Regulation & Policy

Pennsylvania House OKs bill curbing state's ability to join RGGI in ongoing dispute with governor

The move comes as regulators released an analysis showing that limits on carbon dioxide and other power plant pollutants would produce significant economic and health benefits.

By Larry Pearl • July 09, 2020

California regulators consider proposal to incorporate climate planning into utility rate cases

The CPUC is the first regulator in the country evaluating the potential of climate change impact on utility planning, according to a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 09, 2020

Natural gas pipeline developers aim to differentiate from Atlantic Coast and avoid its fate

The Constitution Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline have been abandoned within months of each other, and natural gas developers are working to establish differences between themselves and the unsuccessful projects.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 08, 2020

DC Circuit pipeline ruling could prompt dramatic shift in FERC power sector actions, attorneys say

The ruling could have major consequences for stakeholders requesting a rehearing from the commission in the gas and electricity sectors.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 08, 2020

Regulators reject utility moves to recover revenue lost to COVID-19 as analysts, advocates see trend continuing

After swift dismissals in Indiana and Wisconsin, analysts say utilities' requests to raise rates could have a disproportionately negative impact on ratepayers, especially if load decreases become permanent.

By Emma Penrod • July 07, 2020

Deep Dive

Momentum grows for piloting Netflix-like fixed subscription rates, but not everyone's on board

For customers who want predictable bills, pairing automated smart distribution technologies with flat rates can resolve the overuse challenge of traditional fixed bills.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 07, 2020

Interior Department to streamline offshore wind permitting, nix unsolicited leasing

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to issue proposed rules this month to deregulate offshore wind and facilitate more development, according to the Trump administration's Spring Regulatory Agenda.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 06, 2020

Column

Taking Charge: Wisconsin's newest utility commissioner on the state's 'utility-scale changeover'

Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Tyler Huebner spoke to Utility Dive about the state's transition from coal and toward a greener, more distributed grid.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 06, 2020

NERA counters broad opposition to FERC net metering petition, reveals utility-linked member

Attorneys for the New England Ratepayers Association have revealed one of its members — the president and founder of energy consulting firm Brant Energy, whose clients include National Grid, Eversource and DTE Energy.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 02, 2020

Florida's customer-sited solar reaches new heights as regulators oppose federal petition to upend net metering

The Florida Public Service Commission joined other states to oppose a national petition in support of state-led net metering policies.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 01, 2020

House Democrats release sweeping climate proposal calling for net-zero US emissions by 2050

The proposal does not eliminate natural gas fracking and leaves the door open for carbon capture technology.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 01, 2020

Opinion

How utilities can support diverse business entities impacted by the COVID-19 crisis

Diverse business entities are facing financial uncertainty, reductions in allowable work and cash flow crises due to the pandemic, the authors write. 

By Ronnette Anderson and Laura Orfanedes • July 01, 2020

Deep Dive

Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020

Opinion

Federalizing net metering is unequivocally anti-conservative

If the conservative movement is to achieve more victories at the energy regulatory margin, it needs to coalesce, move past generic posturing and start diving deep into institutional contexts, the author writes.

By Devin Hartman • June 30, 2020

Comprehensive energy bill could see Senate floor as early as July: Murkowski chief counsel

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, "is absolutely 110% committed to this bill," Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chief Counsel Lucy Murfitt said. "She's gonna fight until there's just simply no path forward left for the bill."

By Catherine Morehouse • June 30, 2020

House Democrats unveil major clean energy bill as Senate GOP mulls timeline for economic stimulus

Democrats' clean energy push has not gained traction, but Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., says Republicans will come to the table eventually.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: July 2, 2020 at 1:41 p.m.

Opinion

A short-term vision for sustainable recovery

A new report from the International Energy Agency envisions a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, but the plan lacks long-term vision, the author writes.

By Saara Kujala • June 29, 2020

'A critical milestone': PG&E first gas-electric IOU to publicly support California's all-electric construction

A company executive said it "welcomes the opportunity to avoid investments in new gas assets that might later prove underutilized as local governments and the state work together to realize long-term decarbonization objectives."

By Kavya Balaraman • June 26, 2020

Opinion

California's storage limbo: Over $300M in projects are stuck on a CPUC waitlist, but there's an easy fix

California has $600 million in idle funds that can be used to advance energy storage projects; reallocating them would be the shot in the arm the state needs now, the author writes.

By Ted Ko • June 25, 2020

Nevada moves to adopt stricter vehicle emission standards amid continuing federal-state battle

The Trump administration has rescinded waivers necessary for states to set their own vehicle emission standards, but that hasn't stopped Nevada and others from showing interest.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2020

Opinion

Hard truths about net metering and the perils of regulatory nihilism

Due to poor retail rate design, full retail net metering as calculated today is overwhelmingly regressive, former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark says.

By Tony Clark • June 24, 2020

Manchin presses FERC to keep West Virginia coal online, as advocate questions identity of new plant owners

Longview Power declared bankruptcy in April, citing pressure from natural gas, a mild winter and the COVID-19 pandemic on its sole asset, a 700 MW merchant coal-fired plant.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 24, 2020

US localities signed 335 renewable energy deals since 2015: report

A new renewables action tracker details the energy transactions made by local governments in the last five years, and the complementing efforts to influence renewable energy policy.

By Chris Teale • June 24, 2020

ACEEE highlights 10 building energy performance standards to help meet climate goals

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy issued a white paper Monday outlining different standards, ranging from Tokyo's cap-and-trade program to Washington State's clean buildings bill.

By Kristin Musulin • June 24, 2020

Opinion

Will regulators allow utilities to reap a windfall because of COVID-19?

Customers almost everywhere will pay for utilities’ losses, while in Texas and Georgia competitive retailers own much of COVID-19’s economic impact, says Travis Kavulla, vice president of regulatory affairs at NRG Energy.

By Travis Kavulla • June 23, 2020