California regulators see signs of a new energy crisis — can they prevent it?

As the state's customer choice movement expands, energy sector stakeholders continue to struggle with what CPUC President Michael Picker calls "scar tissue" from the 2000-2001 energy crisis.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 18, 2018

Public power utilities face growing risk from renewables shift, says Moody's

Credit risks for utilities with a higher share of coal power in their generating mix, such as municipal utilities, center on the potential for stranded assets.

By Peter Maloney • May 18, 2018

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

Utilities join with Tesla to sue EPA over fuel standard rollback

The D.C. Circuit case filed earlier this month is another indication that utilities are beginning to lean into the fight over electric vehicles. 

By Gavin Bade • May 18, 2018

Illinois can do without Vistra coal plants, greens claim

Shutting eight plants in Southern Illinois and replacing them with other options could save up to $14 billion, says a new report by Vibrant Clean Energy for NRDC and Sierra Club.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2018

FERC chair restarts PURPA review, pledging 'open mind'

Federal energy regulators also approved a new pipeline proposal and reviewed summer reliability conditions at their May open meeting.

By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018

EPA air chief praises House efforts to alter New Source Review

The agency is working on its own rulemaking process to change the power plant permitting program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 17, 2018

APS: Controversial RFP does not violate Arizona gas moratorium

Reliability concerns about energy storage prompted Arizona Public Service to limit its role in a pending contract request, executives said. 

By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018

New York proposes strict carbon emission limits for existing power plants

The rule is expected to allow New York to achieve one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature energy pledges — to phase out coal entirely by 2020 while still maintaining reliable and affordable power.

By Robert Walton • May 16, 2018

Georgia Power backs incumbent in PSC election, AJC reports

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tricia Pridemore has received tens of thousands of dollars in support of her campaign to remain on the Public Service Commission.

By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018

High values are blowing in offshore winds; policymakers may need more

In some locations, energy, capacity and REC prices could give offshore wind the edge over onshore wind, but policymakers need to see economic benefits.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 15, 2018

DOE unveils 'integrated strategy' to reduce utility cyberthreats

While major attacks have so far been thwarted, officials say hackers are getting better, faster.

By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018

Nevada regulators allow utilities to own EV charging stations

The Public Utilities Commission also approved funding for storage and a low income solar program.

By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018

Competitive solar-plus-storage moves closer to reality

Incentives and economics result in more pairings of solar power and energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • May 14, 2018

'Stunning' APS RFP could violate Arizona gas moratorium, critics say

The request for 800 MW of peaking capacity limits renewables and energy storage to 100 MW, which clean energy advocates say could run afoul of a regulatory pause on gas investments.

By Gavin Bade • May 14, 2018

Entergy says it had no knowledge of paid support for New Orleans gas plant

The utility's internal investigation pins the blame on The Hawthorn Group, a public relations firm with a history of reportedly questionable involvement in comment processes.

By Gavin Bade • May 11, 2018

Pruitt NAAQS memo part of broad strategy to weaken air regs, lawyers say

Pruitt's "four-pronged" strategy includes changes to science advisory boards and framing major regulatory shifts, like Thursday's memo, as discretionary policy decisions, a UCLA professor said. 

By Gavin Bade • May 11, 2018

House hands off nuclear waste storage bill to Senate

Legislators approved a bill seeking to advance the permanent storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. But Sen. Dean Heller has already declared it "dead on arrival in the Senate."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 11, 2018

How two value-of-solar studies add up to no clear value of solar

Valuation studies for Montana and Maryland demonstrate the complications of trying to use rooftop solar’s costs and benefits to settle net energy metering disputes.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 10, 2018

House committee advances bipartisan grid cybersecurity bills

The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued voice votes to report three bipartisan cybersecurity bills favorably to the House.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 10, 2018

Florida regulators approve nearly 1.7 GW in new gas plants

The Public Service Commission approved two plants — a 573 MW facility due to come online in 2021 and a 1.1 GW facility slated for 2022. Both will serve electric co-op customers.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

New Hampshire rethinks distributed generation-only pilots for non-wires alternatives

Stakeholders said that without including other distributed energy resources, like energy storage, efficiency and demand response, any study of DER value would not yield much useful information.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

Power sector divides over FERC role in resilience docket comments

The coal and nuclear sectors want swift federal action on grid resilience, while others are keen to let regional grid operators handle the issue.

By Gavin Bade • May 10, 2018

EnSync's solar+storage to allow energy sharing in Hawaii

By combining solar energy and storage to share power, the company says it can increase system efficiency and lower costs.

By Peter Maloney • May 10, 2018

California to require rooftop solar for new homes

The state is the first to mandate that new homes be built using advanced energy efficiency measures and rooftop solar, starting in 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 9, 2018

Perry: DOE 'looking very closely' at Defense Production Act to save coal, nukes

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in April asked the agency to use its authority under the 1950s wartime law to keep retiring coal and nuclear plants online. 

By Gavin Bade • May 9, 2018