Transmission & Distribution
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Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by jhorrocks via Getty Images
Deep Dive'A total mindshift': Utilities replace gas peakers, 'old school' demand response with flexible DERs
Utility-customer cooperation can balance renewables' variability with flexibility without using "blunt" demand response or natural gas.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 08, 2021 -
Catherine Morehouse, Utility Dive
Xcel proposes $1.7B transmission investment in Colorado to unlock nearly 5.5 GW new renewables
The proposal would allow the utility to reduce emissions in its Colorado territory by an estimated 85% below 2005 levels by 2030.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 04, 2021 -
Trendline
Grid Resiliency
Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses, with some adjustments in the age of COVID-19.
By Utility Dive staff -
House Democrats introduce bill with pathway to 100% clean energy by 2035
The bill would include major changes to the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and require economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Texas must increase ties to the national grid and DER to avoid another power catastrophe, analysts say
Planning for inter-regional transmission and distributed resources could do what ERCOT's competitive, energy-only market didn't – keep the heat and lights on, energy advisors say.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 02, 2021 -
National Academies call on Congress to address 'persistent under-investment in electric innovation'
NASEM's report recommends that the U.S. double government spending on energy research to keep pace with the need for new grid technologies and other nations.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 26, 2021 -
Opinion
To catalyze transmission development, end the utility protection racket
Current policies reinforce an anachronistic approach that fails to spur the regional projects needed to decarbonize the power sector and mitigate extreme weather impacts, writes Harvard Electricity Law Initiative's Ari Peskoe.
By Ari Peskoe • Feb. 25, 2021 -
OpinionThe real problem in Texas: Deregulation
In a deregulated market, one where one company generates power, another delivers it, and another sells it, there’s little incentive not to cut corners, the author writes.
By Paul Griffin • Feb. 24, 2021 -
Texas grid operator makes progress restoring power, will end emergency conditions today
Utilities can now restore service to any load dropped during Texas' massive outage, but some are still struggling with ice damage.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2021 -
FERC to reopen 1999 policy on gas project approvals, add environmental justice considerations
Though the vote was unanimous, commissioners had differing opinions on the necessity of proceeding, and to what extent policy should change.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2021 -
Congress, Texas should 'rethink' ERCOT's 'go it alone approach': FERC Chair Glick
"Texans would be without electricity for longer than three days to keep the federal government out of their business," former Governor of Texas and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said earlier this week.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2021 -
Opinion
The Texas electricity crisis and the energy transition
Although the political and national debate is turning into a proxy debate on energy resources, the most immediate concern is that the current failure threatens public health and safety, the authors write.
By Alex Gilbert and Morgan Bazilian • Feb. 19, 2021 -
Opinion
No state is an island — Transmission keeps the lights on
DOE and FERC could work together with states on inter-regional transmission plans, ultimately leading to a Macro Grid to share power across the country, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid's Rob Gramlich writes.
By Rob Gramlich • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Danielle Ternes/Utility Dive
FERC, NERC to investigate mass outages across ERCOT, SPP, MISO
Increased demand from extreme cold weather, limited gas supplies and frozen equipment at thermal plants were the primary causes of rolling blackouts triggered largely across Texas, according to officials.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 16, 2021 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive
FERC reliance on ratepayers to fund utility cybersecurity insufficient to meet rising threat, analysts say
A proposal to provide incentives for security investments is a good start, but is limited by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's own ratemaking authority, analysts said.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 16, 2021 -
Glick sees consensus on FERC considering climate, environmental justice in siting gas infrastructure
The chairman said he was "heartened" by Commissioner Neil Chatterjee's previous comments, indicating that he was open to reassessing how the commission approves pipelines and other gas infrastructure.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2021 -
Getty Images
California IOUs plan to spend $11B on wildfire prevention in 2021 and 2022 after record-breaking fire season
The utilities are also aiming to reduce the impact of wildfire-related safety shut-offs on their customers.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 09, 2021 -
Opinion
Collaboration, not confrontation: Setting the stage for success between FERC and the states
Concrete, achievable wins are within grasp, but only if FERC learns the lessons of the past, writes former Commissioner Tony Clark.
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'This is just the beginning': Southwest Power Pool begins operating Western imbalance market
The five-minute balancing market is expected to help utilities integrate more renewable resources, but there are some concerns about the creation of a transmission seam in Colorado.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 02, 2021 -
Xcel cuts carbon emissions 50% by 2021, eyes Colorado transmission, coal plants to reach 2030 goal
The utility hinted that its Colorado IRP would include heavy investments in transmission and renewables, as well as action on its remaining coal plants in the state, and likely looking similar to its plans in Minnesota.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 29, 2021 -
Deep Dive
'No compelling reason not to': Former FERC chairs, commissioners call for federal transmission overhaul
Nine former commissioners and chairs agree that now is the time for federal regulators to tackle interregional grid planning, following the release of a report.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 28, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Want a more distributed and lower cost power system? Try this new planning tool
Vibrant Clean Energy offers system modeling to match today's granularity and breaks the barrier between bulk system and distribution system planning.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2021 -
New York approves $854M transmission line, outlines path to reach storage, renewables goals
To support a 100% emissions-free grid by 2040, a report says New York may need more than 9,000 MW of offshore wind, 30,000 MW of land-based renewables and 15,000 MW of storage.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2021 -
Getty Images
PJM, utilities 'messing with' state sovereignty is 'biggest threat' to climate goals: Maryland commissioner
State lawmakers say that while leaving the capacity market appears less likely with the new administration, his comments reflect a broader power struggle between the state and its grid operator.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 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 -
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
