Utah regulators slim down PURPA contracts to 15 years

While the commission approved a reduction in contract length, it rejected Warren Buffett-owned PacifiCorp's request to reduce PURPA contracts from 20 years to three.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 8, 2016

California muni ditches San Juan plant ownership to be coal free by the end of 2017

California municipal utility Silicon Valley Power is divesting 51 MW of coal generation in favor of natural gas and renewables to meet the state's 50%-by-2030 renewables mandate. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 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

South Carolina utilities, wind developers show no interest in offshore wind development

Four lease tracts off the state’s Atlantic coast draw interest only from oil and gas drillers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2016

Constitutional challenge likely in fight over Dominion rate freeze

Critics say a five-year rate freeze lobbied for by Dominion could cost consumers an extra $1 billion and they are threatening to take the issue to the top court in Virginia. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2016

Nevada casinos say exit fees could prevent their defection from NV Energy

Staff of the Public Utilities Commission say penalties for three major casinos intending to leave Nevada Power's service are legal, but at least one says the pricetag "effectively denied" its plan.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2016

Ohio Supreme Court hears arguments on FirstEnergy rate case

The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments this week into whether state regulator's erred in approving the utility's current rate plan.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2016

NRG opposes expanding RGGI for Clean Power Plan compliance

In comments as part of an ongoing review of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, NRG has suggested states drop the program in favor of "independent state measure plans" to comply with the federal government's Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2016

Sunrun exits Nevada after net metering decision

Sunrun Inc. has followed two other major solar developers in ceasing operations in Nevada after what they preceived are unfriendly solar policies. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 7, 2016

Utility-backed Florida solar proposal appears headed for 2016 ballot

An opposing ballot measure backed by solar advocates is still stuck in money troubles and is looking ahead to the 2018 ballot.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016

Nearly $1B in applications for North Carolina renewable tax credits under Safe Harbor amendment

An amendment that extended the availability of tax credits under a now-expired renewable incentive program has attracted $938 million in applications for funding. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016

How the utility role in community solar is evolving as the sector matures

Everybody loves community solar, but just how the sector will mature will depend on how utilities and regulators approach the resource.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016

What utilities need to know about solar growth after the ITC extension

With policy support now certain into the 2020s, solar offers utilities a wide range of price-competitive opportunities for utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016

Cleco boosts customer perks again in Louisiana merger bid

Cleco Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets have almost doubled customer bill credits in an effort to get approval for their plan to take the power company private.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2016

Oregon utilities endorse bill to end coal use by 2030, boost RPS to 50% by 2040

Two major Oregon utilities have agreed to support a bill that would phase out coal-fired generation by 2030 and increase the state's renewable portfolio standard to 50% by 2040. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 6, 2016

Nevada regulators will consider delaying new net metering rates, monthly charges

The state's consumer advocate argues the ruling could violate the U.S. constitution’s contracts clause.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2016

Indiana regulators order NIPSCO to resubmit energy efficiency plan

The ruling is seen as support for Governor Mike Pence’s proposed efficiency bill, which 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2016

Florida Power & Light favors rate-based approach to Clean Power Plan compliance

Florida Power & Light's generation is already cleaner than required by new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, the utility said.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 6, 2016

FERC orders changes to MISO capacity auctions as manipulation probe persists

Federal regulators could issue refunds after a power auction last year resulted in an almost 900% increase in prices for Ameren customers in the Midcontinent ISO system.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 6, 2016

Exelon swoops in on FirstEnergy plant subsidy deal promising $2B in savings

Exelon has no power plants in Ohio but has offered to sell 3,000 MW into the state's markets, potentially saving consumers $2 billion over a plan by FirstEnergy to guarantee income at a pair of aging baseload plants. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 6, 2016

Passage of omnibus spending bill means enhanced efficiency rebates, funding

The bill provided for energy efficiency rebates to homes and businesses, as well as allowing a tax deduction to encourage efficiency upgrades of commercial buildings.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 6, 2016

Ontario turns to storage for renewables integration, grid services

Ontario has taken a big step toward integrating energy storage into its grid, but in other respects the province is still catching up with some organized wholesale markets in the United States.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 5, 2016

FERC denies permit for 1,000 MW pumped storage project in Kentucky

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected a successive preliminary permit for a proposed pumped storage project located in Kentucky, citing lack of progress from Maysville Pumped Storage LLC from its intial permit. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 5, 2016

Illinois landowners push regulators to rethink $2B Grain Belt Express transmission line

The permit allows Grain Belt Express line connecting Kansas wind to the East to use eminent domain. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 5, 2016

DERs in 2016: What experts expect for a booming sector

With the market for distributed energy resources set to blossom thanks to the extensions of vital tax credits, solar especially is primed to grow, experts predict. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 4, 2016

NC regulators classify 8 Duke coal ash ponds high risk, list 24 others as lower risk

North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality listed most of Duke Energy's coal ash ponds as lower risk last week despite staff recommendations to classify most of them as high-risk. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 4, 2016