Emails show Arizona regulator Olson copied utility talking points on rooftop solar

The revelation comes as Olson runs for reelection and utility spending booms in the fight over a 50% renewable energy standard.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Alternative retail electric suppliers: A surge in consumer protection standards in Illinois

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is applying new and stronger consumer protection rules, stakeholder engagement and consumer education tools to evaluate the deregulated electric supply market.

By Sadzi Martha Oliva, Gerardo J. Delgado & Janel Haretoun • Oct. 19, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

McIntyre absent from second FERC meeting as concerns mount over health issues

The FERC chairman did not vote on any items in the commission's agenda Thursday, though he did vote at last month's meeting despite being absent. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 18, 2018

Can the price of rooftop solar keep falling?

"If prices keep dropping, [rooftop solar] adoption will continue and a smart utility CEO would watch the market and think about ways utilities can have some control over distributed resources," Yale's Kenneth Gillingham said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2018

Utility spending on major Republican groups outpaces Democrats over 2:1, EPI finds

NextEra Energy led utility contributions in 2017-2018 for three Republican organizations, spending $1.9 million, while PSEG Services, the top contributor on the Democratic side, gave $297,500.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 18, 2018

Protecting the grid from cyberattack: Cities on the front lines

The electric grid is increasingly part of our national security, and cities are at the forefront. But a revolution in technology and practice can make us all safer.

By Ken Boyce and Karen Weigert • Oct. 17, 2018

Where do smart cities need to improve? 7 industry leaders weigh in

While the power sector is a key point for innovation when it comes to electrification and smart tech, industry leaders at Smart Cities Week DC posited the focus rests on transportation, communications and other areas.

By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale • Oct. 17, 2018

Chatterjee pushes grid operators to design market products for storage

Outside of PJM's Reg D product, there has been "little momentum" in recent years on market rules "particularly suited for storage," Chatterjee said Tuesday in a wide-ranging address on batteries. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 16, 2018

Federal regulators approve transfer of Vermont Yankee nuke for decommissioning

Entergy will transfer the license to NorthStar, which has pledged to decommission and restore the site by 2030, 45 years earlier than Entergy's original plan.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2018

AEE keeps tabs on gubernatorial candidates in key energy states

The cleantech trade group published scorecards for candidates from states with open seats and strong market opportunities for clean energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 16, 2018

Report: DOE coal, nuclear bailout on hold at White House

Backers of the plan failed to convince key administration officials, Politico reports, putting the spotlight back on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 16, 2018

Spotlight: 6 key issues driving the utility sector today

The industry is undergoing a fundamental transition as it moves away from a centralized, baseload-focused past to a more distributed, renewable future.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 15, 2018

WalletHub: San Diego tops list as 2018's greenest US city

The 100 largest U.S. cities were judged on 26 "green" indicators including smart energy policies, amount of green space and greenhouse gas emissions per capita.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 15, 2018

In a first, PG&E cuts power to 60,000 to prevent wildfires during wind storm

Planned outages during dry, windy conditions are the "last resort" in a wildfire prevention plan rolled out by the utility last year. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 15, 2018

California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out

The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Grid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach

Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

Business Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking

Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Generation: Despite headwinds, natural gas reliance set to grow in much of US

Gas-fired generation has been called a bridge to a renewable future, but the length of the bridge depends on where it is.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 15, 2018

Electricity markets: States reassert authority over power generation

States want the benefits of electricity markets but also want to dictate their outcomes. How federal regulators strike a balance will influence the power mix for decades to come.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 16, 2018

Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo

Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2018

PJM CEO urges FERC to move on resilience as Trump coal bailout looms

A market-based rule for grid resilience would be preferable to a federal bailout, the head of the nation's largest wholesale power market told senators Thursday.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 15, 2018

New tool helps states identify EV policies that work, and those that don't

Vehicle purchase incentives have the most impact, according to the National Association of State Energy Officials rubric, while some popular policies may not be particularly effective.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018

DC's aggressive clean energy bill gets initial hearing

The bill would require the District to use 100% renewable energy by 2032. Currently, the city is on track to get 50% of its energy from renewable sources in that time.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 11, 2018

What Nevada can learn from Virginia's experience with electric deregulation

Virginia State Senator Frank Wagner says he watched electric rates rise from deregulation across the East Coast in the 90s and warns Nevada voters to avoid the same fate in November.

By Frank Wagner • Oct. 11, 2018

PG&E lines caused 2017 Cascade fire that killed 4, state officials say

The utility did not violate state regulations, CAL FIRE said, but California's insurance laws can hold it financially liable even if it did not break the law. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 10, 2018