Dayton Power & Light reaches settlement for distribution rider in Ohio

Bill riders designed to stabilize utility revenues have been a contentious issue in Ohio, with the state Supreme Court striking down two proposals last year. 

By Peter Maloney • March 15, 2017

Kentucky lawmakers advance bill to lift nuclear power moratorium

Gov. Matt Bevin (R) has said he supports the bill, already approved by the state Senate and slated for a House reading this week. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Ohio bill would allow customers to opt out of utility renewable energy charges

A bill to weaken the state's renewable energy standards could also affect AEP's ability to construct 900 MW of wind and solar capacity. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2017

Despite technological advances, flow batteries struggle against market giant lithium-ion

To compete with li-ion batteries, flow technologies would benefit from economies of scale, according to SSR analysts.

By Peter Maloney • March 14, 2017

PJM Market Monitor: State plant subsidies 'threaten the foundations' of power markets

Once implemented, a series of state subsidies for nuclear plants could make it "virtually impossible" to preserve competitive wholesale power markets, the monitor said. 

By Peter Maloney • March 14, 2017

As solar booms, utilities look to build new business models with strategic investments

Beyond simply contracting for solar, utilities are increasingly investing in it and other DERs to "position themselves to be the utility of the future."  

By Herman K. Trabish • March 14, 2017

UK's National Grid eyes Google AI unit to balance power supply and demand

The U.K. grid operator is exploring how machine learning could predict peaks in demand and supply to maximize the integration of renewables. 

By Peter Maloney • March 14, 2017

Massachusetts seeks proposals for energy storage demo projects

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center issued a solicitation for energy storage demonstration projects, offering up to $10 million in awards. 

By Peter Maloney • March 13, 2017

Montana lawmakers unveil bills to address Colstrip coal unit retirements

Three bills would direct decommissioning plans and provide tax credits for Colstrip units slated to be shuttered by 2022.

By Gavin Bade • March 13, 2017

New Hampshire utilities, solar companies file rate design settlement proposals

The separate proposals find common ground on TOU pilots and non-bypassable charges, but differ on how they would allow solar customers to net their bill credits.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 13, 2017

How to get the most out of grid modernization, in 5 simple steps

A new paper offers guidelines for designing and evaluating expensive utility grid modernization proposals.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 13, 2017

Report: Trump plans not to replace Clean Power Plan with new carbon rule

A new report suggests the administration will not issue a new rule, but it remains unclear whether the EPA will seek to eliminate carbon regulations completely or scale the Clean Power Plan back to a less stringent rule. 

By Gavin Bade • March 9, 2017

Updated: Trump to nominate McIntyre, Chatterjee, Powelson to FERC, reports say

Kevin McIntyre, a lawyer at Jones Day, is expected to be nominated to chair the commission, Bloomberg reports. 

By Gavin Bade • March 9, 2017

Florida subcommittee advances bill to revise utility regulation

The measure would reduce term limits in the Florida Public Service Commission, while requiring regional diversity among its five members. 

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2017

Ohio's REV: PUCO to explore grid modernization, utility reform in PowerForward initiative

Unlike other initiatives, which began with an end goal in mind, PUCO Chair Asim Haque says his proceeding will be more "exploratory" at the outset.

By Gavin Bade • March 8, 2017

California regulators propose doubling funds for Self-Generation Incentive Program

A proposed decision from the CPUC would increase funding for the Self Generation Incentive Program by $249 million over three years. 

By Gavin Bade • March 8, 2017

'Can't be half-pregnant': Power market upheavals prompt states, feds to take action

As FERC prepares for a technical conference on wholesale market issues, three new states are considering nuclear supports and gas plants are coming under pressure in ERCOT and CAISO. 

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2017

How ConEd's mobile battery REV demo could build a new storage business model

The company may not break even on a pilot to deploy mobile battery systems to stressed parts of the grid, but sees the project as a test of new market models for utilities and private vendors alike. 

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 2017

FERC plans technical conference on state generation supports in wholesale markets

Independent generators are concerned that state subsidies for certain plants violate FERC jurisdiction and threaten price formation in organized markets. 

By Gavin Bade • March 7, 2017

How climate change will stress the grid and what ISOs are doing about it

Global warming is expected to increase peak demand and extreme weather events, but new grid planning practices can help ensure power reliability. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 6, 2017

Report: Lack of mandates, incentives holding solar+storage back in New York City

Ancillary service rules in the NYISO market were also listed as an impediment to battery deployment in the new report from CUNY and NREL. 

By Peter Maloney • March 6, 2017

ZEN Energy of Australia proposes 50 MW storage project to counter blackouts

With a large battery system in place, rolling outages in South Australia last month "would not have happened," company leaders told government officials. 

By Peter Maloney • March 3, 2017

Commodities giant Vitol taps NEC to build 50 MW UK storage project for National Grid

NEC will build two battery facilities with a combined capacity of 50 MW, 35 MWh to provide frequency response to the U.K. utility. 

By Peter Maloney • March 3, 2017

New Mexico gives quick approval to El Paso Electric demand response program

The small pilot will allow the utility to remotely communicate with smart thermostats to control participating customer’s electrical load. 

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2017

Senate confirms Rick Perry to lead Department of Energy

The former Texas governor will now head the agency he once proposed eliminating. 

By Robert Walton, Gavin Bade • March 2, 2017