Four steps electric utilities can take to support their communities during the COVID crisis

Utilities can take a more targeted and impactful approach to supporting affected business and disadvantaged communities by accelerating energy efficiency and EV infrastructure investments, among other steps.

By Dan Gabaldon, Kyle Datta and Bob Zabors • April 29, 2020

Maryland taking a 'serious look' at exiting PJM capacity market through FRR, says PSC Chair

The state filed a petition for review with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals this week, echoing concerns raised by Illinois, New Jersey and others that federal regulators are unfairly infringing on state clean energy policy.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2020

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

Utility shutoff bans are in effect for many families, but what happens when they end?

There will be an explosion of utility debt when disconnection moratoriums end, putting customers at risk of having their service shut off, the author writes.

By John Howat • April 28, 2020

Transportation Electrification Partnership proposes $150B federal stimulus package

The proposal calls for investments in zero emission infrastructure, EV adoption, workforce development and other areas to build climate resilience amid COVID-19.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2020

As extreme weather spurs billions in utility resilience spending, regulators struggle to value investments

A new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows the value of resilience depends on too many factors to easily quantify and moves regulators back to human judgment.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2020

Houston unveils first Climate Action Plan

Houston is home to one of the largest rates of per capita GHG emissions in the country, yet it wasn't until Hurricane Harvey in 2017 that the city's perception of climate urgency turned on its head.

By Kristin Musulin • April 25, 2020

Bipartisan senators ask Mnuchin to extend safe harbor deadlines for renewables projects

Extending these deadlines is essential to ensure projects already in the pipeline are able to cross the finish line, say sector leaders.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 24, 2020

Duke, IPL face Indiana scrutiny as NGOs detail coal plant practices costing ratepayers millions

Duke is estimated to have lost $6.9 million in operational costs over three months last year through self-scheduling, while Indianapolis Power and Light is estimated to have lost $1.55 million from November to December.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 24, 2020

84 GW US renewables+storage pipeline has developers anxious for market integration rules

Utilities and developers are adding renewables plus storage hybrids so fast and cost-effectively that regulators had to schedule a conference on paired technologies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 23, 2020

Broad array of groups sue FERC over PJM MOPR decision as Chatterjee rejects cost, renewable concerns

New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois, along with other stakeholders, have filed against federal regulators, following outrage at the commission's April 16 decision to uphold its December order.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 27, 2020

Secretive group's petition to FERC could 'end net metering as we know it,' lawyers say

The filing makes the case that any behind-the-meter, or customer-sited, energy generation is a wholesale sale, subject to FERC jurisdiction.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 21, 2020

CPUC proposes approving PG&E's bankruptcy plan, with a vote scheduled for May

If the decision is approved, PG&E would be barred from passing on costs associated with pre-2019 fires to ratepayers.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 21, 2020

For hard-hit renewable sector, conversations in Congress show an encouraging trend

Plans like Sen. John Barrasso's infrastructure recovery bill can help businesses turn the lights back on and get the country back to work on its energy future, according to the Conservative Energy Network.

By Mark Pischea • April 20, 2020

Diminishing returns: Why an upcoming Utah rate case may signal the end of net metering

A move to end the compensation approach for rooftop solar owners has sent sales plummeting. Many other states are also looking at successor tariffs.

By Emma Penrod • April 20, 2020

The effects of coronavirus measures on electricity markets

Economic outcomes and investment decisions in the next 18 to 24 months could reshape electricity markets for decades, the authors write.

By Alex Gilbert and Morgan Bazilian • April 20, 2020

14 states press EPA to rescind coronavirus-driven enforcement policy as NGOs file lawsuit

Critics say EPA's decision to ease compliance requirements for pollution sources during the pandemic is ripe for abuse while power plant operators say they'll only need such flexibility in extreme scenarios.

By Larry Pearl • April 17, 2020

EPA rejects legal basis for MATS, drawing widespread objections, concerns over future air rule impacts

The electric power industry has already spent over $18 billion to comply with the agency's rules, and would prefer to have regulatory certainty, says a utility trade group.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 17, 2020

Southern cuts 20% of Vogtle expansion staff for labor efficiency, worker safety as coronavirus spreads

Georgia regulatory staff previously noted that the large amount of construction workers on the site could be counterproductive, but the company predicts the projects will be in-service on time.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 17, 2020

'Just plain garbage,' FERC's Glick says as commission largely upholds its PJM MOPR decision

FERC denied requests for rehearing on its December order, while clarifying two exceptions. It also rejected requests to review its 2019 order approving PJM’s capacity demand curve, which critics say is too high.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 16, 2020

NextEra, Vistra join array of stakeholders in asking FERC to look at carbon pricing

Industry leaders say carbon pricing could provide a more consistent federal policy across territories than the varying carbon reduction goals set by states.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 16, 2020

Power shutoff bans amid pandemic may require cost recovery for utilities

A new lobbying effort is encouraging federal lawmakers to add language prohibiting utility disconnections to the next COVID-19 funding package.

By John Funk • April 16, 2020

Groups sue DOE over 'arbitrary' threshold they say will avoid tougher efficiency standards for appliances

The lawsuit is the third one related to the national appliance standards program that the Natural Resources Defense Council has filed in the last five months.

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2020

7 ways to refine the energy sector's COVID-19 response

The energy industry needs to proactively position itself to weather the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy director of the R Street Institute writes.

By Devin Hartman • April 15, 2020

Legal experts, NGOs blast EPA move on air quality standards after higher pollution linked to COVID-19 deaths

The agency finalized rules Monday keeping particulate matter standards the same. "To whom does Wheeler answer when he makes life or death determinations?" one legal expert asked when the rule was proposed.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Dec. 8, 2020

Increasing renewables and DER demand new reliability approach, but California is falling short, groups say

Resource adequacy's planning reserve margin worked when supply and load were stable, but new system realities demand a more dynamic approach to protect reliability, emerging power providers and DER advocacy groups say.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 15, 2020