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

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

NextEra to retire Iowa nuclear plant in 2020

Utility Alliant will pay the nuclear operator $110 million and buy 340 MW of power from existing NextEra wind projects in exchange for ending its power purchase agreement with the plant early.

By Gavin Bade • July 27, 2018

Colorado regulators press forward with Black Hills TOU pilot

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission directed Black Hills Energy to develop a time-of-use rate pilot and file a proposal this fall.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2018

Massachusetts utilities sign contracts to import Canadian hydropower

The Clean Energy Connect project, which will deliver the power, is generating controversy in Maine, where regulators say it should fund efficiency programs.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2018

Appeals court tosses challenge to FERC eminent domain use

The 4th Circuit's decision raises concerns about FERC's use of tolling orders, which could provide a framework for future legal challenges. 

By Gavin Bade • July 27, 2018

AEP cancels largest US wind project after Texas rejection

Regulators said AEP's 2 GW Wind Catcher project, planned for the Oklahoma panhandle, did not provide enough benefits to customers.

By Gavin Bade • July 27, 2018

Green groups come out against Nevada retail choice ballot measure

Groups like the Sierra Club and NRDC had been neutral on the measure to end monopoly utilities until NV Energy promised to double its renewables if the proposal is defeated. 

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2018

Indiana cost consumers $140M by nixing efficiency program, AEC says

A new analysis from the Applied Economics Clinic joins a host of other research concluding the state's energy efficiency mandate was working before legislators eliminated the program in 2014.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2018

DOE's Walker: Feds should not control PREPA

The Department of Energy assistant secretary called for changes in the structure of the Puerto Rican utility, including removing the governor's power to appoint board members and regulators.

By Gavin Bade • July 26, 2018

Los Angeles considers $3B pumped storage project at Hoover Dam

The city's municipal utility is studying the potential of using the dam as a giant pumped hydropower plant run by renewables.

By Peter Maloney • July 26, 2018

California Gov. Brown proposes reducing utility wildfire liability

The proposal would change rules currently requiring utilities to pay all damage costs if their equipment was involved in a fire, regardless of negligence.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2018

APS-backed group challenges 50% renewables ballot measure in court

Lawyers for the parent company of Arizona Public Service say almost 200,000 signatures on petitions in favor of a ballot initiative to consider the 50% renewable energy standard are invalid.

By Robert Walton • July 25, 2018

How vulnerable is the grid to cyberattacks, really?

Experts say a recent DHS briefing that warned hackers could cause widespread blackouts may have overstated the threat.  

By Gavin Bade • July 25, 2018

Residential storage hits new record, deploying 36MWh in Q1

Changing policies in California and Hawaii led to 74% of the nation's residential storage deployments in the past quarter, according to GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association.

By Peter Maloney • July 25, 2018

Judge scraps lawsuit against Maine wind moratorium

Renewable energy and conservation advocates tried to challenge the legality of Gov. Paul LePage's January executive order, which halts wind turbine permitting for the largest wind generation state in the Northeast.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 25, 2018

California county brings in a ringer to champion the return of local net metering

Renova, the largest solar installer in the region, has stepped in to defend the county's new ordinance requiring Imperial Irrigation District to restart its net metering program.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2018

As California grid expansion nears finish line, hurdles only get higher

"With this bill, anything we do makes someone grumpy," said one architect of legislation to create a full Western electricity market.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 24, 2018

Report: SCANA, Dominion offered $1,500 refunds to escape Summer rate cut

The utilities wanted to increase support for their proposed merger and retain the ability to charge customers for the canceled V.C. Summer nuke, but lawmakers rejected their plan by wide margins.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2018

Report: Trump will move to rescind California vehicle emission, EV rules

The move could be met with opposition from utilities, which have stepped up their support for electric vehicles in the past year.

By Gavin Bade • July 24, 2018

Russian hackers infiltrated utility control rooms, DHS says

The hackers breached isolated utility networks thought to be secure and "got to the point where they could have thrown switches," Homeland Security officials said Monday.

By Gavin Bade • July 24, 2018

High power costs spur 42 MWh of storage deals in Ontario

Electricity prices in Ontario have spurred innovation in energy storage as commercial and industrial customers look for ways to cut energy costs.

By Peter Maloney • July 23, 2018

Vermont PUC seeks alternative ratemaking proposals to boost renewables

In a Monday order, the state's PUC urges regulators to approach new methods of utility operations "with open minds," in order to meet Vermont's aggressive clean energy goals.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2018

IPL rate deal largely avoids fixed charge hike

The utility had requested a $10 increase to fixed charges that opponents said would reduce distributed solar and harm elderly and low-income ratepayers. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 23, 2018

Massachusetts power players scramble for deal in critical storage, DER docket

Utilities and developers aim to reach a compromise this week over who owns the capacity rights for storage and renewable resources — a question central to their future growth.

By Peter Maloney • July 23, 2018