Connecticut regulators conditionally approve Iberdrola-UIL merger

The approval, which is not final until Dec. 9, will help speed cleanup at the long-defunct English Station coal facility in New Haven, Conn.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2015

Feds open 4 offshore wind lease areas off South Carolina to tepid utility response

Secretary Jewell pledges “collaborative effort to identify high potential/low conflict areas”

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 30, 2015

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

Delaware regulators reject Vivint Solar's bid for non-regulated status

Vivint wanted a guarantee that it would not be regulated like a utility when installing rooftop solar, but regulators say they will likely need legislation or a formal solar leasing proceeding to settle the issue.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 30, 2015

SolarCity leaves TASC, denies split with advocacy partner Sunrun

The leading U.S. solar installer is moving to the Energy Freedom Coalition of America for broader advocacy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 25, 2015

CA regulators cut anti-terror funding for utilities in dispute with legislature over legal fees

"Democracy is pretty messy," is how the executive director of the California Public Utilities Commission explains it.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2015

Proposed Oregon offshore wind project too expensive, utilities say

Power from a proposed wind facility offshore Oregon would be five times more expensive than existing options, according to a lobbyist for Portland General Electric.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2015

Some energy storage already cost competitive, new valuation study shows

A new report from Lazard breaks down the costs of 8 different technologies, finding some can already compete against traditional generation sources, and others are getting closer.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2015

Michigan energy proposals will 'kill choice,' limit renewable investments, opponents say

Michigan is considering two pieces of energy billed as "compromises," but advocates for retail choice and renewables say they will do little to advance their causes.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 24, 2015

Portland General Electric joins CAISO energy imbalance market

The regional balancing authority headed by California’s grid operator will now span eight states.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2015

Despite green outcry, CPUC approves SoCal Edison gas & storage plans

The California Public Utilities Commission approves 57 of 63 of controversial SoCal Ed procurement contracts, but sees room for improvment in the "all-source RFO process."

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 24, 2015

Kinder Morgan files $5B Northeast pipeline plan despite critical Mass. AG study

The Northeast Energy Direct project is a "transformative" plan to exand the Tennessee Gas Pipeline system in  Pennsylvania, New York and New England.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 24, 2015

EPA set to finalize carbon trading models for Clean Power Plan in August 2016

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the release of the the final model for how carbon trading could help states comply with the Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 24, 2015

New York Gov. Cuomo orders 50% renewables in bid to save 2 nuke plants

New York has a goal of reaching 50% renewables, but sources told the New York Times that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will direct state regulators to make that goal a mandate in an effort to stave off the closure of two nuclear plants.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 24, 2015

Kauai co-op files plans for community shared renewables with Hawaii regulators

The plan calls for up to 3 MW of shared renewables currently priced from $0.101/kWh to $0.145/kWh.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 23, 2015

Montana utility withdraws bid for residential demand charge for DER customers

Montana Dakota Utilities withdrew its residential demand charge request, but still wants higher fixed charges and a boost in volumetric rates. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 23, 2015

Illinois to probe whether Wisconsin Energy, Integrys hid pipeline costs in merger proceeding

The Illinois Commerce Commission launched an investigation to see if executives knew costs associated with a Peoples Gas pipeline replacement project had almost doubled.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2015

War games: 350 utilities join feds in simulation of large-scale grid attack

Last week the North American Electric Reliability Corporation led a simulated attack on the United States' utility grid. Had it been real, some cities would have been left uninhabitable.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2015

The top 5 trends in distributed energy policy and rate design

From coast to coast, regulators are focused on net metering and rate design considering distributed resources, but analysts warn that such issues are "just the tip of the iceberg." 

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 23, 2015

Senators resurrect 1970s financing tactic to boost carbon capture for coal plants

A bipartisan pair of lawmakers wants to allow businesses to use tax-exempt private activity bonds to finance the installation of carbon capture equipment.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2015

Major solar installer advocates expiration of solar investment tax credit

The extension of the 30% federal tax credit is not needed for the continued health of the industry, Sunnova's CEO wrote to congressional leaders this week.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 20, 2015

Ohio regulators to probe submetering companies reselling energy in apartments, condos

Allowing a third-party to resell energy in apartments and condominiums would likely be illegal in most states, and advocates are calling for greater scrutiny into the practice in Ohio. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2015

NY Gov. Cuomo pushes closure of Entergy Indian Point nuke in NRC filings

National security risks, deterioration of the facility and the plant's close proximity to New York City were all put forward as reasons to close Indian Point, even as Cuomo fights to keep another Entergy nuclear facility from closing. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2015

Honolulu mayor argues against public utility as alternative for NextEra-HECO merger

The city lacks the experience and the deep pockets neeed to replace Hawaiian Electric, Mayor Caldwell's office told city lawmakers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 20, 2015

EPA floats tougher cross-state pollution rules as Senate slams Clean Power Plan

The EPA wants more stringent standards on ozone and smog-causing pollution that floats across state lines, but conservatives in Congress aren't happy about the agency's active role in the Obama administration.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 19, 2015

SoCal Edison blames poor management for Long Beach outages

Inadequate oversight and knowledge of the network were found to be causes of outages that left nearly 30,000 Southern California Edison customers in the dark this summer. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 19, 2015