despite support from utilities and others.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 07, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Utility Business Model Reform

Utilities and regulators around the country are exploring new business models, from updated rate structures to performance-based regulation, in order to meet evolving policy and business priorities.

By Utility Dive staff

PG&E gets greenlight for $7.5B wildfire securitization, but consumer advocates raise challenges

Utility securitizations generally involve costs that ratepayers would be paying for anyway, but "that is not the situation here," said April Rose Maurath Sommer, executive and legal director of the Wild Tree Foundation.   

By Kavya Balaraman • May 07, 2021

Exelon CEO: Replacing nuclear with renewables, storage to meet carbon goals could cost Illinois $80B

The company plans to shut down its Byron and Dresden nuclear plants in Illinois later this year and sees a state solution to avert the closures as more likely in the near term than a federal solution.

By Larry Pearl • May 06, 2021

States want federal cash, not rules, to propel clean energy, Colorado, other officials say

Four Western state officials say the Biden administration's infrastructure plan can offer much-needed funds for the energy transition. 

By Jason Plautz • May 05, 2021

Opinion

A grand bargain for decarbonizing the US electricity sector

The fundamental political challenge for a zero carbon power sector likely boils down to the need for compromise between states that have long-term greenhouse gas emission reductions goals and those that do not.

By Fredrich Kahrl and Jim Williams • May 04, 2021

Deep Dive

As utilities match CCAs on price, aggregators increase climate action, grow economies of scale to compete

With stranded costs and other charges keeping CCA bills and utility bills comparable, municipal and community aggregations are challenging utilities on renewables and climate targets to grow their customer base.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 04, 2021

Dems weigh legislative approaches to advance Biden infrastructure plan, see room for bipartisan action

Two House Democrats last week said they expect most of the president's $2.3 trillion plan to advance in Congress through reconciliation, but see opportunities for smaller, bipartisan measures, too.

By Jason Plautz • May 03, 2021

Equity, security and load: FERC conference considers the challenges and potential of electrification

U.S. electricity load could double by 2050. The industry is focused on how to meet that need equitably and securely, panelists at a recent technical conference said.

By Robert Walton • May 03, 2021

Opinion

Power markets are not ready to maximize infrastructure investments

The returns on capital generated from the investments made by the Biden administration's jobs plan will depend on how well they are leveraged within power markets, the author writes.

By Ben Hertz-Shargel • April 30, 2021

CAISO launches stakeholder process to optimize market for storage

The ISO is continuing its push to overhaul a market designed for fossil fuels.

By Jason Plautz • April 30, 2021

Washington passes 'cap-and-invest' legislation, giving utilities incentive to further decarbonize

The Climate Commitment Act, once signed into law, would give Washington the nation's second economywide carbon cap system.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 29, 2021

PJM proposes to end FERC MOPR policy that raised prices for state-subsidized resources

Under the grid operator's plan, the minimum offer price rule would no longer apply to state-subsidized resources in capacity auctions. But some competitive suppliers are calling for a replacement market design.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2021

Decades-long decline in rural infrastructure could pose barrier to coal transition, NGO panel finds

A new report by Resources for the Future and Environmental Defense Fund suggests policymakers must adopt a multipronged approach to ensure an equitable energy transition. Experts say the U.S. has limited time to act.

By Emma Penrod • April 28, 2021

Deep Dive

Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing

The Biden infrastructure spend would rapidly transition the U.S. power sector in ways utilities like, but Congress is expected to seek changes.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 28, 2021

Opinion

4 common myths about performance-based regulation

Misconceptions about PBR abound, and may keep America's regulatory community from making sound decisions about its proper role, the author writes.

By Mark Newton Lowry • April 27, 2021

CPUC judge orders SoCalGas to return ratepayer funds but stops short of imposing financial penalty

"It is no different than if the Commission found SoCalGas guilty of robbery but then only required them to give back the stolen money," per the Public Advocates Office, which had asked regulators to fine SoCalGas $255 million.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 27, 2021

States ask FERC to eliminate MOPR, grant more flexibility in pursuing alternatives to PJM capacity market

New Jersey and Illinois are actively considering using the fixed resource requirement as a way to pursue clean energy outside the PJM Interconnection's capacity market.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 26, 2021

White House targets $38B to aid coal sector transition, but it's likely not enough, analysts say

Within three months, a federal interagency working group will begin a series of meetings to learn how the administration can best ensure "good-paying, union job-creating investments in priority Energy Communities."

By Emma Penrod • April 26, 2021

Deep Dive

California's dilemma: How to control skyrocketing electric rates while building the grid of the future

New ideas include income-based rates, publicly-funded infrastructure, utility entrepreneurship, and customer-funded wildfire insurance.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2021

Opinion

Beyond solar and wind: 10 steps to meet President Biden's clean electricity target

As countries around the world commit to greater emissions reductions, it’s time for utilities and the electricity sector to buckle up for rapid decarbonization, says Grid Forward Executive Director Bryce Yonker.

By Bryce Yonker • April 26, 2021

Citigroup sees $2-4 trillion clean energy spending gap; analysts weigh private capital's ability to fix that

The rapid growth of renewables will help close that gap, an attorney said Wednesday during a webinar hosted by Our Energy Policy, but more consistent policies are needed to ensure carbon emissions are eliminated, panelists said.

By Emma Penrod • April 23, 2021

Power grid upgrades absent in Senate Republicans' $568B counter to Biden infrastructure proposal

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., told reporters that Republicans were open to discussion on including broader climate policy, and that spending on roads and highways could include funds for EV infrastructure.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 23, 2021

PG&E gets initial approval to securitize $7.5B of wildfire costs, despite ratepayer impact concerns

"The only guarantee [here] is the ratepayers have to pay regardless. That’s the problem there in a nutshell," one ratepayer advocate said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • April 23, 2021

Biden pledges to halve US carbon emissions by 2030, sending signal to businesses and world leaders

The United States will work to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% by 2030, relative to 2005 levels.

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2021