Transmission & Distribution

FERC staff to Congress: HV transmission essential to reducing carbon, deploying renewables

One of the largest opportunities for high voltage transmission is colocation, though barriers include restrictions set by the Federal Highway Administration and state transportation agencies, analysts say.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 10, 2020

'Good news': Stakeholders optimistic about selection of BPA's Mainzer as CAISO head

Elliot Mainzer, former head of Oregon's Bonneville Power Administration brings critical experience integrating large amounts of renewable energy and operating an interstate transmission system.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 10, 2020

ConEd, Eversource blasted by New York, Connecticut officials after 'wholly inadequate' storm response

Hurricane Isaias brought Northeast utilities the largest number of power outage since 2012's Hurricane Sandy.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Aug. 10, 2020 at 8:50 a.m.

Senate grills FERC, DOE on power sector cybersecurity

Stakeholders have been very engaged with the Department of Energy since President Donald Trump's May 1 executive order, said a DOE senior advisor.

By Guy Burdick • Aug. 06, 2020

Sponsored by Siemens

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'Take a deep breath': Arizona drive to 100% clean energy breaks down amid commissioner disputes

The Arizona Corporation Commission was unable to muster three votes for a proposal put forth by Chairman Bob Burns and Commissioner Sandra Kennedy, and the meeting was quickly adjourned.

By Robert Walton • July 31, 2020

NYPA, Siemens partner on new cybersecurity center as COVID-19-driven changes increase threats

"We're looking to create the blueprint for the next generation of security for substations, power plants, solar and wind turbines," said Leo Simonovich, head of industrial cybersecurity at Siemens Energy.

By Robert Walton • July 30, 2020

Utilities must prioritize customer experience to advance role of electric vehicles on the grid: experts

Utilities want to use electric vehicles to manage their distribution grids more efficiently, but experts on a Smart Electric Power Alliance panel Tuesday warned the focus must remain on the customer experience.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2020

Amid 'heightened tensions,' US government issues warning to critical infrastructure providers

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned operators of critical infrastructure to "take immediate actions" to secure internet-connected operational technology.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2020

Opinion

It's time for emergent markets to take center stage in non-RTO regions of the country

Some have said that expansion of the full prescriptive RTO model is the foreordained end-game for utilities across the country. But the development of emergent markets in the Southeast and West calls that assumption into question, the authors write.

By Tony Clark, Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • July 27, 2020

Illinois regulators reject proposal to allow utilities cost recovery for cloud-based computing

After three years of hearings, meetings and input from state lawmakers, the Illinois Commerce Commission voted 3-2 to keep old regulations.

By John Funk • July 24, 2020

Changing grid architecture creates resilience opportunities: report

Distributed resources are not the only way to strengthen the grid, but the rise of customer-sited generation and energy storage could play a major role in keeping critical facilities online, the Rocky Mountain Institute found.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2020

TVA interested in joining Southeast energy market, but stakeholders question lack of detail

The exploratory discussions, being led by Southern Company and Duke Energy unofficially, also involved federal agency Tennessee Valley Authority.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 22, 2020

CAISO issues straw proposal on first phase of regional day-ahead market effort

The proposal addresses resource sufficiency issues and the cost allocation of energy transfer, among other issues.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 22, 2020

Arizona regulatory staff proposes 100% clean energy standard by 2050

Advocates say utilities could be pressed to move even faster as some power providers in the state have outlined more ambitious goals.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2020

UK-based DER company enters North American market as US sits 'on the cusp' of mass transition

As the costs of battery storage drop in North America, a technology company focused on virtual power plants crosses the Atlantic to launch two new projects.

By Emma Penrod • July 21, 2020

PREPA CEO sees bright future for embattled utility, but funding, grid mod challenges remain

PREPA plans to develop 1,800 MW of new renewable generation and signed a private sector partnership to manage its grid more efficiently.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2020

Duke, Southern plan path for Southeast Energy Imbalance Market

For utilities in the region, such a market could "improve how we can jointly operate growing solar resources on our systems," a Duke spokesperson said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 14, 2020

TVA offers over $500M in additional incentives to quell talk of Memphis utility departure

Citing flawed IRP and concern for Memphis residents, TVA leadership argues it will bring to bear billions of dollars in value if MLGW does not cancel its contract.

By Emma Penrod • July 14, 2020

Colorado ALJ sides with United Power against Tri-State over exit charge methodology

Tri-State Generation and Transmission says the decision could mean more than $1 billion in unjust costs added to its remaining members’ electricity bills in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

By Robert Walton • July 14, 2020

Virginia Supreme Court blocks Walmart bid to aggregate store load, shop for cheaper electricity

A retail energy provider says the decision reinforces the state's practice of putting Dominion Energy's interests ahead of customers.

By Robert Walton • July 13, 2020

Duke, AEP, FirstEnergy tell FERC future COVID-19 uncertainty presents 'significant risk'

Although utilities have not yet seen substantive threats to their capital, they insist to federal regulators that potential future hurdles will require "adequate and timely" cost recovery from states.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 10, 2020

DOE lists China, 5 other 'foreign adversaries' as it asks how to enforce Trump's grid security order

The U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting public comment on how to enforce an executive order banning installation of bulk power system components from "adversary" nations. Among the topics: How much will this cost?

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2020

As COVID-19 surges, federal regulators worry about energy sector supply chain

The U.S. electric grid has held up reliably during the pandemic. But if the economic shutdown stretches months — or longer — regulators are worried about potential supply chain and reliability issues.

By Robert Walton • July 09, 2020

Natural gas pipeline developers aim to differentiate from Atlantic Coast and avoid its fate

The Constitution Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline have been abandoned within months of each other, and natural gas developers are working to establish differences between themselves and the unsuccessful projects.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 08, 2020