PJM: Reliability strong during January cold snap, but pricing reforms needed

The nation's largest electricity market performed well during January's "bomb cyclone," its grid operator said, but a spike in uplift charges reveals the need for pricing reforms. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2018

SEU 2018 survey: Utilities shaken, not moved, by Trump policies

Utility Dive's fifth annual State of the Electric Utility survey shows a sector committed to the clean energy transition, but wary of policies coming out of Washington.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 27, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Team of rivals: Utilities, enviros unite to push electric vehicles

Old adversaries from the rooftop solar fights are finding common ground on transportation electrification.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 26, 2018

Let the US EPA coal ash rule procedures work

Environmentalists are raising concerns about risks to groundwater from coal ash, making this an opportune time to clarify EPA’s 2015 coal combustion residual rule, attorney Brent Fewell writes.

By Brent Fewell • Feb. 26, 2018

Solving our energy grid problems requires a data sharing economy

Solving energy grid problems in New York, Puerto Rico and beyond will depend on innovative leaders who are willing to foster standards and knowledge sharing, according to Lisa Salley, vice president of Global Industry Services at the American Petroleum Institute.  

By Lisa Salley • Feb. 23, 2018

Michigan, Louisiana press utilities to return tax savings to customers

The federal corporate tax rate dropped to 21% in January, but some utilities are still billing customers as though the rate is 35%.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2018

FirstEnergy CEO says generation subsidiary headed for bankruptcy protection

Chuck Jones said he would be "shocked" if the company's merchant generation business did not file for bankruptcy protection by the end of March.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 23, 2018

California energy agency predicts rising power demand

The California Energy Commission on Feb. 21 released its updated demand forecast, which sees higher consumption driven by electric vehicles and climate change. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2018

Customer empowerment upheaval forces California into hold on renewables

Customer choice aggregation is sweeping through California, putting almost everything about the state’s already groundbreaking power delivery into doubt.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2018

EPA moves to reject CT complaint over Brunner Island plant emissions

Connecticut had filed a complaint with the agency arguing that cross-state pollution from the plant was putting it in violation of ground-level ozone standards. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 22, 2018

Florida PSC staff pushes approval of FPL gas plant over opposition

The commission will vote March 1 on whether to approve a 1,163 MW gas plant — far larger than opponents say is necessary to cover demand.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2018

Public Citizen says PJM violated FPA with political contributions

PJM says the nearly $500,000 it gave to the governors associations of both political parties was merely for membership fees. The liberal watchdog says that still violates the Federal Power Act.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

LaFleur warns against PJM plan altering 'fundamental' energy market mechanics

The federal regulator said her agency should "think very hard" before it alters which resources can set market prices during an address that also touched on grid resilience and the growth of Western energy markets.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

University of Georgia study is disconnected from grid economics

R Street Institute's Devin Hartman says a new study fails to accurately weigh the contrasts between wholesale markets and monopoly utility regulation. 

By Devin Hartman • Feb. 21, 2018

DOE 'would never use' emergency order for uneconomic plants, Walker says

"It's never come to my attention, nobody's talked about it, nobody in my department is doing anything with it," DOE Assistant Secretary Bruce Walker said of a potential 202(c) order to prop up coal plants. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 20, 2018

Utility-backed Mississippi bill to limit power of attorney general

The measure, attached to a bill authorizing the Public Service Commission's continued operation, would limit the ability of the state Attorney General to challenge rates.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 20, 2018

Why utilities and environmentalists can find common (green) ground

Ex-FERC Chair Norman Bay argues clean energy can gain more ground if utilities and enviros team up. 

By Norman C. Bay • Feb. 20, 2018

FERC order opens 'floodgates' for energy storage in wholesale markets

The commission directed grid operators to develop rules that would allow storage to participate in the wholesale energy, capacity and ancillary services markets and could put it on equal footing with other resources.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 20, 2018

Are recent disasters enough to spur utilities to take climate change seriously?

Sector expert Allison Silverstein argues utilities need a new paradigm in long-term grid planning.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 20, 2018

Reports: NextEra nearing bid for troubled Santee Cooper

The Florida-based utility could pay up to nearly $15.9 billion for the public utility, but exact pricing remains unclear. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 20, 2018

PJM board sends competing capacity market reforms to FERC

The grid operator's decision sets up a rare policy face-off at FERC that could raise legal stakes for the agency.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2018

South Carolina House votes to fire all PSC regulators

The bill, passed 108-1, would remove all seven regulators by the end of next year and set stricter ethics requirements following the cancellation of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant expansion. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2018

Consumers deserve a market fix from FERC, PJM

PJM's proposal to compensate generators fairly when their power is needed to meet demand will help increase energy market efficiency, benefiting both consumers and suppliers, former FERC Commissioner Marc Spitzer writes.

By Marc Spitzer • Feb. 16, 2018

Moody's pans White House plan to divest TVA, BPA

Both the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bonneville Power Administration are well managed and selling them would be credit negative, according to the ratings agency.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2018

South Carolina lawmakers push back, putting Dominion acquisition of SCANA in doubt

State senators said Wednesday they would give the Public Service Commission until Dec. 21 to decide how to handle customer charges for costs associated with the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 15, 2018