Nevada PUC approves restoring retail net metering to Sierra Pacific customers

A year after ending retail net metering, a new-look PUC restored it for about 1,500 customers in the north of the state.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 22, 2016

How the Illinois energy reform 'fixed' the state's RPS, promising a renewables boom

A convoluted renewables standard stalled investment for years, but the new law aims for over 4 GW of wind and solar through a streamlined program.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

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

Kansas regulatory staff recommends rejection of Great Plains-Westar merger

Staff of the Kansas Corporation Commission cited financial risk to customers in their filing, which could scuttle the merger if approved by commissioners. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

LS Power-led consortium wins first Order 1000 transmission project in MISO

The $50 million transmission project is the first to be awarded in MISO under FERC's Order 1000, which aims to spur transmission buildout. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

MISO integrates first solar project into its wholesale market

The Midcontinent ISO has many solar arrays, but only North Star is currently participating in its wholesale market.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 21, 2016

Updated: Arizona regulators end retail net metering in value-of-solar proceeding

But regulators put off setting rooftop solar compensation rates, saying that will happen in upcoming rate cases. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 21, 2016

Hawaii cooperative achieves non-profit status in bid to challenge HECO power service

Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative said it can save Big Island residents $234 million if it takes over for the incumbent utility. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2016

2016: A 'transitional year for storage,' industry set to break records

Diverse storage deployment and investments on pace to surpass last year's numbers, analysts say. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

How Microsoft and a Wyoming utility designed a data center tariff that works for everyone

Collaboration on corporate rate design makes Black Hills Energy "a banner for what utilities should be," but work remains to be done on renewables procurement. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2016

Renewables challenge natural gas plants on price in latest Lazard analysis

Wind and solar are now well within the cost range of combined cycle plants, but still need generators or storage to support them on the grid.  

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

ComEd pushes ahead with Bronzeville microgrid, despite lack of legislative backing

Funding for the microgrid was left out of Illinois' mammoth energy bill, but ComEd says it will ask regulators to allow it to recover some of the costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

Second time the charm? Washington Gov. Inslee proposes new $25 carbon tax in budget

Voters rejected a carbon tax in last month's election, but the governor included a similar proposal in a draft of the state's two-year budget plan. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2016

Greens protest Portland General Electric's plans to replace retired coal unit with natural gas

Environmental groups say the retrofit violates the spirit of a plan approved earlier this year to end fossil fuel use.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2016

Proposed Massachusetts air regulations target 80% decarbonization by 2050

The new rules would require utilities to source 80% of their power from non-emitting resources by midcentury and limit GHGs from transport and fossil fuel extraction.

By Robert Walton, Gavin Bade • Dec. 19, 2016

House 'Freedom Caucus' pushes Trump to rescind climate measures in first 100 days

The group of the House's most conservative lawmakers laid out a list of 200 regulations they want President-elect Donald Trump to overturn once he takes office. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 19, 2016

Strange rumblings at PowerGen: Coal use could persist

New technologies and looser regulations could help coal, attendees at PowerGen said last week, but many utilities have already made other generation plans.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2016

Trump election throws wrench in California ISO plan for western power market

State leaders across the region want to see Trump's energy priorities before forging on toward a full ISO.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2016

Two dozen states ask Trump to scrap Clean Power Plan on Day 1

It was a campaign promise of President-elect Donald Trump. Now 24 states want him to act on his first day in office.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2016

FERC proposes changes to large generator interconnection process

The Commission's notice focuses on large plants but also asks whether it could be expanded to distributed energy. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 19, 2016

Did coal ash disputes lay the foundation for North Carolina power grab?

A new law that strips some powers from an incoming Democratic governor could have its origins in coal ash power tussles, according to a local report. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2016

FERC rejects Montana decision to suspend PURPA rates for small solar farms

FLS Energy turned to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after Montana suspended guaranteed rates for small solar projects at the request of NorthWestern Energy.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2016

UK utility picks Younicos for 49 MW storage project

Construction is slated to start in March and is expected to enter operations in 2018.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 16, 2016

MIT report calls for regulatory, market reforms to accommodate DERs

The lengthy paper argues regulators must be as innovative as the companies they oversee to unlock the potential of distributed resources. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 16, 2016

Down to the wire, Michigan passes sweeping renewable energy, retail choice reforms

After a scramble to reach a compromise, lawmakers came together to overhaul Michigan's energy marketplace on the last day of the legislative session.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2016

The new guide to the community solar galaxy

A new policy guide outlines five categories of best practices to spur growth in shared renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 15, 2016