Why states should prohibit utility political contributions

The 2005 repeal of the Public Utility Holding Company Act left PUCs in 30 states susceptible to political influence, jeopardizing their responsibility to provide consumers with reliable service at just and reasonable rates.

By Mark Van Orden • Dec. 19, 2023

FERC in Focus: Phillips, Danly, Clements and Christie’s top 10 quotes for ’23

Grid reliability, transmission reform and power markets are among the top issues FERC addressed — and FERC commissioners commented on — this year, setting the stage for 2024.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 18, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

New survey highlights reliance on real-time data, suggesting increased momentum for remote energy management in 2024

Users report maintaining or even increasing their use of Sense’s real-time home intelligence, despite changes in their routines.

Dec. 18, 2023

Treasury finalizes guidance on IRA clean energy tax credits

Solar panel and battery manufacturers can receive a tax credit on a percentage of their production costs until 2033.

By Joelle Anselmo • Updated Oct. 25, 2024

Texas regulators look to expand successful 80 MW virtual power plant pilot

The updated program, initially spurred by Tesla, would allow aggregated distributed energy resources to participate in ERCOT’s contingency reserve service.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2023

Michigan’s new clean energy package is historic for the country, not just the Midwest

The state is now a test case for the country on how to take a set of bold clean energy policies and realize its goals to decarbonize the electric grid.

By Laura Sherman • Dec. 14, 2023

Landmark COP28 agreement calls for ‘transitioning away’ from fossil fuels

Though the final agreement is a step forward from a previous draft that scrapped the demand to “phase out” fossil fuels, its text contains ambiguous language on shifting away from oil and gas.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 13, 2023

Arizona’s chief utility regulator bashes ESG, says it’s not a factor when weighing utility plans

Solar and wind resources may be cheaper, but the head of the Arizona Corporation Commission said fossil fuels “will continue to play a critical role in the delivery of reliable, affordable power.”

By Robert Walton • Dec. 12, 2023

Exelon, PG&E, others urge FERC to give transmission owners first dibs on regional projects

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's work to pass a final transmission planning rule could get a boost if Commissioner James Danly leaves the agency when this congressional session ends. 

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 11, 2023

No shining example: Texas-style electric deregulation is bad for consumers

Texas power market designers argue that short-term price spikes will encourage long-run investment, but why would power plant owners build more power plants just to make sure prices stay low?

By Ed Hirs • Dec. 8, 2023

Democratic lawmakers call for urgent action on climate finance and fossil fuel phase-out

The letter, signed by 34 Democrats, said the U.S. has failed to adhere to its climate action commitments and must halt all public financing of international fossil fuel projects.

By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 5, 2023

Eversource wary about attracting investor capital as Connecticut moves to forefront of PBR trend

Connecticut utilities’ credit and financials will remain stable or improve when performance-based regulation is fully implemented, just as they did for Hawaiian Electric, said the state’s chief utility regulator.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 5, 2023

Alliant, DTE, NextEra, others urge FERC to reject MISO’s proposed interconnection queue cap

The grid operator’s proposed interconnection study cap would create “an unworkable queue that undermines competition, raises rates, and threatens reliability,” renewable energy groups said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 5, 2023

Federal appeals court upholds FERC action on PJM capacity market rule, sets precedent

The decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals offers a “yardstick” for court reviews when FERC is deadlocked and can’t make a decision — a situation that could become more common, ClearView Energy Partners said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 4, 2023

5.2 GW of solar resources at higher risk of tripping offline during grid disturbance: NERC

“Potential reliability gaps exist" when recommended practices are not implemented, said Ryan Quint, director of engineering and security integration at the North American Electric Reliability Corp.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 4, 2023

Texas PUC delays vote on ERCOT battery rules amid concerns that standards are ‘discriminatory’

“ERCOT is trying to make batteries look like and act like coal plants,” PUCT Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty said in a Wednesday memo.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 1, 2023

Customer experience and other barriers are delaying utilities’ ability to distribute clean energy

The grid infrastructure is severely outdated in most regions, companies are facing a huge upskilling and reskilling challenge in their workforce, and customers are demanding more reliable and affordable clean electricity options.

By Natasha Dowling • Nov. 30, 2023

FERC in Focus: Is FERC making progress on environmental justice?

“We continue to work, but there's more work to be done,” Willie Phillips, FERC acting chairman, said. Environmental justice advocates agree.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 30, 2023

Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs clean energy package that supports waste to energy, landfill gas

Michigan’s suite of clean energy bills allows the partial use of incineration, landfill gas, natural gas systems with carbon capture and other infrastructure that groups said harms vulnerable communities.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 29, 2023

Can ERCOT show the way to faster and cheaper grid interconnection?

With the "connect and manage" process, which doesn’t require network upgrades, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas brought 14.2 GW online in the last two years, more than any other grid operator.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 27, 2023

Integrated system planning — starting the journey

Decarbonization and clean energy commitments are driving ever-increasing complexity in utility infrastructure planning.

By Cristin Lyons and Stephen Haubrich • Nov. 27, 2023

Navigating the currents of compliance: How to prepare for NERC PRC-005-6 and TPL-001-5

Prepared for critical NERC compliance standards that will affect your utility business? Make sure you are to avoid costly outages and fines.

Nov. 27, 2023

Green hydrogen: understanding the innovation and policy landscape

You can create hydrogen via renewable-powered electrolysis, making it clean from the start. So what’s the problem?

Nov. 27, 2023

The Southeast Energy Exchange Market launched a year ago. It still isn’t delivering on its promises.

Over the past year, SEEM’s poor performance has proven its critics right and demonstrated that the energy trading platform is in dire need of a substantial overhaul if it is to be either lawful or beneficial.

By Nick Guidi and Chris Carmody • Nov. 22, 2023

Proposed transmission planning rule is a ‘chief’ priority for FERC’s Phillips

In a letter to state lawmakers, Willie Phillips, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission acting chairman, outlined elements that should be in a final transmission planning rule.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 21, 2023