PJM asks FERC to approve capacity market reforms in push to bolster grid reliability

The PJM Interconnection urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve its proposal by mid-December so changes could be put in place ahead of its upcoming capacity auction.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2023

Reworking the grid to accommodate offshore wind is a matter of ‘extreme urgency’: Ørsted exec

The limited points of interconnection on the Atlantic coast make collaborative and creative planning a necessity, said Ørsted’s Head of Electricity Policy Lopa Parikh.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 12, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Cybersecurity of the Grid

In addition to presenting opportunities for growth, AI is exacerbating cyber threats with more sophisticated malware that is easier than ever to build and deploy. The rise of distributed energy resources also creates more opportunities for attack. 

By Utility Dive staff

2024 US power sector conferences to watch

Start planning for this year’s events, which will cover the clean energy transition, state and federal energy policy and more.

By Larry Pearl • Updated Feb. 16, 2024

California Gov. Newsom signs climate disclosure bills but worries about ‘overall financial impact’

The two bills would require large companies to disclose their supply chain emissions and report on climate-related financial risks, but the governor raised concerns about the deadlines and the cost to businesses.

By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 11, 2023

No more delays or excuses: California must build clean energy now to replace fossil fuels

We need Gov. Newsom to sign SB 619 so that 2023 is the last year state agencies can point to insufficient clean energy generation as a reason for delaying the closure of outdated fossil fuel plants.

By Ed Smeloff • Oct. 6, 2023

DOE provides $22M to drive smart manufacturing for small- and medium-size facilities

The money will go towards 12 state-run programs to make smart manufacturing tech and high-grade computing more accessible to small businesses. 

By Kate Magill • Oct. 5, 2023

California legislation would require greenhouse gas emission, climate financial risk disclosures

The bills, which await approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom, echo some requirements of the SEC’s proposed climate risk disclosures for public companies.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 5, 2023

Battery storage failures highlight reliability challenges of inverter-based resources: report

The analysis is the latest data point in the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s investigation of IBRs tripping offline or reducing output in response to grid disturbances.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2023

NRC issues preliminary language for licensing and oversight of fusion energy systems

The Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, signed by President Trump in 2019, directs the NRC to establish a regulatory framework for fusion reactors by Dec. 31, 2027.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 4, 2023

FERC in Focus: Would 2 empty seats in 2024 be so bad?

A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staffer is the leading nominee for one empty seat, but questions about timing — and about Commissioner James Danly’s seat — remain.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 4, 2023

PJM ‘Catch-22’ blocks large-scale residential demand response, hurts grid reliability: CPower

Utilities don’t give curtailment service providers smart meter data they need to aggregate thousands of residential demand response customers, CPower said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 3, 2023

Grid operators oppose FERC conference on valuing reliability benefits of batteries, generators

Supporters of a conference on capacity accreditation approaches for grid resources include Southern California Edison, Advanced Energy United and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission chair.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 3, 2023

PJM, 80 parties agree to trim Winter Storm Elliott penalties

The agreement resolves 15 complaints brought by Calpine, Energy Harbor, Talen Energy and others that could have become “mega-litigation” taking years to resolve, the parties said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 2, 2023

Texas PUC begins work to attract advanced nuclear reactors, in and out of ERCOT market

“We have vertically integrated utilities in some parts of the state and they have a very attractive opportunity to participate in this space as well,” Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty said.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2023

FERC must review local transmission planned by AEP, Duke, other Ohio utilities: complaint

Ohio utilities have added nearly $6.5 billion in PJM-approved “supplemental projects” since 2017 without oversight of their need, prudence and cost-effectiveness, the Ohio ratepayer advocate said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 29, 2023

PJM board calls for capacity market changes to bolster grid reliability, resource adequacy

The PJM Interconnection plans in mid-October to ask the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve revisions to its capacity market in time for its next auction.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 28, 2023

FERC, DOE face major furloughs under government shutdown

A bare-bones staff would monitor dams, liquefied natural gas projects and power markets under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s shutdown plan.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 28, 2023

FERC to hike scrutiny of JPMorgan power sector actions after finding link to private equity firm IIF

J.P. Morgan Investment can make “virtually every major decision” for IIF, which owns El Paso Electric, nearly 5 GW of gas-fired capacity and other energy assets, FERC said last week.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 26, 2023

PJM plan for distributed energy aggregations would block virtual power plants: Tesla

Tesla on Friday urged federal regulators to approve measures so residential aggregations in VPPs in PJM can be “achieved at scale and provide transformative reliability value and reduce consumer energy costs.”

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 25, 2023

Retail ‘choice’: A bad deal for consumers and the planet

Data from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois and several other states confirm that families pay far too much when they sign up for alternative electric supply instead of sticking with their utility companies.

By Jenifer Bosco • Sept. 22, 2023

Record 13% of Eastern Interconnect capacity failed in Winter Storm Elliott: FERC, NERC

FERC commissioners called on Congress Thursday to name an agency for gas reliability oversight as commission and NERC staff issued cold-weather recommendations.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 22, 2023

$4.6B for climate action plan implementation available from EPA

Measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions the most will get priority in Environmental Protection Agency funding decisions.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 21, 2023

NERC wants smaller renewables, batteries to register as bulk-power assets over reliability concerns

About 14% of inverter-based resources that are connected to the bulk-power system are not currently required to register with the North American Electric Reliability Corp. or adhere to its reliability standards.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2023

Maryland officials press FERC to reject PJM directive to Exelon for $785M in transmission upgrades

The PJM Interconnection failed to consider energy storage and other options to handle Talen Energy’s plan to retire its Brandon Shores power plant, according to Maryland officials.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 21, 2023

Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP

Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2023