CPUC safety certification eases PG&E access to wildfire insurance fund, prompting backlash

Environmental and ratepayer advocacy groups are concerned by problems uncovered in field inspections, as well as PG&E's potential role in sparking the 2020 Zogg Fire.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 20, 2021

With FERC Order 2222 compliance deadline 6 months away, many questions loom, analysts find

What DER aggregates will look like, how the new parties will interact with existing grid management, and what individual state roles might be are questions that will have to be decided in the near future.

By Leslie Nemo • Jan. 20, 2021

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

10 state utility commission chairs to FERC: Let's strengthen federal-state electricity regulatory relationships

"We call on federal and state electricity regulators to explore a forum where pressing policy issues can be discussed in a way that improves coordination and understanding across the jurisdictional lines," the commissioners write.

By Jason Stanek, Philip L. Bartlett II, Joseph L. Fiordaliso, Marissa Paslick Gillet, Willie L. Phillips, Ted J. Thomas, Rebecca Cameron Valcq, Hayley Williamson, Dallas Winslow and Carrie K. Zalewski • Jan. 20, 2021

FERC rejects NYISO MOPR expansion, gas infrastructure orders, in Danly's last meeting as chair

"This meeting is not normal," an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a tweet.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 20, 2021

DC Circuit rejects Trump EPA ACE rule, opening door for more stringent regulations under Biden

The court found the Clean Power Plan replacement "hinged on a fundamental misconstruction" of the Clean Air Act.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 20, 2021

California approves PG&E, SDG&E, SCE microgrid tariffs with eye to upcoming fire season

As battery storage capacity is added in California, developers are preparing to meet the summer peak demand through new projects, including microgrids.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 19, 2021

Hawaii finalizes utility regulation considered potential template for US power system transformation

Stakeholders agree the state's final performance-based regulation order includes opportunities and safeguards that can lead to a new regulatory paradigm.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2021

California releases final root cause analysis of August rolling blackouts

Renewables and storage advocates said the report shows California should invest more aggressively in long-term energy storage, to ensure power from intermittent resources, such as solar, can be available during peak hours.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2021

Duke, Southern file SEEM proposal with FERC as North Carolina regulators mull authority

Duke Energy argued state regulators do not need to approve its proposal to form a centralized energy exchange market before filing with federal regulators.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Feb. 16, 2021

Biden advisor: US 'lost critical time' in climate change fight

National Economic Council Director-Designate Brian Deese said reentering the Paris agreement will be a top priority of Biden's administration, but more must be done to curb emissions.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 14, 2021

2021 Outlook: 10 power sector trends to watch

A new administration under a new party is one of many signs that 2021 will look different for policymakers, regulators, utilities and other stakeholders, but the continuation of some older trends is expected as well.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 13, 2021

2021 Outlook: The DER boom continues, driving a ‘reimagining’ of the distribution system

The rise of distributed resources will require a renewed distribution system that gives utilities more visibility of what's going on at the customer level to cut costs and protect reliability. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2021

Microgrids are coming — will they increase inequities?

The resources must not be deployed mainly for the benefit of higher-wealth communities, the author writes.

By Ed Smeloff • Jan. 11, 2021

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission needs a reboot

The need for a new approach is especially evident with gas pipeline approvals as FERC continues to rely on a flawed assumption that the existence of a contract to supply gas implies "public need" for a pipeline, the author writes.

By Ashish Solanki • Jan. 8, 2021

Renewables, storage stocks soar as Democrat-led Congress improves environment for green investments

In response to favorable investment conditions, renewables and energy storage companies' stocks — including Sunrun, Tesla, Bloom Energy, Eos Energy and First Solar — have seen significant gains lately.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 8, 2021

Democrats to take Senate majority after Georgia victories. Here's how it could impact the power sector.

Analysts and stakeholders say the implications of a Democrat-majority Senate could be consequential for renewables and electric vehicle deployment, as well as broader carbon reduction policies.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 7, 2021

Washington state adopts rules to guide utilities to coal-free status by 2025, carbon-free by 2045

The rules will help implement the state's 2019 clean energy law, which requires utilities to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and source 100% of their energy from renewable or non-carbon emitting sources by 2045.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 7, 2021

Massachusetts Gov Baker signs climate legislation, setting net-zero 2050 target

The bill sets a statewide net zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, includes renewable energy and storage targets, as well as efficiency standards.

By Robert Walton • Updated March 29, 2021

EPA finalizes science rule expected to have limited effect on power sector, but NGOs still see threat

Legal experts say that because the rule is procedural, and not subject to the Congressional Review Act, the Biden administration can "kill it" easily.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 6, 2021

Two barriers to utility and customer savings with flexible loads and how regulators can help

Utilities, regulators and load flexibility authorities say better distribution system control technologies and compensation are needed to increase the use of flexible customer-sited resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2021

Top Utility Trends of 2020

Amid significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the power sector's transition to a cleaner, more distributed future continues.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 5, 2021

Want to know how to pick an energy market? Watch the Mountain West power providers

Xcel Colorado just joined California’s imbalance market, SPP will offer imbalance services, and researchers have proposed a Colorado-centric system. But what do power providers want?

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 4, 2021

FERC approves tariff for Southwest Power Pool's Western imbalance market

Regulators concluded the new market, which plans to launch in February, will "yield diverse benefits to the participating utilities and customers" in the regional interconnection.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2021

The search for the next net metering policy takes center stage in California

California’s utilities and solar advocates agree a forward-looking successor tariff must use the state’s nation-leading rooftop solar penetration to address its increasingly dynamic system needs with storage.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 23, 2020

Northeast states, DC sign MOU to reduce transportation emissions

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, are the first jurisdictions to implement the Transportation and Climate Initiative's cap-and-invest program.

By Kristin Musulin • Dec. 23, 2020