Duke, Piedmont request accelerated review of proposed $4.9B merger

The companies told regulators that the deal could lower fuel costs for Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2016

Arizona regulators approve APS residential energy storage pilot

The Arizona Corporation Commission last week approved a proposal from Arizona Public Service for a pilot program to evaluate energy storage for residential customers.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 19, 2016

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

DNV GL aims for energy storage 'global guide' with GRIDSTOR standards

Aligning standards across the storage industry will help 'create a level playing field' for providers, analysts say.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 19, 2016

ERCOT: Wind energy provided record 45% of electricity on Dec. 20

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas maintained reliability with over 10 GW of wind energy on that day.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2016

DOE taps two new nuclear reactor designs for development funding

The federal government tapped X-energy and Southern Company Services to develop new types of nuclear reactors as a way to meet aggressive carbon reduction goals.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 19, 2016

California regulators approve SCE pilot to build 1,500 EV charging stations

The pilot program calls for the installation of 1,500 stations and could lead to a $333 million, 30,000 station buildout by 2020.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2016

New York Gov. Cuomo calls for closing all coal plants in state by 2020

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) this week announced a plan for the state to cease burning coal in power plants by 2020. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2016

PG&E tried to dispose of safety records on San Bruno explosion, federal attorneys say

A former employee hired to improve record keeping reportedly found key safety records in a dumpster outside a company natural gas facility.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2016

Wait for ruling on FERC Order 745 bodes well for agency, DR backers say

An order vacating FERC's jurisdiction over demand response could have been penned quickly, so demand response advocates say the extended wait for a decision may mean good news is on the way for the agency.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2016

Nevada PUC denies request to stay solar net metering reforms

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada denied requests to delay implementing the new net metering remuneration rates and fixed fee rate hikes on rooftop solar users. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 14, 2016

UBS: Resident opposition could sink NextEra-Hawaiian Electric deal

The investment research firm sees a good chance of “the deal breaking up given persistent consternations.”

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2016

Ukraine cyberattacks, blackouts heighten fears of US grid vulnerabilities

Recent cyberattacks which caused blackounts in Ukraine have raised fears that the United States' electric grid would be unprepared to respond to a similar scenario.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2016

Iowa regulators deny Clean Line's third request to change transmission approval process

The developer wants the leverage of a permitted line before it seeks the right of eminent domain. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2016

Obama touts clean energy growth, promises fossil fuel extraction reform in State of the Union

The president took on climate change doubters in his final State of the Union address Tuesday night and promised to reform policies allowing for the extraction of fossil fuels on federal lands. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 13, 2016

How a new business model could get the Puerto Rico public utility out of debt

The only way PREPA can save itself is to find a path to lower cost electricity, but any restructuring deal is bound up in the politics of both the island and Capitol Hill.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Nevada regulator urges commission not to delay new solar net metering rates

The full Nevada commission will meet today to consider calls from the solar industry to stay a controversial net metering ruling, but one regulator has already made his opinion on the matter clear.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

New Hampshire opens investigation into resale of electricity at EV charging facilities

Liberty Utilities has asked New Hampshire regulators for authority to resell power at electric vehicle charging stations, potentially opening up more rate options in the transportation sector.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2016

Dominion Virginia Power commits $700M to solar in long-term resource plan

Virginia regulators use regulatory process to push the utility toward a bigger resource mix. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

New Jersey doubles storage funding for renewables integration, reliability

New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities has allocated $6 million for energy storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 12, 2016

West Virginia utilities mull divergent approaches to power mixes in IRPs

Four West Virginia utilities have filed integrated resource plans, making public for the first time their plans for the state's power production. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2016

Solar moves ahead of wind, hydro in California fuel mix, toward 10% of state's power

Huge growth in the sector, along with a hydro-hampering drought, means that solar now accounts for more generation than any other reneawble resource in California. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2016

Hawaii PUC Chair warns NextEra against sideline maneuvers with HEI merger opponents

Hawaii's lead regulator says NextEra's most recent filing in the case came too close to an evidentiary hearing for other stakeholders to review it. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2016

Wisconsin lawmakers set to vote on bill lifting nuclear plant moratorium

A measure to loosen restrictions on building new nuclear capacity has been placed on the Wisconsin Assembly's legislative calendar for Tuesday.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 11, 2016

Vermont regulators approve new line to bring Canadian renewables to New England

The New England Clean Power Link will carry 1,000 MW of capacity under Lake Champlain.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 11, 2016

Bigger than batteries: Why the cost of other components matters to storage deployment

As deployment accelerates, the plummeting cost of balance of system components will help make storage a better deal for utilities and third parties nationwide. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 11, 2016