Technology
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FERC moves to shore up potential cyber vulnerabilities
Regulators approved revised standards that will primarily cover "transient electronic devices," such as thumb drives and laptops.
By Robert Walton • April 23, 2018
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OpinionAccess to data: Bringing the electricity grid into the Information Age
Timely and convenient access to utility and customer data is vital to moving the electric utility industry into the digital age, unlocking value and engaging customers in new ways, AEE's Coley Girouard writes.
By Coley Girouard
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Xcel first utility to get FAA approval to run inspection drones beyond line of sight
The company will use drones to survey transmission lines near Denver. Once that's complete, it will work with the FAA to extend similar operations to other states in its territory.
By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2018
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Deep DiveNERC: Utilities failed to contact vendors during GridEx cyberattack simulation
None of the utilities participating in the exercise turned to vendors for help or information. But utility industry officials say the relationship with their suppliers remains tight.
By Robert Walton • April 16, 2018
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OpinionDOE research, development and demonstration funding: Keep on growin'
The Trump Administration is proposing historic cuts in energy RD&D spending. Congress rejected similar cuts for FY 2018 and should do the same for FY 2019, ITIF's Colin Cunliff and David Hart write.
By Colin Cunliff and David Hart
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Washington regulators require utilities to offer smart meter opt-outs
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission directed companies to minimize opt-out charges to remove any disincentives. Utilities plan to begin installing meters as soon as August.
By Robert Walton • April 11, 2018
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MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting
The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.
By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018
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DOE offers $1.8B for new supercomputers at national labs
The next generation of exascale computing could assist utilities with grid management and infrastructure planning, DOE Undersecretary Paul Dabbar said.
By Gavin Bade • April 09, 2018
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APS funds research linking job losses to renewable energy ballot proposal
But the study has not been peer-reviewed, news outlets report, and assumes that the utility will leave its stake in the Palo Verde nuclear facility.
By Robert Walton • April 04, 2018
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Deep DiveAs concern grows over bitcoin's energy use, what's next for cryptocurrency?
There are many cryptocurrencies out there, but Bitcoin is the biggest. And cities and towns where mining operations are greatly increasing energy demand are taking action.
By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018
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Deep DiveSmart transmission: How FERC can spur modernization of the bulk power system
Transmission technology vendors say their products could save electricity consumers billions — if utilities were incentivized to invest.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 26, 2018
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FERC among targets of Iranian hackers charged by DOJ
Nine Iranian nationals stole data from hundreds of universities and dozens of companies across the globe as well as five U.S. government agencies, the Justice Department said in an indictment Friday.
By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018
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Alabama Power customers claim top digital experience in survey, despite utilities generally lagging
Utilities rank among the lowest-scoring industries for digital experience, a new J.D. Power survey finds, but some are starting to catch up.
By Robert Walton • March 21, 2018
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Deep DiveNew business models may be the next frontier in lower energy storage costs
Often overlooked in discussions about the declining price of energy storage are business models that aim to lower capital expenses.
By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018
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Hackers target Puerto Rico utility
News of a cyberattack on PREPA comes a week after federal authorities issued an alert warning Russian hackers have engaged in a long-term campaign to infiltrate and surveil critical U.S. infrastructure.
By Robert Walton • March 20, 2018
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CEC: California EV chargers will add 1 GW of peak demand by 2025
A new report from the California Energy Commission also details the "Dragon Curve" — expected electricity demand effects of electric vehicle growth.
By Gavin Bade • March 20, 2018
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Deep DiveA complicated calculus keeps the remaining coal fleet alive
The U.S. coal fleet is half the size it was 10 years ago. How are the remaining plants hanging on?
By Peter Maloney • March 19, 2018
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OpinionIs IoT a friend or foe of the utility industry?
While the Internet of Things will profoundly impact how people consume energy, concrete data is lacking on whether connected home appliances will significantly reduce energy use, or by how much.
By Jon Snyder
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DHS, FBI say Russian hackers are targeting the energy sector
According to a joint technical report, Russian hackers have targeted critical infrastructure sectors in the United States, including energy, nuclear and water.
By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018
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Younicos launches service to rent energy storage systems
The company’s “Energy-Storage-as-a-Service” is designed to meet immediate storage requirements while avoiding a long-term capital commitment.
By Peter Maloney • March 13, 2018
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New TVA rate plan includes lower energy prices, grid access charge
The federally-owned utility says its proposed rate structure will "better align wholesale rates with the underlying costs" to serve its 154 local power companies.
By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018
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OpinionFrom smart grid to neural grid: Well, how do I get there?
The interplay of smart infrastructure, end-user devices, and applications and services, is what takes the smart grid of today into the Neural Grid future, Navigant's Richelle Elberg writes.
By Richelle Elberg
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DOE pushing small modular coal plant development
By 2022, DOE wants to design at least two small-scale coal plants with "flexible operating capacity," according to its budget justification.
By Gavin Bade • March 07, 2018
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Deep DiveTackling the perverse incentive: Utilities need new cost recovery mechanisms for new technologies
If utility regulators change key accounting rules, utilities could ratebase contracted cloud computing and DER services, cut customer costs and benefit stakeholders.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 06, 2018
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IRS: Residential storage eligible for ITC when charged by onsite solar
The ruling applies only to an individual storage facility, but shows how the agency may interpret home battery eligibility for the 30% solar investment tax credit.
By Gavin Bade • March 05, 2018