Split FERC approves Spire pipeline, brushing aside self-dealing concerns

The only entity that signed contracts for the 65-mile pipeline is an affiliate of the project developer, leading critics to question if the project is truly necessary.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 6, 2018

Hawaii's new fuel price performance incentive gives HECO 'skin in the game'

A new sharing mechanism moves some risk of fuel price volatility from customers to the utility, but not everyone is convinced it will make a difference. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 6, 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

Broadband access: A regulatory call to action to protect utilities against cyber threats

Modernizing utility communications infrastructure to the advanced broadband available today will pay off for decades to come, according to Jack Markell, former Democratic governor of Delaware.

By Jack Markell • Aug. 6, 2018

Judge declines to block Arizona 50% renewables initiative, but risks remain

Arizonans for Affordable Energy challenged more than 75% of the signatures collected by supporters of the ballot initiative, but a judge says the court doesn't have authority to block them.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2018

Mayors condemn EPA's proposed freeze on auto emissions standards

The Climate Mayors coalition said the plan is an "unprecedented attack on both the environment and states' rights" and pledged to do more to combat climate change.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 3, 2018

EPA will not weaken Obama-era ozone standards

The decision means industry lawsuits against the rules can move forward, leaving the Trump Department of Justice to defend them. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 3, 2018

Will lower cost renewables and natural gas accelerate PacifiCorp's generation transition?

A Sierra Club-commissioned study is aimed at moving PacifiCorp’s planning ahead and getting more coal "off the grid."

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 2, 2018

EPA proposes to freeze auto emission standards, revoke California EV rules

The move could be met with opposition from utilities, which support pro-EV policies, but the EPA administrator said he is open to compromise with California.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 2, 2018

Report: PG&E considers breaking up company to avoid wildfire liability

The company and its utility subsidiary have been highly critical of California laws that allow for wildfire liability even if standards and regulations are met, warning of the threat of bankruptcy and reorganization.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 2, 2018

Dominion nuke plant eligible for zero carbon resources bid in Connecticut

The company had warned regulators that its Millstone nuclear plant was at risk of shuttering after the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's original RFP wouldn't have allowed it to bid until 2023.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2018

Advocates hail passage of Massachusetts clean energy bill but want to take it further

The state's final energy bill is a watered down version of the one passed by the Senate in June.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2018

Massachusetts utilities file US-record offshore wind contracts at $65/MWh

If approved by regulators, utilities say the contracts would save $14/MWh compared with buying renewable energy on the open market. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 2, 2018

Puerto Rico utility's new deal to relieve about $9B of debt

Debt consolidation may help clear the way for privatization of PREPA. News of the deal raised the value of PREPA's bonds by about 40% on Monday. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2018

Electric vehicle and stationary storage batteries begin to diverge as performance priorities evolve

As the stationary energy storage market matures, lithium-ion battery makers are beginning to adapt.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 1, 2018

DC Circuit tosses challenge to ISO-NE renewable energy market rules

The judges ruled that exemptions to ISO-NE's capacity market price floor that allow renewables to bid in below the minimum level are legal.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 1, 2018

How can the US reach the cutting edge of offshore wind R&D? DOE seeks input

Despite the president's rhetoric against wind power, the Energy Department is looking at how it can improve research and development, on and offshore. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 1, 2018

DHS walks back utility cyber warnings as Southern CEO says no grid emergency

Hackers cannot cause widespread power outages today, DHS said, tempering statements the agency made last week warning that cyber criminals could "throw switches" on the grid.

By Gavin Bade • July 31, 2018

Energy storage could take off in Massachusetts with proposed compromise on capacity ownership

The tentative deal would allow owners of residential solar and storage facilities to retain the right to bid the resulting capacity into ISO New England's forward capacity market, if state regulators approve it.

By Peter Maloney • July 31, 2018

The shift to renewables can't wait until 2035

Cities and universities play an important role in reducing carbon emissions through sustainable energy practices. But many are baking unreasonable timelines into their plans for carbon neutrality.

By Bryce Smith • July 31, 2018

Community solar can address renewables accessibility gap, report finds

GTM Research mapped out a vision for community solar for the next few decades, encouraging states and utilities to consider low-to-moderate income households. 

By Catherine Morehouse • July 31, 2018

States say FERC overstepped its bounds in PJM capacity market order

FERC's ruling invalidating the grid operator's market rules stepped into states' jurisdiction over their generation mixes, a broad group of stakeholders said in comments.  

By Gavin Bade • July 31, 2018

California screaming — policymakers demand wildfire prevention while the state burns

Governor Jerry Brown and a bipartisan legislative committee have four weeks to write and pass laws that will protect the state, its people and its power system.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 31, 2018

Climate, project need at center of FERC pipeline policy review

Regulators should more seriously consider climate change and alter their approach for assessing market need when considering projects, environmentalists and liberal states said in the agency's pipeline review proceeding.

By Gavin Bade • July 30, 2018

California approves revised San Onofre closure settlement, saving customers $750M

This agreement ends a six-year controversy following a deal that the largest owner of the plant, Southern California Edison, struck in a private arrangement with state regulators.

By Robert Walton • July 30, 2018

Can a 'DER Authority' fix the utility information problem to boost clean energy?

Energy Innovation's Mike O'Boyle says utility ratemaking lags behind the technological potential for a cleaner, cheaper, more reliable grid as regulators have insufficient information to compare utility proposals against alternatives.

By Mike O'Boyle • July 30, 2018