How DOE is remaking itself to help utilities modernize the grid

Now's the time for utilities to take advantage of new partnership and research opportunities, the agency says.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 14, 2015

California struggles with gas capacity in summer heat

High temperatures and supply constraints led to CAISO issuing a call for urgent conservation earlier this month. 

By Gavin Bade • July 14, 2015

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

DOE funding suspended for ailing CA carbon capture project

The HECA project failed to meet developmental deadlines, an agency spokesperson said.

By Gavin Bade • July 14, 2015

NH governor signs bill allowing Eversource to sell generation fleet

If approved by regulators, Eversource will be the final utility in the state to divest from its plants and buy all its power on the open market. 

By Gavin Bade • July 14, 2015

TEP asks regulators to expand rooftop solar offerings, add community solar product

New solar programs would be added to the utility’s rate base and paid for through customer bills, if regulators approve.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2015

Utilities, greens get last minute shots at lobbying White House on Clean Power Plan

Final Clean Power Plan regulations are stil pending, and that means industry lobbying is in full force.

By Robert Walton • July 13, 2015

Inside California's rate restructuring plan and the battle for fixed charges looming over it

The CPUC decision on tiers and time-of-use rates sets up fight for fixed cost recovery.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2015

NRC reopens Diablo Canyon nuclear plant license extension case

PG&E says the nuclear facility can endure a 10,000 year earthquake, but critics are concerned about recently-discovered fault lines.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 10, 2015

CA utilities want distributed generation to count towards renewables mandate

SCE says not including distributed renewables “picks winners and losers,” and will drive up customer costs.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 10, 2015

Michigan PSC directs utilities to offer time of use rates

The state's legislators had directed the Michigan Public Service Commission to consider ways to ensure no cross-subsidization existed between power consumers.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2015

Inside Minnesota's disputed community solar deal

No one seems completely happy about the deal to limit the size of community solar arrays, but the market is set to expand anyway.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 9, 2015

DC Circuit Court rejects challenge to EPA particulate pollution rules

North Carolina waited too long to push back on implementation of a 2006 federal fine particulate rule known as the PM2.5 standard.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2015

Boulder files with regulators to acquire Xcel assets in bid to form municipal utility

The application, filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, focuses only on serving customers in the city and does not seek to take over any generation assets.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2015

Dominion Virginia moving ahead with controversial unlined coal ash storage pit

The utility and Virginia environmental regulators say the pit is safe, but environmentalists doubt an unlined pit can stop toxic leakage.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 8, 2015

EPA head McCarthy defends Clean Power Plan, slams proposed cuts in Capitol Hill visit

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the Supreme Court's decision to reject its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards is not an indication of what may happen to the Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

NY regulators open REV discussion on value of grid edge technologies

A new white paper issued alongside the state's Reforming the Energy Vision seeks to understand the costs and benefits of distributed resources, efficiency and new system platforms.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

Senate Democrats preparing energy bill, potential counter to bipartisan efforts

A bipartisan effort to develop energy legislation is still ongoing, but Senate Democrats are also preparing their own package.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

President Obama announces plans to make solar more accessible to middle, low-income customers

A new 300 MW target for federally subsidized housing, a new community solar partnership, and independent solar commitments are all part of the President's announcements.

By Gavin Bade • July 7, 2015

New Georgia law cuts electric car rebates, raising concern about utility EV programs

The law ends a $5,000 EV tax credit and raises today’s $2.77 per gallon gas price to $2.86.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2015

How California's biggest utilities plan to integrate distributed resources

New plans filed with state regulators show where DERs should go and how much they are worth to utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2015

Ameren Illinois joins call for MISO capacity auction scrutiny

The utility joined others in asking federal regulators to help explain a price spike in Zone 4 during a controversial capacity auction that will lead to higher bills for its customers.

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2015

Michigan Senate bills would keep electric choice, eliminate renewable & efficiency mandates

A proposal would maintain the state's 10% energy choice law, but with added restrictions to ensure alternative suppliers maintain adequate capacity.

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2015

California regulators mandate major residential electric rate reform

The new rate structure will have only two tiers and mandates that utilities put more focus on time-of-use rates.

By Gavin Bade • July 6, 2015

Oklahoma sues to block EPA Clean Power Plan

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency alleging the Clean Power Plan will threaten both the reliability and affordaibility of power in the state.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2015

Dominion questions solar, praises coal, decries carbon rules in IRP filing

Dominion has filed its Integrated Resource Plan with Virginia regulators, but warned that the federal government's Clean Power Plan leaves the company in a state of uncertainty.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2015